Sparkle in the Rain by Simple Minds

Sparkle In The Rain, Simple Minds' US breakthrough album, was released on February 6, 1984. The single "Waterfront," which reached number one in a few European countries, remains one of the band's signature songs to this day, as well as "Speed Your Love to Me" and "Up on the Catwalk". The album also contains a cover version of Lou Reed's song "Street Hassle". Sparkle in the Rain was produced by Steve Lillywhite, who also produced U2's first three records, it's an aggressive, rock-oriented album in much the same vein as U2's War. U2 frontman Bono was quoted in the official Simple Minds biography The Race is the Prize as saying the "glorious noise" sound and feeling achieved on the Simple Minds album was one to which his band aspired. The eventual result of this shift in musical direction gave rise to hugely successful singles like "Waterfront", which hit number one in a few European countries and remains one of the band's signature songs to this day, as well as "Speed Your Love to Me" and "Up on the Catwalk." ℗ 2014 Virgin Records Limited