Simple Minds – Sparkle In The Rain

Original German pressing catalogue number 205-913. I really can't believe how bad this record sounds. It claims proudly "Direct Metal Mastering" on the cover but the sound is thin, compressed and muffled. The treble is completely overdriven, the bass is wobbly and the levels seem to change during the tracks. As for the music, I've never heard such dismal, pompous, empty guff.
It's amazing that this is the same band that a couple of years earlier laid down one of the greatest tunes of the 80's namely New Gold Dream. And the cover of "Street Hassle" must count as one of the worst and most inappropriate covers of any song ever.

Picked this up years ago for a few quid. I'm scratching my head at some of the reviews below because my copy sounds consistently great. Yep, there's a shine and treble-ness typical of 80s arena rock bands but there's also a really bright sound with plently of life and separation. Also, very little hint (if any) of inner groove distortion. Maybe my set-up isn't expensive enough to pick up on some of the disparaties (I've got a Rega Planar 3, Rega Brio amp and Dali Oberon 5 speakers) but this sounds a lot better than many thinner 80s releases to my ears. And it's still dirt cheap and a wonderful album to boot ;)

my copy says 1983 on label and came with a b/w fold-out inlay (ca 10x10cm) with some sort of press text/biography and discography on the flip side.
made in uk, virgin

This album and particularly my 1st pressing begs for a audio remastering like New Gold Dream. My copy sounds really bad. Suffers from really bad IGD and I agree with PlanetSwerve and beechlander, terrible sound, so bad I am seeking out the UMC repress with fingers crossed it sounds better.

Agree with beechlander. Whilst my copy is pristine and a fine pressing with no pops or background noise, the sound production or mix itself has muffled bass in some places. I noticed it immediatley on Up On The Catwalk. The separation, timing and clarity isn't there in places, leading to a muddle and muffle for split seconds, and bits of sonic drop-off in places such as during Waterfront. Thankfully it doesn't detract overall from the audio experience and from what a great record this.

OK pressing. Suffers towards the end of each side and during the loud moments on tracks when it tends to lose clarity and sounds muffled. Otherwise very good - Simple Minds before the overblown stadium rock really kicked in.