Sons and Fascination

LP front cover

**Sons and Fascination** is the title of the fourth studio album by British group Simple Minds released in September 1981 on Virgin records. Initial copies were released as a double album with Sister Feelings Call, which was later released as a 'mini-album' in its own right.

*Sons and Fascination* represented something of a commercial breakthrough for Simple Minds with the album going to no.11 in the UK, with three minor his singles (see below). Popular interest in the group was raised, paving the way for the even more successful follow-up *New Gold Dream (81, 82, 83, 84)* in 1982.

All the tracks on the album were written by Simple Minds, with lyrics written by Jim Kerr, and it was produced by Steve Hillage.

## Personell

* Jim Kerr - lead vocals
* Charlie Burchill - guitars
* Mick MacNeill - guitars
* Derek Forbes - bass
* Brian McGee – drums (replaced by Kenny Hyslop immediately after recording sessions)

## Release

*Sons and Fascination* was released on 12 September 1981, the first 10,000 copies including the free LP *Sister Feelings Call.* Subsequently each album was made available separately, with the latter at a budget price. The cassette version was released as *Sons and Fascination* although contained 'seven extra tracks' effectively take from *Sister Feelings Call*.

## Tracklisting

* original LP release Virgin V2207

Side One

1. In Trance As Mission
2. Sweat in Bullet
3. 70 Cities As Love Brings The Fall
4. Boys From Brazil

Side Two

1. Love Song
2. This Earth That You Walk Upon
3. Sons And Fascination
4. Seeing Out The Angel

* cassette release Virgin TCV 2207

Side One

1. In Trance As Mission
2. Sweat in Bullet
3. 70 Cities As Love Brings The Fall
4. Boys From Brazil
5. Theme for Great Cities
6. The American
7. 20th Century Promised Land

Side Two

1. Love Song
2. This Earth That You Walk Upon
3. Sons And Fascination
4. Seeing Out The Angel
5. Wonderful In Young Life
6. League Of Nations
7. Careful In Career
8. Sound In 70 Cities

* 1985 CD release CDV 2207

1. In Trance As Mission
2. Sweat in Bullet
3. 70 Cities As Love Brings The Fall
4. Boys From Brazil
5. Love Song
6. This Earth That You Walk Upon
7. Sons And Fascination
8. Seeing Out The Angel
9. Theme for Great Cities
10. The American
11. 20th Century Promised Land
12. Wonderful In Young Life
13. Careful In Career

* 2002 CD release Virgin 7243 8 13168 2 5
	+ as above although re-instates League of Nations and Sound in 70 Cities from *Sister Feelings Call* as tracks 13 & 15 respectively (Careful in Career, track 14)

## Singles

UK rel. date 7 August 1981, UK chart peak 47
7" VS 434
* A. Love Song (3:54) B. This Earth That You Walk Upon (4:15)

12" VS 434-12
* A. Love Song (5:04) B. This Earth That You Walk Upon (5:28)

*Note: both versions of This Earth That You Walk Upon are instrumentals, as opposed to the album version which feature lyrics/vocal by J. Kerr*
UK rel. date 26 October 1981, UK chart peak 52
7" Virgin VS 451
* A. Sweat in Bullet (3:00), B. 20th Century Promised Land (4:55)

2x7" Virgin VS 451 (gatefold sleeve)
* A. Sweat in Bullet (3:00), B. 20th Century Promised Land (4:55), C. Premonition (5:58), D. League of Nations (6:10)

12" Virgin VS 451 12
* A1. Sweat in Bullet A2. 20th Century Promised Land (4:55); B1. Premonition, B2. League of Nations

*Note: Sweat in Bullet on 12" is an extended remix (not stated on record); Premonition and League of Nations on both releases are live recordings, from concert at the Hammersmith Odeon 25-9-81.*