The 7" Vinyl Edition (1980, Arista): Hailed by critics as Simple Minds' first true masterpiece, this original release is celebrated for condensing the frantic, prophetic energy of the Empires and Dance album track into a punchy, radio-ready format that seamlessly blends political commentary with a Euro-disco pulse. Highly prized by collectors for its rare turquoise flexi-disc inclusion, reviews consistently praise the release not just for the urgent A-side, but for introducing "Film Theme Dub," which is widely regarded as the band's first brilliant foray into radical studio remixing.
The 2nd Edition 12" Vinyl (1982, Arista): Released to capitalize on the band's growing fame, this reissue is revered by audiophiles on platforms like Discogs for its spectacular pressing quality, which beautifully separates Derek Forbes' driving bassline from Mick MacNeil's machine-gun synthesizers. Featuring John Leckie's unedited, extended album mix, this pressing earns near-perfect scores from fans who note it delivers a much deeper, punchier club-ready soundstage than the 7" edit, with the rare translucent red vinyl variation standing out as a holy grail for collectors.
The 3rd Edition 12" Vinyl (1983, Virgin): Issued by Virgin Records on the heels of the band's massive New Gold Dream breakthrough, this edition is sometimes viewed historically as a cynical label cash-in due to arriving so soon after the previous reissue, yet its musical legacy remains unassailable. Though it features altered artwork and different B-sides, contemporary reviews and retrospectives look past the marketing tactics to praise the record as an essential, definitive document of an electronic dance revolution that laid the groundwork for modern synth-rock.
The original 1980 Arista 7" release of "I Travel" is widely celebrated by music critics as Simple Minds' first definitive masterpiece, capturing the frantic energy of the post-punk era and repackaging it into a punchy, radio-friendly format. Reviewers consistently praise the track for its relentless momentum, driven by Mick MacNeil’s urgent synthesizers and Derek Forbes' legendary bassline, while historically rating it as a brilliant blend of political commentary and danceability. Collectors highly prize this original edition—particularly the first 7,500 copies that included a rare turquoise flexi-disc—not only for the stellar A-side edit but for the inclusion of "Film Theme Dub," which is revered as the band's very first radical studio remix.
The subsequent 12" reissues from Arista (1982) and Virgin (1983) shifted the focus to John Leckie's full-length, extended mix, cementing the track's legacy as a foundational pillar of the 1980s electronic dance revolution. The 1982 Arista second edition is heavily praised by audiophiles for its superior pressing quality and wide soundstage, which gives the driving rhythm section an incredibly crisp, club-ready punch. While the 1983 Virgin third edition was initially viewed by some contemporary critics as a cynical label cash-in following the band's New Gold Dream breakthrough, retrospective reviews look past the marketing to praise both 12" releases as essential dancefloor staples that successfully bridged the gap between post-punk attitude and pioneering Euro-disco.
Simple Minds; I Travel 12” 1983 UK
A. I
Travel
B. Film
Theme
Simple Minds; I Travel 12” 1983 Europe
A. I
Travel
B1. Film
Theme
B2. New
Gold Dream
Being spoilt now. Thanks.
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