Empires and Dance

Empires and Dance charted poorly, peaking at only number 41 in the UK Albums Chart.^[3] According to AllMusic, this is primarily because the record company Arista only released a small number of copies at a time before each batch sold out. This had the effect of limited availability for fans.^[1]

The opening track "I Travel" was released as a single in 1980, but failed to chart. "Celebrate" was chosen as the second single due to popularity amongst fans. However, it was only released after Simple Minds had left the label. As a result, the single sold very poorly, and the picture sleeve 7" is amongst the hardest of the band's singles to find.

Following the release of this album, Simple Minds transferred to Virgin Records, where they met with much greater commercial success. Arista tried to capitalize on this success by re-releasing "I Travel" as a single in 1982, along with a compilation "Celebration". In 1983, Virgin re-released "I Travel" on 12", to coincide with the acquisition of the band's Arista catalogue. Both times, it still failed to chart.

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
NME	very favourable^[4]
Head Heritage	favourable^[5]
Pitchfork	8.1/10^[6]
Martin C. Strong	8/10^[7]
Trouser Press	generally favourable^[8]

Empires and Dance has been well-received critically.

NME called it as "a weird, agitating record".^[4] AllMusic described the album as a "post-punk dance classic".^[1]

Legacy

The album cover's Faux Cyrillic typeface was emulated for the cover of the Manic Street Preachers' third album The Holy Bible. (While the former album reversed all Rs and Ns to resemble Cyrillic letters, the latter album, in contrast, reversed only the Rs.) Twenty years later, Empires and Dance would be cited as a key influence on Futurology, the Manics' twelfth album. It remains one of singer and guitarist James Dean Bradfield's favourite records.^[9]

Track listing

All lyrics written by Jim Kerr; all music composed by Simple Minds.

Side A
No.	Title	Length
1.	"I Travel"	4:00
2.	"Today I Died Again"	4:36
3.	"Celebrate"	5:03
4.	"This Fear of Gods"	7:03

Side B
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Capital City"	6:15
2.	"Constantinople Line"	4:43
3.	"Twist/Run/Repulsion"	4:31
4.	"Thirty Frames a Second"	5:02
5.	"Kant-Kino"	1:52
6.	"Room"	2:28

Personnel

Charlie Burchill – guitar, saxophone
Derek Forbes – bass guitar, fretless bass guitar
Jim Kerr – vocals
Mick MacNeil – keyboards
Brian McGee – drums

Technical

John Leckie – producer, engineer
Simon Heyworth – mastering
Hugh Jones – engineer
Coward – photography
Ruetz – photography

References

1 2 3 4 Kellman, Andy. "Empires and Dance – Simple Minds : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
1 2 "Record News". NME. London, England: IPC Media: 5. 30 August 1980.
↑ "SIMPLE MINDS – Artist – Official Charts". Official Charts Company.
1 2 Morley, Paul (13 September 1980). "Awe and Terror from the Inner Minds". NME. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
↑ Parkes, Jason (4 May 2006). "Julian Cope Presents Head Heritage | Unsung | Reviews | Simple Minds – Empires and Dance". Head Heritage. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
↑ Tangari, Joe. "Simple Minds: Reel to Real Cacophony / Empires and Dance | Album Reviews | Pitchfork". Pitchfork. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
↑ The Essential Rock Discography – Volume 1: 970. 2006. Missing or empty |title= (help)
↑ Schlosberg, Karen; Robbins, Ira. "TrouserPress.com :: Simple Minds". TrouserPress.com. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
↑ Price, Simon. "A Masterpiece: Simon Price On Manic Street Preachers' Futurology". The Quietus. Retrieved 15 July 2014.

External links

Empires and Dance at Discogs (list of releases)

Simple Minds

Jim Kerr Charlie Burchill Mel Gaynor Andy Gillespie Ged Grimes Brian McGee Tony Donald Duncan Barnwell Mick MacNeil Derek Forbes Kenny Hyslop Mike Ogletree John Giblin Eddy 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 Néapolis Our Secrets Are the Same Neon Lights Cry Black & White 050505 Graffiti Soul Big Music Acoustic

Live albums	Live in the City of Light Real Live 91 Sunday Express – Live (Volumes 1 & 2) 5X5 Live Live – Big Music Tour 2015

Compilations	Themes for Great Cities 79/81 Celebration Glittering Prize 81/92 The Promised The Early Years 1977–1978 The Best of Simple Minds Early Gold The Platinum Collection Celebrate: The Greatest Hits ICON – The Best Of Sparkle in the Rain – Super Deluxe Box Set

Box sets	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 Silver Box Themes – Volume 5: March 91–September 92 Themes – Volumes 1–5: March 79–September 92 X5 Classic Album Selection

Singles	"Love Song" "Promised You a Miracle" "Glittering Prize" "Someone Somewhere (In Summertime)" "Waterfront" "Speed Your Love to Me" "Up on the Catwalk" "Don't You (Forget About Me)" "Alive and Kicking" "Sanctify Yourself" "All the Things She Said" "Ghost Dancing" "Belfast Child" "This Is Your Land" "Kick It In" "Let There Be Love" "Stand By Love"

Promo singles	"Mandela Day" (US)

Themes series	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 Themes – Volume 5: March 91–September 92

Related articles	Discography Lostboy! AKA Jim Kerr

Concert tours	Simple Minds concert tours

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