The Scottish rock band Simple Minds has released 21 studio albums, eleven live albums, ten compilation albums, fourteen box sets, four EPs, 75 singles, and five video albums. The band formed in Glasgow under the name Johnny & the Self-Abusers in 1977 before releasing their debut album Life in a Day (1979) under the Simple Minds name. The album achieved moderate commercial success for the band, reaching the top forty of the albums charts in the United Kingdom. Their second album, Real to Real Cacophony, was released at the end of 1979 and failed to chart, whilst their third album, Empires and Dance (1980) just missed the top forty in the United Kingdom. Their fourth album, the double album release Sons and Fascination/Sister Feelings Call (1981) produced the commercially successful single "Love Song" which became their highest charting single in the United Kingdom up until that point.
In 1982, they released their fifth studio album, New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84), which marked the beginning of increased popularity and commercial success for the band. Considered one of the "defining albums of the new wave movement of the early 1980s", it produced the critically acclaimed singles "Promised You a Miracle", "Glittering Prize" and "Someone Somewhere in Summertime", all of which performed strongly in singles charts across European territories as well as in some international markets including Australia and New Zealand. The album was both commercially and critically successful, peaking within the top five in the United Kingdom and New Zealand, and was as becoming their first album to chart within the US Billboard 200 albums charts. It was certified Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for sales in excess of 300,000 copies. In November 1983, they released "Waterfront" was the lead single from their sixth album, Sparkle in the Rain (1984).
Immediately before the release of Sparkle in the Rain in February 1984, the band released the second single from the album, "Speed Your Love to Me". The album marked the beginning of increased media interest in the band, and became their first album to reach number one in the albums charts in the United Kingdom where it was certified Platinum by the BPI. It achieved moderate commercial success in the United States, an international territory where the band were to experience a significant commercial breakthrough in 1985 with the release of the single "Don't You (Forget About Me)" which was recorded for inclusion in the movie The Breakfast Club. It reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and remained on the chart for a total of 22 weeks. Commercial success in the United States continued with their next single, "Alive and Kicking" which supported the release of their seventh studio album Once Upon a Time (1985).
In May 1989, they released their eighth album Street Fighting Years which was supported by its lead single "Belfast Child". The song became the bands first single to reach number one on the singles charts in the United Kingdom. Described as a more political album than the bands previous releases, a promotional single, "Mandela Day" was released in the United States in February 1989. The album was certified 2× Platinum by the BPI in the United Kingdom, and sold in excess of 2 million copies across Europe. Further album releases – Real Life (1991) and Good News from the Next World (1995) continued commercial success for the band, before experiencing a decline in popularity with the release of Néapolis (1998), Neon Lights (2001) and Cry (2002). The album Black & White 050505 (2005) achieved moderate commercial success, including in Italy where it was certified Gold by the Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana (FMI).
The band returned to commercial prominence in 2009 with the release of their fifteenth studio album Graffiti Soul, a trend which continued with further releases Big Music (2014), Acoustic (2016), Walk Between Worlds (2018) and Direction of the Heart (2022). Described as "one of the most commercially successful Scottish bands of the 1980s", Simple Minds have sold more than 60 million albums worldwide. They were awarded the Q Inspiration Award in 2014 for their contribution to the music industry and an Ivor Novello Award in 2016 for Outstanding Song Collection from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers, and Authors (BASCA). Their other notable recognitions include nominations for both the MTV Video Music Award for Best Direction and MTV Video Music Award for Best Art Direction for "Don't You (Forget About Me)" in 1985, nomination for the Brit Award for British Group in 1986 and for the American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group in 1987.
Albums Studio albums Title Album detailsPeak chart positionsCertifications UKUK chart peaks: Top 100 peaks: "I Travel": Top 200 peaks between 1994 and 2010: AUSAustralian chart peaks:
Top 100 (Kent Music Report) peaks to 12 June 1988: N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid–1983 and 19 June 1988. Top 50 (ARIA) peaks from 13 June 1988: "Kick It In" (ARIA) peak: The Amsterdam EP (ARIA) peak: N.B. The HP column displays the highest peak reached. Top 100 (ARIA) peaks between January 1990 and December 2010: "Hypnotised" (ARIA) peak: "Real Life" and all post-100 album peaks: Walk Between Worlds: CANPeak positions for Simple Mind's albums in Canada: Sons and Fascination: New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84): Sparkle in the Rain: Once Upon a Time: Live in the City of Light: Street Fighting Years: Real Life: Glittering Prize 81/92: Good News from the Next World: GER ITAItaly album chart peaks: Up until 1995, including Good News from the Next World: Set "Tipo" on "Album". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Simple Minds". "Néapolis": From 2000 onwards: NL NZ SWE SWISwiss chart peaks: Albums: Singles: USLife in a Day Released: 20 April 1979 Label: Zoom, PVC Formats: LP, MC30—————————Real to Real Cacophony Released: 23 November 1979 Label: Zoom Formats: LP, MC——————————Empires and Dance Released: 12 September 1980 Label: Zoom Formats: LP, MC41—————47———Sons and Fascination Released: 4 September 1981 Label: Virgin Formats: 2×LP, LP, MC Initially released as a double album before being released as two separate albums on 16 October 1981113146———74—— UK: GoldSister Feelings Call—————————New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84) Released: 17 September 1982 Label: Virgin, A&M Formats: LP, MC385747—3129—69 UK: Platinum CAN: Gold FRA: Gold NL: Platinum NZ: Platinum SWE: GoldSparkle in the Rain Released: 6 February 1984 Label: Virgin, A&M Formats: CD, LP, MC1151414102121964 UK: Platinum CAN: Gold FRA: Gold NZ: GoldOnce Upon a Time Released: 21 October 1985 Label: Virgin, A&M Formats: CD, LP, MC17352134710 UK: 3× Platinum CAN: 2× Platinum FRA: Gold (select "Simple Minds" from drop-down list) GER: 2× Gold NL: Platinum NZ: Platinum US: GoldStreet Fighting Years Released: 2 May 1989 Label: Virgin, A&M Formats: CD, LP, MC1112411144170 UK: 2× Platinum AUS: Gold N.B. The black circle symbol indicates gold certification. CAN: Gold GER: Platinum NL: Platinum SWE: Gold SWI: PlatinumReal Life Released: 8 April 1991 Label: Virgin, A&M Formats: CD, LP, MC, DAT21317326115274 UK: Platinum AUS: Gold FRA: 2× Gold GER: Gold ITA: 3× Gold NL: Gold SWE: Gold SWI: PlatinumGood News from the Next World Released: 30 January 1995 Label: Virgin Formats: CD, LP, MC2203742582187 UK: Gold FRA: Gold GER: Gold ITA: 3× Gold SWI: GoldNéapolis Released: 16 March 1998 Label: Chrysalis Formats: CD, MC19182—9622—237—Neon Lights Released: 8 October 2001 Label: Eagle Formats: CD, HDCD, MC141——58————65—Cry Released: 1 April 2002 Label: Eagle Formats: CD, SACD, MC80——381456——35—Black & White 050505 Released: 12 September 2005 Label: Sanctuary Formats: CD37——6725—4620— ITA: GoldGraffiti Soul Released: 25 May 2009 Label: Sanctuary Formats: CD, 2×CD, 2×LP10128—141129——8—Big Music Released: 31 October 2014 Label: Caroline International Formats: CD, 2×CD+DVD, 2×LP12——161722——20—Acoustic Released: 11 November 2016 Label: Caroline International Formats: CD, 2×LP, digital download16——393127——33— UK: SilverWalk Between Worlds Released: 2 February 2018 Label: BMG Formats: CD, LP, digital download482—71423—415—Direction of the Heart Released: 21 October 2022 Label: BMG Formats: CD, LP, MC, digital download4——7217—387—"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Unreleased studio album
Title Album detailsOur Secrets Are the Same Released: 18 October 2004 (as part of Silver Box) Label: Virgin Formats: CD Originally set for release in 2000
Live albums Title Album detailsPeak chart positionsCertifications UK AUS CAN GER ITA NL NZ SWE SWI USLive in the City of Light Released: 26 May 1987 Label: Virgin, A&M Formats: 2×CD, 2×LP, 2×MC11326361145596 UK: 2× Platinum FRA: Gold GER: Gold NL: GoldReal Live 91 Released: 1 May 1998 Label: Mindmood Formats: CD Fanclub-only release——————————Sunday Express – Live (Volumes 1 & 2) Released: 15 & 22 April 2007 Label: Sunday Express Formats: 2×CD——————————Live 2011 Released: June & July 2011 Label: Concert Live Formats: 3×CD, 2×CD——————————5X5 Live Released: 19 November 2012 Label: Virgin Formats: 2×CD129———80—————Live Australia 2012 Released: November & December 2012 Label: DiscLive Network/EMI Formats: 2×CD——————————Celebrate – The Greatest Hits+ Tour 2013 Released: April & November 2013 Label: Concert Live Formats: 3×CD, 2×CD——————————Celebrate – Live at the SSE Hydro Glasgow Released: June 2014 Label: Edsel, Simple Minds Ltd. Formats: 2×CD+DVD, 2×CD+2xDVD——————————Live – Big Music Tour 2015 Released: 14 November 2015 Label: Demon/Simple Minds Ltd. Formats: 2×CD, digital download——————————Acoustic in Concert Released: 16 June 2017 Label: Eagle Vision/Universal Music/BBC Music Formats: CD+DVD——————————Live in the City of Angels Released: 4 October 2019 Label: BMG Formats: 2×CD, 4×CD, 4×LP, digital download9——234356——44—New Gold Dream – Live from Paisley Abbey Released: 27 October 2023 Label: BMG Formats: red & black marble vinyl, CD & digital download23——174212——21—Live in the City of Diamonds Released: 25 April 2025 Label: BMG Formats: 2×CD, 2×LP 20——7597——15—"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Compilation albums Title Album detailsPeak chart positionsCertifications UK AUS CAN GER ITA NL NZ SWE SWICelebration Released: 5 February 1982 Label: Virgin Formats: LP, MC45———25————Themes for Great Cities – Definitive Collection 79–81 Released: February 1982 Label: Stiff Formats: LP, MC—————————Glittering Prize 81/92 Released: 12 October 1992 Label: Virgin, A&M Formats: CD, LP, MC, MD11371014711714 UK: 3× Platinum AUS: Platinum CAN: Gold FRA: Platinum GER: Gold NL: Platinum NZ: Platinum SWE: GoldThe Promised Released: 29 September 1997 Label: Virgin Formats: CD———97—45———The Best of Simple Minds Released: 5 November 2001 Label: Virgin Formats: 2×CD, 2×SACD, 2×MC34——67441139—64 UK: Gold IT: Gold NL: GoldEarly Gold Released: 30 June 2003 Label: Virgin Formats: CD—————————Live & Rare Released: December 2003 Label: Carosello/Absolutely/Virgin/Mindmood Formats: CD—————————Celebrate: The Greatest Hits Released: 25 March 2013 Label: Virgin Formats: CD, 2×CD, 3×CD, digital download19———6486——55 UK: GoldIcon Released: 14 May 2013 Label: Virgin Formats: CD—————————40: The Best of 1979–2019 Released: 1 November 2019 Label: Universal Music Formats: CD, 3×CD, 2×LP, digital download27——75—68——72 UK: Silver RMNZ: Platinum"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Box sets Title Album detailsPeak chart positions UK GER NLThemes – Volume 1: March 79–April 82 Released: 8 October 1990 Label: Virgin Formats: 5xCDS———Themes – Volume 2: August 82–April 85 Released: 17 September 1990 Label: Virgin