Simple Minds / Once Upon A Time 40th anniversary box set

After confirming the reissue back in January, Simple Minds have today announced that they will release a 40th anniversary 5CD set of their 1985 album Once Upon a Time, in October.

This new box set is effectively a repackaged version of the out-of-print 2015 super deluxe but without the DVD (which included a 5.1 mix and promo videos). That means the content is as follows:

• CD 1 – The Album
• CD 2 – B-sides & Rarities
• CD 3 – B-sides / Extended Mixes
• CD 4 – Live In The City Of Light (Live From Le Zenith, Paris ’86)
• CD 5 – Live In The City Of Light (Live From Le Zenith, Paris ’86)

Unlike the ‘ruby red’ vinyl LP reissue which is the only other physical format, the version of Once Upon a Time on CD 1 of the box set doesn’t feature ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me)’, although that is included on CD 2 in standard and extended mix variants. The box does feature the new artwork with the red on the front comes with a 36-page booklet with rare photos, interviews, and a track-by-track guide.

The ruby red vinyl edition is packaged in a gatefold sleeve and now features Don’t You (Forget About Me) as the last track on the first side, making the album nine tracks instead of eight.

To celebrate 40 years, the album is now available as a ruby red vinyl in a gatefold sleeve, which includes ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me)’ on the tracklist for the first time ever. The gatefold spread features Anton Corbijn’s famous photo of the band taken at Live Aid in 1985.

Hindsight is a glorious thing! 40 years on and it now feels right for Simple Minds to have ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me)’ included in this classy new nine track edition of Once Upon A Time.

Jim Kerr

Both formats of Once Upon a Time will not be released until 17 October 2025, which is exactly four days short of the exact 40 year anniversary. Pretty sure that Amazon UK box price will fall into line soon.

• Pre-order 5CD box set from the official Simple Minds shop (£42)
• Pre-order Ruby Red Vinyl from the official Simple Minds shop (£30)

Compare prices and pre-order

Simple Minds

Once Upon a Time - 5CD box set

Shop Price gbp Stock Amazon uk   74.99 Pre-Order Amazon usa   89.98 Pre-Order Amazon fr   69.59 Pre-Order Amazon jp   6457.00 Pre-Order JPC de   44.99 Pre-Order Official Artist Store   42.00 pre-order Rough Trade uk   43.99 pre-order Rough Trade usa   94.99 pre-order

Currency: GBP USD EUR CAD AUD JPY

Compare prices and pre-order

Simple Minds

Once Upon a Time - ruby red vinyl LP

Shop Price gbp Stock Amazon uk   29.99 Pre-Order Amazon usa   29.99 Pre-Order Amazon fr   32 Pre-Order Official Artist Store   30.00 pre-order Rough Trade uk   29.99 pre-order Rough Trade usa   32.99 pre-order

Currency: GBP USD EUR CAD AUD JPY

Tracklisting

Once Upon A Time Simple Minds / 40th anniversary edition

• 5CD box set
  • CD 1
    1. Once Upon a Time
    2. All The Things She Said
    3. Ghost Dancing
    4. Alive And Kicking
    5. Oh Jungleland
    6. I Wish You Were Here
    7. Sanctify Yourself
    8. Come A Long Way
  • CD 2 – B-sides & Mixes
    1. Don’t You (Forget About Me) – 7″ Single
    2. A Brass Band in African Chimes – 7″ Single
    3. Don’t You (Forget About Me) – 12″ Single
    4. A Brass Band in African Chimes – – Extended Version
    5. Alive And Kicking – Edit
    6. Alive And Kicking – Instrumental
    7. Up On the Catwalk – Live (Barrowlands, Ballroom, Glasgow: 5th January 1985
    8. Alive And Kicking – 7″ Remix / Edit
    9. Alive And Kicking – 12″ Remix
    10. Alive And Kicking – Kevorkian 12″ Remix
    11. Sanctify Yourself – Edit
    12. Sanctify Yourself – Instrumental
    13. Sanctify Yourself – Alternative Edit
  • CD 3: B-sides / Extended Mixes
    1. Street Hassle – Live – Ahoy, Rotterdam: 3rd December 1985
    2. Love Song -Live – Ahoy, Rotterdam: 3rd December 1985
    3. Sanctify Yourself – Extended Mix
    4. Sanctify Yourself – Dub Version
    5. All The Things She Said – Edit
    6. Promised You a Miracle – US Remix
    7. All The Things She Said – Extended Version
    8. Don’t You (Forget About Me) – Live- Ahoy, Rotterdam: 3rd December 1985
    9. Ghost Dancing – 12″ Remix
    10. Ghost Dancing – Instrumental
    11. Oh Jungleland – 12″ Remix
    12. Oh Jungleland – Instrumental
  • CD 4: Live In the City of Light – Live From Le Zenith, Paris 1986
    1. Ghost Dancing
    2. Big Sleep
    3. Waterfront
    4. Promised You a Miracle
    5. Someone Somewhere (In Summertime)
    6. Oh Jungleland
    7. Alive And Kicking
  • CD 5: Live In the City of Light – Live From Le Zenith, Paris 1986
    1. Don’t You (Forget About Me)
    2. Once Upon a Time
    3. Book Of Brilliant Things
    4. East At Easter
    5. Sanctify Yourself
    6. Love Song / Sun City / Dance to The Music
    7. New Gold Dream
• Ruby Red Vinyl LP

  • SIDE ONE

    1. Once Upon a Time
    2. All The Things She Said
    3. Ghost Dancing
    4. Alive And Kicking
    5. Don’t You (Forget About Me)

    SIDE TWO

    1. Oh Jungleland
    2. I Wish You Were Here
    3. Sanctify Yourself
    4. Come A Long Way