Song · Simple Minds
“Glittering Prize” by Simple Minds
From the album New Gold Dream (81‐82‐83‐84) (1982)
“Glittering Prize” by Simple Minds appears on 1 radio countdown from 1 station in 1982. It was first released in 1982 on the album New Gold Dream (81‐82‐83‐84). Its best result is #45 on the John Peel's Festive Fifty of 1982. In the combined RockLists rankings it is the #135 alternative song of 1982.
"Glittering Prize" followed "Promised You a Miracle" as the second single from New Gold Dream (81–82–83–84), Simple Minds' fifth album, out on Virgin in 1982. Peter Walsh produced, engineered and arranged it; Jim Kerr sings lead with guest Sharon Campbell, while Charlie Burchill's guitar and Michael MacNeil's keyboards trade shimmering effects over Derek Forbes' bass and Mel Gaynor's drums.
Kerr told Smash Hits in 1982 it was about glimpsing something and chasing it against the odds, whether the prize is a girl or a dream. He once turned up late to rehearsal to find the band already playing it without him, and they admitted it took a while to grow on them. It reached 16 in the UK, went top 10 in Australia, New Zealand and Norway, and a decade later lent its name to the Glittering Prize 81/92 compilation.
Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia.
RockLists rankings
Alternative & Modern Rock
All Rock Formats
Year-end countdowns
| Year | # | Station | Countdown | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 45 | John Peel (BBC Radio 1) | John Peel's Festive Fifty of 1982 | 50 |
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