Promised You a Miracle

This article is about the song. For the book, see Andy Beckett.

"Promised You a Miracle"
Single by Simple Minds
Single by Simple Minds
from the album New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84)
B-side"Theme for Great Cities"
Released2 April 1982 (1982-04-02)
Recorded12–14 February 1982[1][2]
StudioThe Town House, London
Genre
Length3:59
LabelVirgin
Songwriter(s)Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill, Derek Forbes and Mick MacNeil
Producer(s)Peter Walsh
Simple Minds singles chronology
"I Travel (reissue)"
(1982) 		"Promised You a Miracle"
(1982) 		"Glittering Prize"
(1982)

"Promised You a Miracle" is a 1982 song by Scottish band Simple Minds and was released as the first single from their fifth studio album New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84). It was the band's first chart hit in the UK,[4] reaching #13 in the UK singles chart and charting for 11 weeks.[5] Their previous nine UK singles yielded no Top 40 hits in that country[6] although some had sold well in Scotland.

It was the only song on the album that included Kenny Hyslop as the studio session drummer.[7] Mike Ogletree and Mel Gaynor contributed for the other eight tracks.

The song triggered a prolonged period of commercial success for the band, during which they yielded 21 original UK hit singles in a row, up to and including 1998's "Glitterball" from the album Neapolis.[8][9] It also enabled them to make their debut on the British music television show Top of the Pops.[10][11]

The music video, directed by Steve Barron,[12] features the band members playing amidst colour television imagery, interspersed with an uncredited female model passing through an airport X-ray and sunbathing.

A live version from the album Live in the City of Light was released in 1987. The video was a simulated live performance filmed in London's east end. Directed by John Scarlett-Davis and produced by Nick Verden.

  1. ^ "dream giver redux | songs | released | promised you a miracle". simpleminds.org.
  2. ^ "dream giver redux | timeline". simpleminds.org.
  3. ^ Heller-Nicholas, Alexandra (2016). "Simple Minds – New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84)". In Dimery, Robert (ed.). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. London: Cassell Illustrated. p. 491.
  4. ^ Glittering Prize 81/92 Cassette Sleeve Notes by Brian Hogg, 1992
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference UK was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "Glittering Prize". AllMusic.
  7. ^ New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84) Sleeve Credits, 1982
  8. ^ "Simple Minds Singles". Dream Giver Redux.
  9. ^ "Simple Minds Hits". everyHit.com.
  10. ^ The Best of Simple Minds CD Sleeve Notes by Billy Sloan, 2001
  11. ^ "Promised You A Miracle". Dream Giver Redux.
  12. ^ Zoë Howe (2014). "17". Stevie Nicks: Visions Dreams & Rumours. Omnibus Press.