It was based on a Jean Shrimpton character.

The riff was stolen from a Lou Reed song called Temporary Thing (Rock And Roll Heart, Arista, 1976).

Both this song, and Pleasantly Disturbed, convinced Arista to sign the band.

"If the Boomtown Rats had recorded it, it would definitely have become a number one hit" - Bob Geldof.

A live favourite from 1978, it originally clocked in at over six minutes, featuring extra verses and breaks. This was the version recorded for the band's second demo tape.

It was during the recording of the demo, that someone stole Derek Forbes' guitar. He was planning on leaving Simple Minds to play lead guitar elsewhere, but after the theft, asked to stay on as bass player.

It was recorded for their first album and considered the best song for a single. But Life In A Day was first issued to whet the appetite before Chelsea Girl was issued. Great things were expected of it, but it sunk without a trace.

John Leckie tried to extend the track for a proposed 12" release. He eventually admitted defeat, feeling the song was in a perfect arrangement already.

It became a live favourite, being featured during all their gigs in 1979.

"Promised You a Miracle was our first true pop hit, but Chelsea Girl from our debut album was in my opinion the first really good pop song that both Charlie and I wrote. Again, I recall clearly it coming together in an instant." - Jim.

"It was a rainy March afternoon in April’78 in fact and we were in my parent’s front room with only Charlie’s acoustic guitar as a tool. We needed a killer "sing-along" to plop into the middle of our burgeoning live set, something that an audience could grasp and come in on with us from the first hearing. This was "a trick" I observed Steve Harley doing during Cockney Rebel's period of fame, when I saw them perform a handful of times, and we in turn rather ambitiously wanted to emulate some of the spirit of the Harley shows."

"The fact that he was playing Wembley Arena type shows while we were playing the basement of a beer cellar in Shawlands, Glasgow, somehow never managed to deter us from our desired effect, and Chelsea Girl was constructed and put together especially to be our big throw of the dice. This was the song that we wanted, the one we needed, the call out to anyone listening with a message intact that said we were not content to be another run of the mill punk outfit with dreams no bigger than securing a mention on the John Peel show!"

"Did it work? You bet it did, and right off the bat too. We were inundated in fact with requests to play it sometimes two or three times a night. The confidence it gave us was remarkable and the audience more than joined in on it also. Especially during the break down where Brian McGee does a great job." - Jim.

The song was dramatically rearranged for the Alive And Kicking Tour of 2003. The melody was gently toned down; gone was the accusatory questioning of the original, now replaced by a melancholy acceptance.

"I am particularly delighted with the reaction to Chelsea Girl. The song means a lot to both Charlie and myself, least so in a true sentimental way. Very much still kids when we wrote it. I recall with absolute clarity the feeling in my my mother's living room, that afternoon in May 1978 when the song came together. We were convinced right there and then that we had something special on our hands. That notion was confirmed when we recorded it as a demo, that then went on to attract much attention from "record company scouts." Chelsea Girl really stood out during our live gigs as we played/toured throughout 1978 - 1980. Mick MacNeil's harpsichord sound made it so. Sadly however, it never did become the "big hit single" that many predicted it would, and by 1981 we had stopped playing it entirely. Destined to be a footnote, a relic of Simple Minds (amateurish pastimes) I certainly never imagined it would ever be resurrected. But nothing is predictable within the story of Simple Minds, and I also never imagined that one day we would be touring Europe/UK/Ireland, playing an Acoustic Tour and having some of the best shows of our lives. While also witnessing (beautiful little) Chelsea Girl, emerge again as the "killer song" it always was - and going down a real storm, night after night." - Jim, 21st May 2017

And now the sound of time is getting fast, It's getting late, Don't know if I can take much more. The way you talk I often wondered, If I heard the words somewhere, Someplace before. I got so nervous when I called, And found that lately, You had gone and changed your name. But I've got something on my mind, I want you here, I want you now, You better explain. Is it true you're running round? Now is it true they're calling you the Chelsea Girl? Is it true you're running round? Now is it true they're calling you the Chelsea Girl? Your best friend never calls you up, But you don't mind, 'Cause lately things are all the same. Ain't it strange how people always seem, To know your face, But just don't know your name? Well I don't care there's no-one there, That even turn around and say get out of this place. Last night I saw a shooting star, When morning comes, She hides away, A real disgrace. Is it true you're running round? Now is it true they're calling you the Chelsea Girl? Is it true you're running round? Now is it true they're calling you the Chelsea Girl? Oh Chelsea Girl, You got me caught up in a whirl, I want you here now Chelsea Girl.

Edit (3:55) Producer: John Leckie Engineer: John Leckie Arrangement: Simple Minds/John Leckie
Album Version (4:33) Producer: John Leckie Engineer: John Leckie Arrangement: Simple Minds/John Leckie
Demo Version (6:15) Producer: Lex McEwan and Simple Minds
Live Version (27th Mar 1979) (4:42) Recorded: Old Grey Whistle Test
Live Version (8th September 1979) (4:52) Recorded: Paris Theatre, London, UK Mastered by: Simon Heyworth
Live Version (24th November 2009) (4:13) Recorded: Sentrum Scene, Oslo, Norway Mixed By Concert Online
Live Version (3rd December 2009) (4:47) Recorded: MEN, Manchester, UK Mixed By Concert Online
Live Version (5th December 2009) (4:52) Recorded: Arena, Sheffield, UK Mixed By Concert Online
Live Version (6th December 2009) (4:51) Recorded: CIA, Cardiff, UK Mixed By Concert Online
Live Version (9th December 2009) (4:50) Recorded: 02, Dublin, Ireland Mixed By Concert Online
Live Version (11th December 2009) (4:52) Recorded: SECC, Glasgow, UK Mixed By Concert Online
Live Version (12th December 2009) (4:56) Recorded: AEC, Aberdeen, UK Mixed By Concert Online
Live Version (17th December 2009) (5:07) Recorded: Popcentrum, Tilburg, Netherlands Mixed By Concert Online
Live Version (23rd February 2012) (4:03) Recorded: Cirque Royal, Brussels, Belgium Recorded by: Olivier Gerard Mixed by: Olivier Gerard Engineered by: Rudy Coclet ISRC: GB01A1201429
Acoustic (4:27) Producer: Andy Wright, Gavin Goldberg and Simple Minds Recorded By: Gavin Goldberg Mixed By: Gavin Goldberg
Acoustic Live (10th November 2016) (4:23) Sound Engineer: Olivier Gerard Audio Mixed By: Olivier Gerard assisted by Rudy Coclet Mastered By: Alan Ward

Demo Version (6:17) Producer: Lex McEwan and Simple Minds

Album Version (4:33) Producer: John Leckie Engineer: John Leckie Arrangement: Simple Minds/John Leckie
Live Version (27th March 1979) (4:42) Recorded: Old Grey Whistle Test
Acoustic (4:27) Producer: Andy Wright, Gavin Goldberg and Simple Minds Recorded By: Gavin Goldberg Mixed By: Gavin Goldberg
Acoustic Live (10th November 2016) (4:23) Sound Engineer: Olivier Gerard Audio Mixed By: Olivier Gerard assisted by Rudy Coclet Mastered By: Alan Ward

Live Version (24th November 2009) (4:13) Recorded: Sentrum Scene, Oslo, Norway Mixed By Concert Online
Live Version (3rd December 2009) (4:47) Recorded: MEN, Manchester, UK Mixed By Concert Online
Live Version (5th December 2009) (4:52) Recorded: Arena, Sheffield, UK Mixed By Concert Online
Live Version (6th December 2009) (4:51) Recorded: CIA, Cardiff, UK Mixed By Concert Online
Live Version (9th December 2009) (4:50) Recorded: 02, Dublin, Ireland Mixed By Concert Online
Live Version (11th December 2009) (4:52) Recorded: SECC, Glasgow, UK Mixed By Concert Online
Live Version (12th December 2009) (4:56) Recorded: AEC, Aberdeen, UK Mixed By Concert Online
Live Version (17th December 2009) (5:07) Recorded: Popcentrum, Tilburg, Netherlands Mixed By Concert Online