Once upon a time is the seventh studio album by the scottish rock band simple minds, released on 21 october 1985 by record label virgin (a and;m in the us), once upon a time topped the uk charts and peaked at no. 10 On the american billboard hot 100, spending five consecutive weeks in the top 10 and 16 weeks in the top 20.

The album paired the group with producer jimmy iovine, who had worked with artists featuring an aggressive guitar-based sound, including singer-songwriters bruce springsteen and stevie nicks, and he brought that approach to the band. Iovine pushed frontman jim kerr to deliver more energetic vocals. Although already successful in their native u.k. And abroad, simple minds had also recently become popular in the u.s. On the strength of the #1 single don;t you (forget about me);, written by keith forsey and steve schiff and featured on the soundtrack for the breakfast club. However, kerr and the band had recorded the song reluctantly and did not feel that it was worthy of inclusion on the album. Once upon a time shares many influences with simple minds; previous studio album sparkle in the rain, which explored a similar songwriting style. It was the first album without founding member and bassist derek forbes, who left the band after recording ;don;t you (forget about me). He would later rejoin the band in 1998 for the album neapolis.

Four singles from the album were released. ;Alive and kicking; was released in advance of the album;s release in september 1985, reaching #7 in the uk and #3 in the u.s. ;Sanctify yourself; was released in january 1986, reaching #10 in the uk and #14 in the u.s. ;All the things she said; was released in march 1986, (uk #9, u.s. #28), And ;ghost dancing" was released in november 1986 (uk #13).

All of the proceeds from ;all the things she said; and ;ghost dancing; were donated to amnesty international. ;Oh jungleland; had been planned to be released as the second single, but virgin instead selected ;sanctify yourself. A 7; edit, an instrumental version and an extended 12; remix of ;oh jungleland were prepared and the latter two tracks subsequently appeared on the ;ghost dancing single releases.

Cassette and fold out booklet in vg condition another vintage item from the ducoso collection.