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i travel


composers
Composers: Kerr / Burchill / MacNeil / Forbes / McGee
Authors: Kerr
(Earlier sleeves simply state:- Lyrics: Kerr: Music: Simple Minds)


publisher
© EMI Music Publishing.
© Bucks Music/Hornall Brothers/EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (Post 2012 credit)
© JKMC-Bucks Music Group Ltd / Hornall Music / EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (Post 2013 credit)


background
RP: The song I Travel is a song I never tire of listening to. I would guess the initial idea would've been that driving, remorselessly percussive sound. How did that song come together?
DF: Pure chance. It wasn't as if it was built up to do that I'm sure. Mick MacNeil was messing around with settings, pulled down a key, and we got that chop rhythmic sequence. I knew exactly what I was doing. Brian did a kind of disco beat to it - that Keith Forsey sound, he did it with Donna Summer and stuff. Do you know the slap sound? That's us and John Leckie around a ping-pong table.

Derek Forbes: Early Days Simple Minds To Leaving The Band
Retropopic 183
2018


Written about experiences whilst touring Europe, specifically Berlin (where Jim found the contrast between the east and west sectors startling), I Travel appeared during the second leg of the Real To Real Cacophony tour. Subsequently demoed, it opened the band's third album Empires And Dance.

The 'language problem' in the song is politics.

Jim was so enthusiastic about the track that he badgered their temporary lighting technician to listen to the demo on his walkman. It was the lobby of the Taft Hotel, New York in 1980 and the technician was Steve Pollard - who has worked with the band ever since.

The lyric sheet included with the album included a final verse which was not present on the album - although it does appear in the demo and live versions. The transcriber also fluffed one of the lines: Airport playing "Bi Some Lo" was obviously Airport playing Brian Eno, a nod to his first ambient album Music For Airports.

"The only fault in 'I Travel' is the voice, it sounds so unmoved, while in fact I was scared shitless." - Jim.

Arista had great faith in the track: it was issued as the lead single for Empires And Dance, spawning the band's first extended remix; and it was again a lead single of the compilation album Celebration. For the second issue, a live version of the song also appeared as a B-side.


lyrics
Cities, buildings falling down,
Ideal homes falling down.
These pictures I see on the wall,
Timeless leaders stand so tall.
Assassin in a hit and run,
Asia steals a new born son.
Evacuees and refugees,
Presidents and monarchies.

Travel round,
I travel round,
Decadence and pleasure towns.

Tragedies,luxuries,statues,parks and galleries.

Europe has a language problem,
Talk, talk, talk, talk, talking on.
In central Europe,
Men are marching,
Marching on and marching on.
Love songs playing in the restaurants,
Airport playing Brian Eno.

Travel round,
I travel round,
Decadence and pleasure towns.
Tragedies,luxuries,statues,parks and galleries.

Europe has a language problem.

Europe has a language problem.
America has a language problem.
I Travel.
Euro-Bureau-Interpol,
Making love to the criminals.
Asia has a language problem.
I Travel.
And on and on and on and on and on and on and on.



discography
Edit (3:06)
Producer: Leckie
Engineer: Jones

I Travel 7" single I Travel 7" Irish single Celebrate: The Greatest Hits + Promo CD Celebrate: The Greatest Hits + Promo CD Celebrate: The Greatest Hits + 2CD Celebrate: The Greatest Hits + 3CD Celebrate: The Greatest Hits + Australian Promo 2CD Celebrate: The Greatest Hits + US CD Celebrate: The Greatest Hits + Canadian CD Celebrate: The Collection CD 40: Best Of: 1979 - 2019: Promo CD 40: Best Of: 1979 - 2019: Promo 3CD 40: Best Of: 1979 - 2019: Promo CD 40: Best Of: 1979 - 2019: LP 40: Best Of: 1979 - 2019: Limited Edition LP 40: Best Of: 1979 - 2019: CD 40: Best Of: 1979 - 2019: Deluxe CD

Edit (3:19)
Producer: Leckie
Engineer: Jones

I Travel 7" single I Travel Australian 7" limited edition single

Album Version (3:56)
Producer: Leckie
Engineer: Jones

Empires And Dance LP Empires And Dance MC Celebrate 12" single Themes For Great Cities Promo LP Themes For Great Cities LP Themes For Great Cities MC Celebration Promo LP Celebration LP Celebration MC Empires And Dance LP (Virgin Reissue) Empires And Dance MC (Virgin Reissue) Celebration LP (Virgin Reissue) Celebration MC (Virgin Reissue) Celebration CD Empires And Dance CD All The Things... Canadian Promo MC Empires And Dance CD (Virgin Budget Reissue) Empires And Dance LP (Virgin Budget Reissue) Empires And Dance MC (Virgin Budget Reissue) Celebration LP (Virgin Budget Reissue) Celebration MC (Virgin Budget Reissue) Celebration CD (Virgin Budget Reissue) Street Fighting Years Limited Edition MC Box Set Street Fighting Years Limited Edition CD Box Set Compact Collection Celebration Disky CD The Best Of Simple Minds CD1 Promo The Best Of US Promo The Best Of The Best Of SACD Empires And Dance Remaster Promo CD Empires And Dance Remaster Limited Edition CD The Best Of Night Of The Proms Special Remastered Edition Empires And Dance Remaster CD Early Gold Promo CD Early Gold CD Early Gold US Promo CD Early Gold US Promo CD Gift Pack CD Limited Edition Gift Pack DVD Limited Edition X5 Album Sampler X5 Empires And Dance Promo X5 The Best Of Donna Moderna cover CD The Vinyl Collection (79,84) The Music Of Simple Minds



Extended (6:13)
Producer: Leckie
Engineer: Jones

I Travel 12" single I Travel 12" single I Travel 12" single I Travel German 12" single Simplemente LP Themes Volume One Theme One: I Travel CD Theme One: I Travel MC The Platinum Collection CD Themes 1-4 Promo CDR Themes Volume One - Five X5 Empires And Dance Promo X5

Live Version (25th September 1981) (5:09)
Recorded: Hammersmith Odeon, London, UK

I Travel 12" single

Utah Saints Mix Edit (4:19)
Producer: Leckie
Engineer: Jones
Remixed and additional production: Utah Saints

War Babies - All Tracks CDR Remixes - Disc One CDR War Babies 7" War Babies cassette single

Utah Saints Mix (7:58)
Producer: Leckie
Engineer: Jones
Remixed and additional production: Utah Saints

War Babies - All Tracks CDR Remixes - Disc One CDR War Babies Promo 12" War Babies European CD single

Utah Saints Dub Mix (7:56)
Producer: Leckie
Engineer: Jones
Remixed and additional production: Utah Saints

3 Remixes

Live Version (21st Jan 1983) (3:36)
Recorded: Oxford Road Show


Seen The Lights - DVD 1 Bonus Tracks In-House CD

Demo (3:52)
Producer: Leckie
Mastered by: Simon Heyworth
Silver Box Promo CDR #1 Silver Box Promo CDR Sampler Silver Box Mexican Promo CDR Sampler Silver Box

Live Version (3rd November 2009) (4:43)
Recorded: Arena, Vienna, Austria
Mixed By Concert Online

Boxed USB Stick Boxed MP3 Player

Live Version (7th November 2009) (4:32)
Recorded: Atlantico, Rome, Italy, Italy
Mixed By Concert Online

Boxed USB Stick Boxed MP3 Player

Live Version (22nd November 2009) (4:36)
Recorded: Falconer Theatre, Copenhagen, Denmark
Mixed By Concert Online

Boxed USB Stick Boxed MP3 Player

Live Version (30th November 2009) (4:47)
Recorded: Metro Arena, Newcastle, UK
Mixed By Concert Online

Boxed USB Stick Boxed MP3 Player Limited Edition Boxed Gold USB Stick

Live Version (5th December 2009) (4:32)
Recorded: Arena, Sheffield, UK
Mixed By Concert Online

Boxed USB Stick Boxed MP3 Player Limited Edition Boxed Gold USB Stick

2012 John Leckie Remix (4:47)
Producer: Leckie
Engineer: Jones
Remixed by: John Leckie

Theme For Great Cities Limited Edition 12" Theme For Great Cities Promo CD

Live Version (25th February 2012) (4:53)
Recorded: Barrowland, Glasgow, UK
Recorded by: Olivier Gerard
Mixed by: Olivier Gerard
Engineered by: Rudy Coclet
ISRC: GB01A1201406

5X5 Live Sampler Promo CD 5X5 Live Promo CD #1-1 5X5 Live Promo CD #2-1 5X5 Live 5X5 Live Irish Promo CD 5X5 Live LP 5X5 Live Export LP

Live Version (30th November 2012) (4:54)
Recorded: Palais Theatre, Melbourne, Australia
Produced by: Zach Bair
Recorded and Mixed by: Matt Dever

Live 2012: Melbourne

Live Version (1st December 2012) (4:53)
Recorded: Rochford Wines, Yarra Valley, Australia
Produced by: Zach Bair
Recorded and Mixed by: Matt Dever

Live 2012: Yarra Valley

Live Version (29th March 2013) (4:59)
Recorded: Sands Centre, Carlisle, UK
Mixed By Concert Live
Remastered By Derrick Carter

Simple Minds Live Generic CD Simple Minds Live Specific CD

Live Version (6th April 2013) (5:00)
Recorded: Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, UK
Mixed By Concert Live
Remastered By Derrick Carter

Simple Minds Live Generic CD Simple Minds Live Specific CD

Live Version (15th April 2013) (5:06)
Recorded: O2 Academy, Bournemouth, UK
Mixed By Concert Live
Remastered By Derrick Carter

Simple Minds Live Generic CD Simple Minds Live Specific CD Simple Minds Live Commercial CD

Live Version (20th November 2013) (4:53)
Recorded: Heineken Music Hall, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Mixed By Concert Live

Simple Minds Live Generic CD

Live Version (28th November 2013) (5:40)
Recorded: Arena, Manchester, UK
Mixed By Concert Live

Simple Minds Live Generic CD

Live Version (30th November 2013) (4:55)
Recorded: O2, London, UK
Mixed By Concert Live

Simple Minds Live Generic CD

Live Version (26th January 2014) (4:59)
Recorded: Palladium, Riga, Latvia
Mixed By Bleecker Street

Simple Minds Live Generic USB

Live Version (27th January 2014) (4:57)
Recorded: Circus, Helsinki, Finland
Mixed By Bleecker Street

Simple Minds Live Generic USB

Live Version (29th January 2014) (4:59)
Recorded: Circus, Stockholm, Sweden
Mixed By Bleecker Street

Simple Minds Live Generic USB

Live Version (30th January 2014) (4:56)
Recorded: Sentrum Scene, Oslo, Norway
Mixed By Bleecker Street

Simple Minds Live Generic USB

Live Version (31st January 2014) (4:58)
Recorded: Vega, Copenhagen, Denmark
Mixed By Bleecker Street

Simple Minds Live Generic USB

Live Version (1st February 2014) (4:58)
Recorded: Huxleys, Berlin, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street

Simple Minds Live Generic USB

Live Version (3rd February 2014) (4:59)
Recorded: Docks, Hamburg, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street

Simple Minds Live Generic USB

Live Version (27th November 2013) (4:56)
Recorded: Hydro, Glasgow, UK
Mixing: Olivier Gerard (GG) at Jet Studios, Brussels
Sound Engineer: Rudy Coclet

Celebrate - Live At The SSE Hydro Deluxe CD Celebrate - Live At The SSE Hydro CD Celebrate - Live At The SSE Hydro Limited Edition 2XLP Celebrate - Live At The SSE Hydro Limited Edition 2XLP

Live Version (9th June 2014) (4:51)
Recorded: KulturPur Festival, Hilchenbach, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street

Simple Minds Live Generic USB

Live Version (11th July 2014) (4:53)
Recorded: Kunst!Rasen, Bonn, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street

Simple Minds Live Generic USB

Live Version (24th July 2014) (4:50)
Recorded: Teatro Antico, Taormina, Sicily
Mixed By Bleecker Street

Simple Minds Live Generic USB

Live Version (26th July 2014) (4:52)
Recorded: Banchina San Domenico, Molfetta, Italy
Mixed By Bleecker Street

Simple Minds Live Generic USB

Live Version (27th July 2014) (4:56)
Recorded: The Cavea, Rome, Italy
Mixed By Bleecker Street

Simple Minds Live Generic USB

Live Version (28th July 2014) (?:??)
Recorded: Piazza Castello, Ferrara, Italy
Mixed By Bleecker Street

Simple Minds Live Generic USB

Live Version (29th July 2014) (4:57)
Recorded: Arena Alpe Adria, Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy
Mixed By Bleecker Street

Simple Minds Live Generic USB

Live Version (30th July 2014) (4:56)
Recorded: Gru Village, Turin, Italy
Mixed By Bleecker Street

Simple Minds Live Generic USB

Live Version (24th October 2018) (5:02)
Recorded: Orpheum Theatre, Los Angeles, California, USA
Recorded by: Olivier Gerard
Produced by: Andy Wright
Mixed by: Gavin Goldberg
Assisted by: Lewis Chapman

Live In The City Of Angels 4xCD Promo Live In The City Of Angels 4xCD Limited Edition




videography
Live Version (21st January 1983) (3:36)
Recorded: Oxford Road Show


Seen The Lights - A Visual History Promo DVD Seen The Lights - A Visual History DVD
Live Version (27th November 2013) (4:56)
Recorded: Hydro, Glasgow, UK
Mixing: Olivier Gerard (GG) at Jet Studios, Brussels
Sound Engineer: Rudy Coclet

Celebrate - Live At The SSE Hydro Deluxe DVD Celebrate - Live At The SSE Hydro DVD Celebrate - Live At The SSE Hydro Blu-Ray

Live Version (February-May 2015) (5:02)
Recorded: Big Music Tour 2015
Recorded By: Olivier Gerard
Mixed By: Olivier Gerard at Jet Studios

Live Big Music Tour 2015

Live Version (7th April 2015) (4:39)
Recorded: Usher Hall, Edinburgh, UK


Big Music YouTube




downloads
Live Version (3rd November 2009) (4:43)
Recorded: Arena, Vienna, Austria
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (7th November 2009) (4:32)
Recorded: Atlantico, Rome, Italy, Italy
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (22nd November 2009) (4:36)
Recorded: Falconer Theatre, Copenhagen, Denmark
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (30th November 2009) (4:47)
Recorded: Metro Arena, Newcastle, UK
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (5th December 2009) (4:32)
Recorded: Arena, Sheffield, UK
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (26th January 2014) (4:59)
Recorded: Palladium, Riga, Latvia
Mixed By Bleecker Street

Simple Minds Live Generic USB

Live Version (27th January 2014) (4:57)
Recorded: Circus, Helsinki, Finland
Mixed By Bleecker Street

Simple Minds Live Generic USB

Live Version (29th January 2014) (4:59)
Recorded: Circus, Stockholm, Sweden
Mixed By Bleecker Street

Simple Minds Live Generic USB

Live Version (30th January 2014) (4:56)
Recorded: Sentrum Scene, Oslo, Norway
Mixed By Bleecker Street

Simple Minds Live Generic USB

Live Version (31st January 2014) (4:58)
Recorded: Vega, Copenhagen, Denmark
Mixed By Bleecker Street

Simple Minds Live Generic USB

Live Version (1st February 2014) (4:58)
Recorded: Huxleys, Berlin, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street

Simple Minds Live Generic USB

Live Version (3rd February 2014) (4:59)
Recorded: Docks, Hamburg, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street

Simple Minds Live Generic USB

Live Version (9th June 2014) (4:51)
Recorded: KulturPur Festival, Hilchenbach, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street

Simple Minds Live Generic USB

Live Version (11th July 2014) (4:53)
Recorded: Kunst!Rasen, Bonn, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street

Simple Minds Live Generic USB

Live Version (24th July 2014) (4:50)
Recorded: Teatro Antico, Taormina, Sicily
Mixed By Bleecker Street

Simple Minds Live Generic USB

Live Version (26th July 2014) (4:52)
Recorded: Banchina San Domenico, Molfetta, Italy
Mixed By Bleecker Street

Simple Minds Live Generic USB

Live Version (27th July 2014) (4:56)
Recorded: The Cavea, Rome, Italy
Mixed By Bleecker Street

Simple Minds Live Generic USB

Live Version (28th July 2014) (?:??)
Recorded: Piazza Castello, Ferrara, Italy
Mixed By Bleecker Street

Simple Minds Live Generic USB

Live Version (29th July 2014) (4:57)
Recorded: Arena Alpe Adria, Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy
Mixed By Bleecker Street

Simple Minds Live Generic USB

Live Version (30th July 2014) (4:56)
Recorded: Gru Village, Turin, Italy
Mixed By Bleecker Street

Simple Minds Live Generic USB




demo discography
Demo Version (3:52)
Producer: Leckie



live history
Real To Real Cacophony Tour: 1979-1980
Empires And Dance Tour: 1980
Empires And Dance Tour: 1981
Sons And Fascination Tour: 1981
Sons And Fascination Tour: 1982
New Gold Tour: 1982-1983
Barrowlands: 1985
Festival Tour: 1997
The Floating World Tour: 2002
Alive And Kicking Tour: 2003
Festival Tour: 2004
Celebrate 30 Years Live Tour: 2008
30 Years Live European Tour: 2009
Graffiti Soul Tour: 2009
Lostboy! AKA Electroset Tour: 2010
5X5 Tour: 2012
Festival Tour: 2012
Australia: 2012
A Concert In The Gardens: 2012
Greatest Hits +: 2013
Summer Tour: 2013
Americas Tour: 2013
South Africa / Europe: 2013
Stonehaven: 2013
Greatest Hits + European Tour: 2014
Greatest Hits + Summer Tour: 2014
Big Music European Tour: 2015
Big Music Western Asia: 2016
Walk Between Worlds: 2018
Walk Between Worlds Summer Tour: 2018
Walk Between Worlds North And South American Tour: 2018
40 Years Of Hits Tour: 2020
40 Years Of Hits Tour: 2022