The American

The American is the title of a song recorded and released by Simple Minds.

It was released as a single in May 1981. The group were still hard at work in the studio recording what would become the Sons and Fascination and Sister Feelings Call album as the single went on sale. The American was a brand new track but would have been familiar to those seeing the band during the group's March tour. John Peel is known to have played the track on 06 May 1981 and then throughout the month and into June.

The American was also released as a 12" although tracks were identical to the 7" release. It was the first sleeve designed for the band by Malcolm Garrett. The B-side League Of Nations was also new track, and like The American, would eventually turn up on the Sister Feelings Call album. Both tracks were produced by Steve Hillage.

Versions
A demo version appears on Simple Minds' Silver Box compilation box set, first released in 2004.

An acoustic version opens the Simple Minds' Acoustic album, released in 2016.

Single release
Virgin 7" VS 410 / 12" VS 410-12 (1981)


 * A. The American
 * B. League of Nations

CDS THEME 2 (1991) / Cassette single THEMC 2 (1990)


 * 1) The American
 * 2) League Of Nations
 * 3) Sound In 70 Cities
 * 4) * League Of Nations ans Sound In 70 Cities had been omitted from the first CD edition of Sons And Fascination/Sister Feelings Call for reasons of space