Real to Real Cacophony

Real to Real Cacophony (sometimes incorrectly referred as Reel to Real Cacophony) is the second studio album by Scottish rock band Simple Minds. It was released in November 1979, through record labels Zoom and Arista.

Real to Real Cacophony
Studio album by
Simple Minds
ReleasedNovember 1979
RecordedSeptember 1979
StudioRockfield Studios in Monmouth, Wales
Genre
Length40:46
LabelZoom, Arista
ProducerJohn Leckie
Simple Minds chronology
Life in a Day
(1979)		 Real to Real Cacophony
(1979)		 Empires and Dance
(1980)
Singles from Real to Real Cacophony
  1. "Changeling"
    Released: November 1980

Recording

Real to Real Cacophony was recorded and mixed in five weeks at Rockfield Studios. According to producer John Leckie the band had only four songs ("Premonition", "Factory", "Calling Your Name" and "Changeling"), the rest of the album was written in the studio.[3]

Release

Real to Real Cacophony did not chart, nor did its only single, "Changeling".

The 2002/2003 re-issues by Virgin Records incorrectly render the album's title as Reel to Real Cacophony, and the opening track as "Reel to Real". The new spelling also appears in the discography section of all the inlays in the 2002/2003 Simple Minds remastered edition series. Subsequent editions render the title of both the album and track correctly.

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
CMJ New Music Monthlyfavourable[4]
Smash Hits8/10[5]
Soundsfavourable[6]
Trouser Pressmixed[7]

Real to Real Cacophony has been generally well received by critics. Sounds John Gill wrote: "Real To Real Cacophony shows a considerable - and brave - progression. It captures some of the shock-effects of the avant-garde, some of the emotional power of outfits like the Pop Group, yet still retains the best of the Minds tight and trebly riffing. File under impressive."[8]

Retrospectivly AllMusic praised the album, describing it as "where Simple Minds ventured beyond the ability to mimic their influences and began to manipulate them, mercilessly pushing them around and shaping them into funny objects the way a child transforms a chunk of Play-Doh from an indefinable chunk of nothing into a definable chunk of something", calling it "an achievement that's on a plane with other 1979 post-punk landmarks like Metal Box, 154, Entertainment! and Unknown Pleasures".[1] Bob Stanley wrote in Record Collector: "Real To Real Cacophony should be hailed as a singularly strong post-punk-into-synth-pop bridge but the shadow of 'Belfast Child' looms over their legacy."[9]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Jim Kerr; all music is composed by Simple Minds (Kerr, Charlie Burchill, Derek Forbes, Brian McGee, Mick MacNeil).

Side A
No.TitleLength
1."Real to Real"2:47
2."Naked Eye"2:21
3."Citizen (Dance of Youth)"2:53
4."Carnival (Shelter in a Suitcase)"2:49
5."Factory"4:13
6."Cacophony"1:40
7."Veldt"3:20
Side B
No.TitleLength
1."Premonition"5:29
2."Changeling"4:11
3."Film Theme"2:27
4."Calling Your Name"5:05
5."Scar"3:31

Personnel

Simple Minds

Technical

  • John Leckie – arrangements, recording, mixing
  • Graphyk – sleeve graphics
  • Sheila Rock – sleeve photography
  • Trevor Rodgers – sleeve photography
  • Paul Henry – sleeve packaging
  • Mariella Sometimes – tape operation

References
  1. Kellman, Andy. "Real to Real Cacophony – Simple Minds : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards : AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  2. Huey, Steve. "Simple Minds". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  3. Real to Real Cacophony simpleminds.com
  4. "Simple Minds 'Real to Real Cacophony' Articles & Reviews". simpleminds.org.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  5. Starr, Red (13–26 December 1979). "Albums". Smash Hits: 29.
  6. Gill, John (1 December 1979). "[Real to Real Cacophony review]". Sounds. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  7. Schlosberg, Karen; Robbins, Ira. "TrouserPress.com :: Simple Minds". TrouserPress.com. Archived from the original on 30 November 2012. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  8. Sounds December 1st 1979 Dream Giver Redux
  9. Stanley, Bob (2019). "Bob Stanley - Record Collector". Record Collector. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
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