the listener" and containing "some truly lovely moments". A review of the Themes box-set released in June 2008 from Q magazine discussed, "if at times the preciousness of the later work sets the teeth on edge, the sheer musical skill and undoubted power of the band makes up for it", praising the "brilliant atmosphere Simple Minds made their own." Music critic David Stubbs, in a review of the compilation Glittering Prize 81/92, mourned what he found to be the "dramatic artistic decline (and parallel commercial rise)" of the band: "As Jim Kerr sank further into mega-stardom, the music suffered further as he indulged in piously cumbersome ballads like "Belfast Child" and "Mandela Day". John Aizlewood of Q disagreed, saying, "there was much to commend on Street Fighting Years and its follow-up, Real Life". In 1989 Q magazine selected Street Fighting Years as one of the top recordings of the year. Track listing Sources Personnel Simple Minds Jim Kerr – lead vocals Charlie Burchill – acoustic and electric guitars Mick MacNeil – piano, accordion, keyboards Additional musicians John Giblin – fretted and fretless bass guitar, double bass (1) Stephen Lipson – additional bass guitar, producer Manu Katché – drums (1, 2, 9) Mel Gaynor – drums (3, 8, 10) Stewart Copeland – LinnDrum programming (uncredited) (4, 6) Leroy Williams – percussion (1, 2, 8, 9, 10) Sidney Thiam – additional percussion Abdul M'boup – additional percussion Maureen Kerr – penny whistle, bodhran Roger Sharp – bagpipes Lisa Germano – violin (1, 4, 9) William Lithgow – cello Sheena McKenzie – cello John Altman – orchestral arrangements Lou Reed – additional lead vocals on "This Is Your Land" Lorna Bannon – backing vocals Studio personnel Dougie Cowan – technical master Robin Hancock – engineer Guido Harari – photography Simon Heyworth – mastering Trevor Horn – producer Paul Kerr – logistics Stephen Lewis – talking Bob Ludwig – mastering Heff Moraes – engineer Martin Plant – assistant engineer Steve Ralbovsky – talking Willie P. Richardson – talking Danton Supple – assistant engineer Jane Ventom – coordination Gary Wathen – talking Ying Ho Au Yeung – catering Charts Weekly charts Year-end charts Singles Certifications and sales References External links Simple Minds albums 1989 albums Albums produced by Trevor Horn Albums produced by Stephen Lipson