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theme for great cities


composers
Composers: Kerr / Burchill / MacNeil / Forbes / McGee
(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
Theme For Great Cities: it defined Balearic for a generation of clubbed out Ibiza party-goers, but they'd never really knew it as Simple Minds; they knew it as a multitude of dance remixes by anonymous DJs.

It was one of three demos Mick gave to Jim on cassette in early 1981. The first two eventually became Sons And Fascination and Seeing Out The Angel. The third was elusive, and as Jim tried to write lyrics for it, it became known as The Third Track.

It was recorded under the demo title of Dexy's.

It was recorded at Farmyard Studios as a backing track, as everyone probably assumed it would get vocals later. However, with the final mix underway at Regent's Park, the band ran out of time and Jim cooly declared it would remain an instrumental. "I never imagined Theme For Great Cities being an instrumental while Jim would say he always imagined it being an instrumental. But had I known that it was going to be and borne that in mind, I'm sure I would've made it much more interesting, even though I think it's a classic" - Mick.


"One of the best moves I ever made was not to sing on 'Theme For Great Cities'. I remember walking around with that in Glasgow on my new Sony Walkman thinking this is fucking perfect." - Jim


"It was in early months of Spring '81 that I recall being given a cassette tape by the then Simple Minds keyboardist, Mick MacNeil. It included three new ideas that he had been working on at home, most probably using a 4-track Tascam portastudio. Instantly excited about this new music he had given me, my job was to spend a lot of time listening hard, in doing so getting to know it inside out. My overall objective being to conjure up lyrics and melodic vocal ideas. Ones that might fit seamlessly, evolving those original ideas of Mick's, into something that you would then call songs. Within a few days I had succeeded in that task with at least two of the tracks. One of which I believe became Sons And Fascination. The other become known as Seeing Out The Angel. The third track, and possibly my favourite, somehow eluded me."

"Not that I had not come up with any ideas, I had hit on plenty. It was more that nothing I had come up with did rightful justice to Mick's already "seemingly complete" idea. Leaving me weeks later to come to the conclusion that the piece perhaps could work most powerfully as an instrumental?"

"Coming to that was in no way a surrender, or that I had given up with trying. Although that of course happens sometimes, this time was different. I simply believed in the potency of the idea working best - if it was to be produced as an "instrumental theme." Truly, I could find no need for me to go breathing all over the top of it - only so we could call it a "proper song." And why should I have considered that? Well, because by enlarge, instrumentals were often viewed as lesser creations than full on songs. Ones with lyrics, verses, choruses etc."

"But then again, Eno/Kraftwerk/Bowie/Magazine and a few others, had already impressed on us the potency of instrumental music. Plus, Simple Minds had themselves already flirted with instrumentals on previous albums. Therefore this mysterious "3rd track" as I had then titled it, could perhaps also be in the same vein. Or at least that was increasingly my inclination as I walked through the southside of Glasgow daily with the sound of it constantly on repeat."

"Finally, given then that there would be no lyrics to help give an image to the track. I still knew that I would have to come up with a standout title - to befit solidly the futuristic style and atmosphere that I perceived even on first listen to the demo idea. That left me with the challenge of coming up with string of words that added together would somehow just grab you, wrestle with your imagination, and hopefully make you want to listen. For that I chose "Theme For Great Cities"- and to me it seemed to fit perfectly. I now could never imagine it being called anything else. And as for the inspiration? I feel sure that I had simultaneously been reading a compilation of short stories from the popular sci-fi author Phillip K Dick. It might well have played a part in that." - Jim, 12th August 2017




lyrics
Instrumental


discography
Album Version (5:50)
Producer: Steve Hillage
Engineer: Hugh Jones

Sons And Fascination/Sister Feelings Call Limited Edition LP Sister Feelings Call LP Sons And Fascination MC Sons And Fascination Canadian LP Sons And Fascination Canadian MC Sister Feelings Call Australian LP Sister Feelings Call Australian MC Themes For Great Cities Promo LP Themes For Great Cities LP Themes For Great Cities MC Promised You A Miracle 7" single Promised You A Miracle 12" single Promised You A Miracle German 7" single Sister Feelings Call MC Sons And Fascination CD Sons And Fascination MC (Virgin Budget Reissue) Themes Volume One Theme Five: Promised You A Miracle CD Theme Five: Promised You A Miracle MC Sons And Fascination CD (Virgin Budget Reissue) The Best Of Simple Minds CD1 Promo The Best Of US Promo The Best Of The Best Of SACD Sons And Fascination Remaster Promo CD Sons And Fascination Remaster Limited Edition CD The Best Of Night Of The Proms Special Remastered Edition Sons And Fascination Remaster CD The Platinum Collection CD Gift Pack CD Limited Edition Gift Pack DVD Limited Edition Themes 5-8 Promo CDR Themes Volume One - Five X5 Album Sampler X5 Sister Feelings Call Promo CD X5 The Best Of Donna Moderna cover CD Five Album Set Celebrate: The Greatest Hits + Promo CD Celebrate: The Greatest Hits + 3CD The Vinyl Collection (79,84) 40: Best Of: 1979 - 2019: Promo 3CD 40: Best Of: 1979 - 2019: Promo CD 40: Best Of: 1979 - 2019: Deluxe CD

'90 Remix (3:07)
Producer: Stephen Lipson

Street Fighting Years 2020 Super Deluxe 4CD

'91 Edit (4:33)
Producer: Stephen Lipson
Engineer and MIDI Manager: Heff Moraes
Mixing Assistant: Giles Cowley

See The Lights 7" See The Lights MC See The Lights Limited Edition 12" Themes 21-24 Promo CDR Themes Volume One - Five Themes Volume Five

'91 (6:33)
Producer: Stephen Lipson
Engineer and MIDI Manager: Heff Moraes
Mixing Assistant: Giles Cowley

See The Lights Promo CD See The Lights 12" See The Lights CD See The Lights German CD Themes 21-24 Promo CDR Themes Volume One - Five Themes Volume Five

Fila Brazilia Remix Edit (3:42)
Producer: Steve Hillage
Remixed by: Fila Brazilia

Remixes Promo CD Glitterball Italian 12"

Fila Brazilia Remix (5:01)
Producer: Steve Hillage
Remixed by: Fila Brazilia

Glitterball Promo MC Glitterball CD Remixes - Disc One CDR

Fila Brazilia Mix 1 (5:37)
Producer: Steve Hillage
Remixed by: Fila Brazilia

Glitterball Promo 12" 3 Remixes

'98 Fluke's Atlantis Mix (5:36)
Producer: Steve Hillage
Remixed and additional production by Fluke

War Babies - All Tracks CDR Remixes - Disc Two CDR War Babies Promo 12" War Babies CD promo War Babies CD single

Live Version (6th November 2009) (1:59)
Recorded: Neon Concept Club, Ancona, Italy
Mixed By Concert Online

Boxed USB Stick Boxed MP3 Player

Live Version (7th November 2009) (3:19)
Recorded: Atlantico, Rome, Italy
Mixed By Concert Online

Boxed USB Stick Boxed MP3 Player

Live Version (8th November 2009) (3:17)
Recorded: Gran Teatro Di Padova, Padova, Italy
Mixed By Concert Online

Boxed USB Stick Boxed MP3 Player

Live Version (18th November 2009) (1:49)
Recorded: La Riviera, Madrid, Spain
Mixed By Concert Online

Boxed USB Stick Boxed MP3 Player

Live Version (19th November 2009) (1:32)
Recorded: Kursaal, San Sebastian, Spain
Mixed By Concert Online

Boxed USB Stick Boxed MP3 Player

Live Version (22nd November 2009) (3:04)
Recorded: Falconer Theatre, Copenhagen, Denmark
Mixed By Concert Online

Boxed USB Stick Boxed MP3 Player

Live Version (23rd November 2009) (3:16)
Recorded: Solnahallen, Stockholm, Sweden
Mixed By Concert Online

Boxed USB Stick Boxed MP3 Player

Live Version (24th November 2009) (2:59)
Recorded: Sentrum Scene, Oslo, Norway
Mixed By Concert Online

Boxed USB Stick Boxed MP3 Player

Live Version (26th November 2009) (3:13)
Recorded: Heineken Music Hall, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Mixed By Concert Online

Boxed USB Stick Boxed MP3 Player

Live Version (27th November 2009) (3:04)
Recorded: Sporthalle, Hamburg, Germany
Mixed By Concert Online

Boxed USB Stick Boxed MP3 Player

Live Version (28th November 2009) (3:24)
Recorded: Forest National, Brussels, Belgium
Mixed By Concert Online

Boxed USB Stick Boxed MP3 Player

Live Version (30th November 2009) (3:04)
Recorded: Metro Arena, Newcastle, UK
Mixed By Concert Online

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

Live Version (2nd December 2009) (3:08)
Recorded: NEC, Birmingham, UK
Mixed By Concert Online

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

Live Version (3rd December 2009) (3:03)
Recorded: MEN, Manchester, UK
Mixed By Concert Online

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

Live Version (5th December 2009) (3:05)
Recorded: Arena, Sheffield, UK
Mixed By Concert Online

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

Live Version (6th December 2009) (3:03)
Recorded: CIA, Cardiff, UK
Mixed By Concert Online

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

Live Version (7th December 2009) (1:47)
Recorded: Arena, Wembley, UK
Mixed By Concert Online

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

Live Version (9th December 2009) (1:46)
Recorded: 02, Dublin, Ireland
Mixed By Concert Online

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

Live Version (10th December 2009) (1:46)
Recorded: Odyssey, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Mixed By Concert Online

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

Live Version (11th December 2009) (2:01)
Recorded: SECC, Glasgow, UK
Mixed By Concert Online

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

Live Version (12th December 2009) (1:54)
Recorded: AEC, Aberdeen, UK
Mixed By Concert Online

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

Live Version (17th December 2009) (1:50)
Recorded: Popcentrum, Tilburg, Netherlands
Mixed By Concert Online

Boxed USB Stick Boxed MP3 Player

Live Version (18th December 2009) (1:41)
Recorded: Autostadt Piazza, Wolfsburg, Germany
Mixed By Concert Online

Boxed USB Stick Boxed MP3 Player

Moby Remix Radio Edit (3:29)
Producer: Steve Hillage
Remixed by: Moby

Moby Remix (6:04)
Producer: Steve Hillage
Remixed by: Moby

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

Live Version (24th February 2012) (4:33)
Recorded: Academy, Birmingham, UK
Recorded by: Olivier Gerard
Mixed by: Olivier Gerard
Engineered by: Rudy Coclet
ISRC: GB01A1201427

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

Live Version (20th November 2013) (4:33)
Recorded: Heineken Music Hall, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Mixed By Concert Live

Simple Minds Live Generic CD

Live Version (28th November 2013) (4:39)
Recorded: Arena, Manchester, UK
Mixed By Concert Live

Simple Minds Live Generic CD

Live Version (30th November 2013) (5:59)
Recorded: O2, London, UK
Mixed By Concert Live

Simple Minds Live Generic CD

Live Version (27th November 2013) (4:28)
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 (27th July 2014) (4:30)
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) (4:29)
Recorded: Arena Alpe Adria, Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy
Mixed By Bleecker Street

Simple Minds Live Generic USB

Live Version (30th July 2014) (4:27)
Recorded: Gru Village, Turin, Italy
Mixed By Bleecker Street

Simple Minds Live Generic USB

Live Version (24th October 2018) (5:05)
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 2xCD Promo Live In The City Of Angels 4xLP Limited Edition Live In The City Of Angels 2xCD Live In The City Of Angels 4xCD Limited Edition




videography
'90 Remix (3:06)
Producer: Steve Lipson

Verona Promo Video Verona Video Seen The Lights - A Visual History Promo DVD Seen The Lights - A Visual History DVD Seen The Lights - Live In Verona Promo DVD Seen The Lights - Live In Verona DVD Gift Pack - Limited Edition 2xCD 1xDVD Gift Pack - 2xCD 1xDVD

2013 Remix (1:08)
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

2013 Remix (1:25)
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 (27th November 2013) (4:28)
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




downloads
Live Version (6th November 2009) (1:59)
Recorded: Neon Concept Club, Ancona, Italy
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (7th November 2009) (3:19)
Recorded: Atlantico, Rome, Italy
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (8th November 2009) (3:17)
Recorded: Gran Teatro Di Padova, Padova, Italy
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (18th November 2009) (1:49)
Recorded: La Riviera, Madrid, Spain
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (19th November 2009) (1:32)
Recorded: Kursaal, San Sebastian, Spain
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (22nd November 2009) (3:04)
Recorded: Falconer Theatre, Copenhagen, Denmark
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (23rd November 2009) (3:16)
Recorded: Solnahallen, Stockholm, Sweden
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (24th November 2009) (2:59)
Recorded: Sentrum Scene, Oslo, Norway
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (26th November 2009) (3:13)
Recorded: Heineken Music Hall, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (27th November 2009) (3:04)
Recorded: Sporthalle, Hamburg, Germany
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (28th November 2009) (3:24)
Recorded: Forest National, Brussels, Belgium
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (30th November 2009) (3:04)
Recorded: Metro Arena, Newcastle, UK
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (2nd December 2009) (3:08)
Recorded: NEC, Birmingham, UK
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (3rd December 2009) (3:03)
Recorded: MEN, Manchester, UK
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (5th December 2009) (3:05)
Recorded: Arena, Sheffield, UK
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (6th December 2009) (3:03)
Recorded: CIA, Cardiff, UK
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (7th December 2009) (1:47)
Recorded: Arena, Wembley, UK
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (9th December 2009) (1:46)
Recorded: 02, Dublin, Ireland
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (10th December 2009) (1:46)
Recorded: Odyssey, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (11th December 2009) (2:01)
Recorded: SECC, Glasgow, UK
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (12th December 2009) (1:54)
Recorded: AEC, Aberdeen, UK
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (17th December 2009) (1:50)
Recorded: Popcentrum, Tilburg, Netherlands
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (18th December 2009) (1:41)
Recorded: Autostadt Piazza, Wolfsburg, Germany
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (27th July 2014) (4:30)
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) (4:29)
Recorded: Arena Alpe Adria, Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy
Mixed By Bleecker Street

Simple Minds Live Generic USB

Live Version (30th July 2014) (4:27)
Recorded: Gru Village, Turin, Italy
Mixed By Bleecker Street

Simple Minds Live Generic USB




live history
Sons And Fascination Tour: 1981
The Floating World Tour: 2002
Alive And Kicking Tour: 2003
Festival Tour: 2004
Intimate Tour: 2005
Black And White Tour: 2006
Graffiti Soul Tour: 2009
Australian Tour: 2010
Festival Show Tour: 2010
Final Shows: 2010
5X5 Tour: 2012
Festival Tour: 2012
Americas Tour: 2013
South Africa / Europe: 2013
Electoset Germany: 2013
Greatest Hits + Summer Tour: 2014
Walk Between Worlds North And South American Tour: 2018
40 Years Of Hits Tour: 2020
40 Years Of Hits Tour: 2022