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book of brilliant things


composers
Words And Music: Simple Minds
Written by: Derek Forbes / Mick MacNeil / Charles Burchill / Jim Kerr (Post 2015 Credit)


publisher
© EMI Music Publishing
© BMG Rights Management (UK) Ltd, a BMG Chrysalis company. (Post 2015 Credit)


background
The song was first demoed in January-February 1983 where it appered as the first track on the band's formal demo tape. At this point, it was simply an instrumental backing track, but enough elements of the song were in place to make it instantly recognisable.


See Also: Old Chapel Song #1.




lyrics
Thank you for the voice, the eyes and the memories shine.
Thank you for the pictures of living in the beautiful black and the white.
Some say we'll be together for a very long time.
Some say that our first impressions never will lie.

I open up to take a look,
Into the bright and shiny book,
Into the open scheme of things,
Book of brilliant things.
Book of brilliant things.

I open up to take a look,
Into the bright and shiny book,
Into the open scheme of things,
Book of brilliant things.
Oh, book of brilliant things.

I thank you for the shadows,
It takes two or three to make company,
I thank you for the lightning that shoots up,
And sparkles in the rain.
Some say this could be the great divide,
Some day some of them say that our hearts will beat,
Like the wheels of the fast train, all around the world.

I open up to take a look,
Into the bright and shiny book,
Into the open scheme of things,
Book of brilliant things.
Book of brilliant things.

Some say we can be together for a very long time,
Some say our hearts will beat like the wheels of a fast train,
All around the world.
All around the world.
All around the world.
Some say our hearts beat like the wheels of a fast train,
All around the world.
All around, all around, around, around,
All around the world.

Our hearts beat like the wheels of a fast train,
A very long time,
All around and all around and all around and all around the world.
Some say we'll be together.
Some say.

A very long time, some of them will say,
A very long time all around the world.



discography
Album Version (4:20)
Producer: Steve Lillywhite
Engineer: Howard Gray

Sparkle Through The Years Canadian Promotional LP Sparkle Through The Years Canadian Promotional MC Sparkle In The Rain Limited Edition LP Sparkle In The Rain LP Sparkle In The Rain MC Sparkle In The Rain CD Sparkle In The Rain US Promo LP Sparkle In The Rain Canadian Limited Edition Tranparent Vinyl LP Street Fighting Years Limited Edition MC Box Set Street Fighting Years Limited Edition CD Box Set Sparkle In The Rain LP (Virgin Budget Reissue) Sparkle In The Rain MC (Virgin Budget Reissue) Sparkle In The Rain CD (Virgin Budget Reissue) Sparkle In The Rain Remaster Promo CD Sparkle In The Rain Remaster Danish Promo CD Sparkle In The Rain Remaster Limited Edition CD Sparkle In The Rain Remaster CD Five Album Set Classic Album Selection Sparkle In The Rain French Promo CD Sparkle In The Rain Remaster LP Sparkle In The Rain Remaster CD Sparkle In The Rain Remaster Deluxe CD Sparkle In The Rain Remaster Super Deluxe Box The Vinyl Collection (79,84) Sparkle In The Rain Limited Edition HMV Centenary LP

Album Version DTS 5.1 Surround Mix (4:22)
Producer: Steve Lillywhite
Engineer: Howard Gray
Remixed by: Steve Wilson

Sparkle In The Rain French Promo CD Sparkle In The Rain Remaster Super Deluxe Box

Album Version High Resolution Stereo (4:22)
Producer: Steve Lillywhite
Engineer: Howard Gray
Remixed by: Steve Wilson

Sparkle In The Rain French Promo CD Sparkle In The Rain Remaster Super Deluxe Box Sparkle In The Rain HFPA

Album Version Dolby Digital 5:1 (4:22)
Producer: Steve Lillywhite
Engineer: Howard Gray
Remixed by: Steve Wilson

Sparkle In The Rain French Promo CD Sparkle In The Rain Remaster Super Deluxe Box

Album Version 24/96 LPCM Stereo (4:22)
Producer: Steve Lillywhite
Engineer: Howard Gray
Remixed by: Steve Wilson

Sparkle In The Rain HFPA

Album Version 24/96 DTS 5.1 Surround Mix (4:22)
Producer: Steve Lillywhite
Engineer: Howard Gray
Remixed by: Steve Wilson

Sparkle In The Rain HFPA

Album Version 24/96 Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Mix (4:22)
Producer: Steve Lillywhite
Engineer: Howard Gray
Remixed by: Steve Wilson

Sparkle In The Rain HFPA

Live Version (28th February 1984) (8:07)
Recorded: Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow, UK
Engineer: Steve Lillywhite

Sparkle In The Rain French Promo CD Sparkle In The Rain Remaster Super Deluxe Box

Live Version (3rd December 1985) (7:27)
Recorded: Ahoy, Rotterdam
Mastered by: Simon Heyworth

Silver Box Promo CDR #3 Silver Box

Live Version (12th, 13th August 1986) (4:53)
Recorded: Le Zenith, Paris, France
Producer: Bruce Lampcov
Mastered by: Bob Ludwig
Head Engineer: Steve Riddle
Additional mixing: Callum Malcolm and Tom Cadley

Live In The City Of Light Promotional Box Set Live In The City Of Light Limited Edition LP Live In The City Of Light Limited Edition MC Live In The City Of Light LP Live In The City Of Light MC Live In The City Of Light CD Promised You A Miracle Live 7" Promised You A Miracle Live Limited Edition 10" Promised You A Miracle Live MC Promised You A Miracle Live 12" Promised You A Miracle Live Jukebox 7" Promised You A Miracle Live US 7" Promised You A Miracle Live US Promo 12" Themes Volume Three Theme Fifteen: Promised You A Miracle CD Theme Fifteen: Promised You A Miracle MC Live In The City Of Light CD Reissue Live In The City Of Light Remaster Promo CD Live In The City Of Light Limited Edition CD Live In The City of Light Remaster CD The Platinum Collection CD Themes 15-17 Promo CDR Themes Volume One - Five Live In The City Of Light Legendary Live Albums CD

Live Version (15th September 1989) (4:53)
Recorded: Verona, Italy
Producer: Stephen Lipson

Street Fighting Years 2020 Super Deluxe 4CD

Live Version (3rd November 2009) (3:34)
Recorded: Arena, Vienna, Austria
Mixed By Concert Online

Boxed USB Stick Boxed MP3 Player

Live Version (5th November 2009) (3:16)
Recorded: Saschall, Florence, Italy
Mixed By Concert Online

Boxed USB Stick Boxed MP3 Player

Live Version (6th November 2009) (3:12)
Recorded: Neon Concept Club, Ancona, Italy
Mixed By Concert Online

Boxed USB Stick Boxed MP3 Player

Live Version (8th November 2009) (3:39)
Recorded: Gran Teatro Di Padova, Padova, Italy
Mixed By Concert Online

Boxed USB Stick Boxed MP3 Player

Live Version (18th November 2009) (3:36)
Recorded: La Riviera, Madrid, Spain
Mixed By Concert Online

Boxed USB Stick Boxed MP3 Player

Live Version (3rd December 2009) (3:14)
Recorded: MEN, Manchester, UK
Mixed By Concert Online

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

Live Version (6th December 2009) (3:08)
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) (3:08)
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) (3:21)
Recorded: 02, Dublin, Ireland
Mixed By Concert Online

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

Live Electro Version (29th March 2013) (3:42)
Recorded: Sands Centre, Carlisle, UK
Mixed By Concert Live
Remastered By Derrick Carter

Simple Minds Live Generic CD Simple Minds Live Specific CD

Live Electro Version (6th April 2013) (4:05)
Recorded: Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, UK
Mixed By Concert Live
Remastered By Derrick Carter

Simple Minds Live Generic CD Simple Minds Live Specific CD

Live Electro Version (15th April 2013) (3:50)
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 Electro Version (20th November 2013) (2:51)
Recorded: Heineken Music Hall, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Mixed By Concert Live

Simple Minds Live Generic CD

Live Electro Version (15th February 2014) (3:55)
Recorded: Konzerthalle, Olsberg, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street

Simple Minds Live Generic USB

Live Electro Version (16th February 2014) (3:54)
Recorded: Capitol, Hannover, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street

Simple Minds Live Generic USB

Live Electro Version (18th February 2014) (3:50)
Recorded: Phönixhalle, Mainz, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street

Simple Minds Live Generic USB

Live Electro Version (20th February 2014) (3:53)
Recorded: Werfhalle, Göppingen, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street

Simple Minds Live Generic USB

Live Version (February-May 2015) (6:04)
Recorded: Big Music Tour 2015
Recorded By: Olivier Gerard
Mixed By: Olivier Gerard at Jet Studios

Live Big Music Tour 2015

Live Version (24th October 2018) (7:17)
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




downloads
Live Version (28th Aug 2006) (3:47)
Recorded: Black And White Tour 2006
Mixed By Jez Coad

Black And White Live Bundle #6

Live Version (3rd November 2009) (3:34)
Recorded: Arena, Vienna, Austria
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (5th November 2009) (3:16)
Recorded: Saschall, Florence, Italy
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (6th November 2009) (3:12)
Recorded: Neon Concept Club, Ancona, Italy
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (8th November 2009) (3:39)
Recorded: Gran Teatro Di Padova, Padova, Italy
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (18th November 2009) (3:36)
Recorded: La Riviera, Madrid, Spain
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (3rd December 2009) (3:14)
Recorded: MEN, Manchester, UK
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (6th December 2009) (3:08)
Recorded: CIA, Cardiff, UK
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (7th December 2009) (3:08)
Recorded: Arena, Wembley, UK
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Version (9th December 2009) (3:21)
Recorded: 02, Dublin, Ireland
Mixed By Concert Online

Concert Online Download

Live Electro Version (15th February 2014) (3:55)
Recorded: Konzerthalle, Olsberg, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street

Simple Minds Live Generic USB

Live Electro Version (16th February 2014) (3:54)
Recorded: Capitol, Hannover, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street

Simple Minds Live Generic USB

Live Electro Version (18th February 2014) (3:50)
Recorded: Phönixhalle, Mainz, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street

Simple Minds Live Generic USB

Live Electro Version (20th February 2014) (3:53)
Recorded: Werfhalle, Göppingen, Germany
Mixed By Bleecker Street

Simple Minds Live Generic USB




videography
Live Version (3rd December 1985) (5:40)
Recorded: Ahoy, Rotterdam
Sound Mixer: Peter Walsh


Alive In Rotterdam promo video

Live Version Edit (15th September 1989) (1:16)
Recorded: Verona, Italy
Producer: Stephen 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

Live Version (7th April 2015) (6:16)
Recorded: Usher Hall, Edinburgh, UK


Big Music YouTube




demo discography
Song #1 (5:32)
Producer: Simple Minds
Simple Minds: Old Chapel Demos




live history
Tour Du Monde: 1983-1984
Barrowlands: 1985
Once Upon A Time Tour: 1985-1986
Cash For Kids: 1987
Street Fighting Years Tour: 1989
Germany: 1990
Real Life Tour: 1991
The Floating World Tour: 2002
Alive And Kicking Tour: 2003
Festival Tour: 2004
Intimate Tour: 2005
Black And White Tour: 2006
Australian Tour: 2007
Graffiti Soul Tour: 2009
Greatest Hits +: 2013
South Africa / Europe: 2013
Greatest Hits + European Tour: 2014
Big Music European Tour: 2015
Big Music Winter Tour: 2015
Big Music Western Asia: 2016
Australia - New Zealand: 2017
Walk Between Worlds North And South American Tour: 2018
40 Years Of Hits Tour: 2020