Street Fighting Years

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Street Fighting Years
Studio album by Simple Minds
Released	1989
Recorded	March, 1988–March, 1989
Genre	Alternative, Progressive Rock
Length	61:13
Label	A&M Records
Producer	Trevor Horn, Steve Lipson
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link Rolling Stone link
Simple Minds chronology
Live in the City of Light (1987) Street Fighting Years (1989) Themes - Volume 1: March 79 - April 82 (1990)

Street Fighting Years is an album by Simple Minds, released in 1989. It was a major stylistic departure from the previous album, 1985's Once Upon A Time, and contained the band's most overtly political lyrics. The album reached Number 1 in the UK on the success of the chart-topping single "Belfast Child", and was well-reviewed, receiving a rare five-star review in Q Magazine. Despite contributions from Lou Reed and ex-Police drummer Stewart Copeland, as well as production by Yes member Trevor Horn, the album performed poorly in the USA and produced no hit singles.

Contents 1 Track listing 2 Line Up 3 Additional Musicians 4 Studio Personnel 5 Charts

[edit] Track listing

1. "Street Fighting Years" (Simple Minds) – 6:26
2. "Soul Crying Out" (Simple Minds) – 6:07
3. "Wall of Love" (Simple Minds) – 5:20
4. "This Is Your Land" (Simple Minds) – 6:22
5. "Take a Step Back" (Simple Minds) – 4:22
6. "Kick It In" (Simple Minds) – 6:11
7. "Let It All Come Down" (John Giblin/Simple Minds) – 4:56
8. "Mandela Day" (Simple Minds) – 5:45
9. "Belfast Child" (Simple Minds/Traditional) – 6:42
10. "Biko" (Peter Gabriel) – 7:34
11. "When Spirits Rise" (Simple Minds) – 2:03

[edit] Line Up

• Jim Kerr – Vocals
• Charlie Burchill – Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric)
• Michael MacNeil – Piano, Accordion, Keyboards
• John Giblin – Guitar (Bass)
• Mel Gaynor – Drums

[edit] Additional Musicians

• Lou Reed – Vocals on This Is Your Land
• Lisa Germano – Violin
• Lorna Bannon – Backing Vocals
• Manu Katché – Drums
• Maureen Kerr – Penny Whistle, Bodhran
• Steve Lipson – Guitar (Bass), Producer
• Abdou Mboup – Percussion
• Sheena McKenzie – Cello
• Stewart Copeland
• Roger Sharp – Bagpipes

[edit] Studio Personnel

• John Altman – Orchestral Arrangements
• Dougie Cowan – Technical Master
• Robin Hancock – Engineer
• Guido Harari – Photography
• Simon Heyworth – Mastering
• Trevor Horn – Producer
• Paul Kerr – Logistics
• Stephen Lewis – Talking
• William Lithgow – Cello
• Bob Ludwig – Mastering
• Heff Moraes – Engineer
• Martin Plant – Assistant Engineer
• Steve Ralbovsky – Talking
• Willie P. Richardson – Talking
• Danton Supple – Assistant Engineer
• Sydney Thiam – Percussion
• Jane Ventom – Coordination
• Gary Wathen – Talking
• Leroy Williams – Percussion
• Ying Ho Au Yeung - Catering

[edit] Charts

Album - Billboard (North America)

Year	Chart	Position
1989	The Billboard 200	70

Singles - Billboard (North America)

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1989	"Mandela Day"	Modern Rock Tracks	17
1989	"Take a Step Back"	Modern Rock Tracks	14
1989	"This Is Your Land"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	37
1989	"This Is Your Land"	Modern Rock Tracks	12

v • d • e Simple Minds Jim Kerr | Charlie Burchill Former members Mel Gaynor | Andy Gillespie | Eddie Duffy Albums Life in a Day | Real to Real Cacophony | Empires and Dance | Sons and Fascination/Sister Feelings Call | New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) | Sparkle in the Rain | Once Upon a Time | Street Fighting Years | Real Life | Good News from the Next World | Neapolis [UK release] | Our Secrets are the Same | Neon Lights | Cry | Black & White 050505 Live and Compilations Themes For Great Cities 79/81 [US release only] | Celebration | Themes - Volume 1: March 79 - April 82 | Themes - Volume 2: August 82 - April 85 | Themes - Volume 3: September 85 - June 87 | Themes - Volume 4: February 89 - May 90 | Live in the City of Light | Glittering Prize 81/92 | The Promised [European release] | The Early Years 1977-1978 [withdrawn] | Real Live 91 | The Best of Simple Minds | The Best Of Simple Minds - Night Of The Proms Edition | Early Gold | Silver Box [5 – CD boxed set] [UK release]