"Alive and Kicking" is the signature single of the hit 1985 album, "Once Upon a Time." The band released an instrumental version of the song on the original album and on the 7- and 12-inch single vinyl accompaniments. Ironically, the instrumental version actually augments the song's strengths, which SPIN Magazine described as an "ornate epic" otherwise weighed down by weak lyrics.
This progressive ballad originally appears in Simple Minds' breakthrough 1981 album, "Sister Feelings Call" (released in tandem with another album, "Sons & Fascination"). The track features edgy, scratchy bass and guitar progressions layered over an enigmatic synthesizer backdrop. Fans in Great Britain, Canada and the United States received "Theme" with open arms. The track carried such enduring appeal that it was re-recorded for inclusion on the 1991 single, "See the Light."
The instrumental version of this suspense-laden track perhaps better highlights the band's restive style than any other. The melody is upbeat and progressive from the opening chord to its finish. Unlike the original lyrical version, the instrumental remix primarily utilizes live instruments such as guitars and non-electronic drums. The original song first appears on the 1981 album "Sons & Fascination," a companion to "Sister Feelings Call." The instrumental track first appears on side B of the "Promised You a Miracle" single in 1982.
Few Simple Minds tracks can match the energy and dynamism of "Oh Jungleland." appearing on "Once Upon a Time" with "Alive and Kicking," "Oh Jungleland" is best described as a crescendo that starts at a high pitch and pace and only intensify throughout the track. The absence of lyrics in the instrumental version helps to amplify the progression of the guitars and drums.
The instrumental version of this song, released on the 1995 album "Hypnotised," represents a new stage in Simple Minds' musical progression. "Women and Ghosts," like the album it represents, is less sprightly than the band's previous works. The fret-hammering of electric guitars takes a backseat to the softer resonance of the piano and synthesizer. While some fans did not take to this more melodic offering, others viewed it as a sign of the band's musical maturation.