This is why so many of SMs songs are so wonderful stripped of their lyrics and can stand alone as instrumental pieces . ...and the reason? The craft amd guile of Messer's Mcneil, Forbes, McGee , Burchill , Gaynor . Through the powers of AI there are even instrumental versions of hunter & the hunted and NGD online on youtube ....have a listen.. they are sublime! Thanks Mick.

One of the finest keyboard and accordion players who's ever lived. Mick, thank you for your musical contributions to this world. We very much appreciate it.

Amazing! I enjoyed the coffee and chat we had a couple of years ago. Thanks for signing the New Gold Dream CD for my bud Gary. He cried when he received it in the post. Great memories Sir. I wish you and the family the best of health and happiness. Lyle 👍

Mick, that melody was the soundtrack of my youth. Thank you so much for writing it, I hope you read this and in some way understand the importance to me of what you achieved with this band. Nobody comes close to your playing that has played with the band since you left. Beautiful.

Mick is like Jean-Michel Jarre, painting landscapes with music. SM missing you!

This hit me hard in the feels, thank you for the beautiful music, for inspiring a teenage me to pick up an instrument and play in a band.

This one definitely is improved listening on headphones.

love it, I hope you share more of your beautiful music with us

Best keyboard player of all time for me is Mick. Regardless of whether he plays accordion, piano or synth, the emotions and atmosphere are at the highest possible level.

The legend in his jim jams. I'm in Thailand in my hammock with the rain coming down loving the vibe. The tune has been with me since Sparkle In The Rain.

Brilliant, Brilliant, Brilliant. Wow. Please keep posting these videos Mick. Alive and Kicking, Theme from great cities, Someone somewhere in summertime etc. wow 💙👍🏻😀

Mick of brilliant sounds. So beautiful. 🤜❤️🤛

thank you mick, for the lightning that shoots up and *SPARKLES* in the rain.

I - CANNOT - STOP - LISTENING - TO - THIS - MASTERPIECE (on headphones as advised by the master).

Goosebumps 39 years ago,Goosebumps today. Thank you,Grazie Mick ( The Man in the sky) from an italian Simple Minds fan since 1983!! You ,Derek and Mel are always in my (our)hearts . I still love Simple minds ,the actual band....but you were ,you are and you will be forever....SIMPLE MINDS. Greetings from Italy

Still my favourite song and this version from Alive in Rotterdam is the absolute best. Love it, cheers Mick🤙

Beautiful. No one plays those keyboard melodies like you.

Please mick give us another tour with the boys please 🙏 fantastic performance

Always loved the original Sparkle in the Rain version of this song until I heard this on Live in the City of Light. Reminds me of being a young man without a care in the world

For me this is the best SM song of all time. So many great versions out there. Mick's piano playing makes it unique

Best live pianist I’ve seen, such quality. Instrumental to SM success without any doubt. Would love to see you play again in any format with old band mates especially DF, any chances. There’s plenty who would love to see it.

Reminds me when I first heard this stunning version on the live album in 1987 at the age of 15. Great.

Beautiful, makes me go all melancholy when I hear this, thank you to the man on the squeeze box🪗 in Verona my favourite concert of all time...

Sounds just like the version on Live In The City Of Light. My absolute favourite track on that album, the killer piano accompanied by Charlie's soaring guitars. "5 to 1, 1 to 5, nobody here gets out alive". Thanks so much Mick.

Thank you Mick, the music you composed with the Minds has been with me all through my life and I listen to it most days. You tap into something very rare and magical that keeps pulling me back.

Love all your playing and compositions Mick. Would love to see You out there again, giving the people what they want. Credit to You for living the life you want though. Respect.

Another piece of Mick magic and pure gold! One of the greatest modern day composers and pianists. Thank you Mick 🙏

I grew up listening to SM, live and on vinyl. Wonderful being reminded why i loved that band and a sad reminder of how things changed with the departures of Derek, Mel and your good self. Thank you Mick

Had the privilege of hearing the Man in sky,at the Barrowlands, takes me right back, Cheers Mick

Brilliant...❤

Manna from heaven Mick! I can't think of a single band from the Eighties that did what you guys did by completely rearranging songs, taking them to a whole new level (This song, East at Easter, New Gold Dream from City of Light), and beyond so they became completely different songs (the rearranged I travel became Ghostdancing; the version of Room that you did at Cash for Kids became something entirely different in the SFY sessions). Mighty rearrangers indeed!

You're the best Mick. We miss you. You're the brilliant. Not the book. Thanks Mick. Kind regards Fred van Engelen.

My god this takes me back to when I was younger. I played this on my Sony Walkman so many times the tape kept jamming

Cruel World was missing you, Mick. Simple Minds aren’t the same without you. Many struggles throughout their set. They need your professionalism.

Fantastic Mick, big Simple Minds fan. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up every time you play one of your Simple Minds tracks. Worst day for me is when you left the band. Hopefully i can come and see you and Derek Forbes do something together. Simple Minds are nothing without you Derek and Mel. Lots of love 😀👍🏻💙

I remember the ahoy stadium version of this. Unbelievably good. Mick McNeil, world class. Said it for years. Top bloke too. Thanks for the upload. Cans on in bed tonight and I will listen to every note in detail x

Fantastic playing Mick . The sound of Simple Minds in the 80's For Me and the reason I learnt to play keyboards . Thank You for inspiring Me and so many others all around the world to do so .

i cant tell you how much hearing today your melodies to these classics bring back so many memories of being posted in Germany in the mid-late 80s, taking a whole week off with the lads, following Simple Minds round Europe on the Street Fighting Years tour - camping and slumming it, living off sausages and lager! Happy Days that also bring tears to my eyes.... Much love!

Fell in love these last couple of months with Simple Minds including your keyboard playing. You Rock Mick! ❤

Such a beautiful arrangement - class! Stirs up so many emotions. Thanks Mick for these wonderful tunes!

As always Mick, this is totally beautiful. Love the sound and mood. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks Mick. That is an absolute Minds classic👌

That’s absolutely wonderful. My god mick… wish you had never left…

This piece of music is the reason I bought a piano and started to try to teach myself. Thanks Mick for posting this! I’ve a long way to go, but the journey is all part of the fun 🎹 ❤

Sublime

The absolute Goat. Take note SM hire all the protools, ableton live operators, session players if you can call them that all you like, you will never replace what is in that man’s fingers.

It is just beautiful honestly one of thee best keyboard tunes ever with belting Bass too

Mick you are legend , these songs are immortal. SM are ONLY with Mick MacNeil I dream to see them again live in a fantastic celebrative tour

Still gives me chills just like the first time I heard this song. This solo version is awesome. It’s amazing that you wrote this lovely song. 40 something years later, I’m still absolutely blown away.

OMG you did it Mick. Absolutely amazing beyond words. You sir are a maestro. Thank you.

Thank you Mick from heart!!!…your videos and your Music are so precious..

Thank you for the brilliant memories mick

Taking the dog for a walk with this in my headphones, you are a genius Mick, I hope you realise that ❤❤

Oh Mick...That just made my morning coffee taste so much better!! Wonderful, brilliant thing🫶💜😊.

Thank you Mick, magic. Your music and talent are unequalled...

Fantastic piece of music as was most of your playing , it was the heart n soul of the band and sadly was never the same after you left

Brings tears to my eyes. 😢

Goosebumps listening to this and Barra awash in sunshine.

Beautiful. I could listen to this for hours. Thanks Mick.

Love this so much. Looking forward to the new music with Derek & Brian.

Absolutely beautiful Mick..thank you so much for the gifts you give us on KZfaq..copyright!!??..you are the composer!!

Wow just wow!! How good was that!! Hairs on the back of the next up and a massive lump in the throat!!! Thanks Mick ❤ slow version of NGD next 💙🙏💙

Thank you, Mick. One of the things I loved about Simple Minds in the 80s was how you were constantly rearranging songs, and this might be the ultimate example. Those were heady times.

Stunning Mick.. thank you for the memories of great times

Thank u for your presence would love to see you back live on the next simple minds tour 🤞🥰🙏

Loved the song from the first time I heard it on Sparkle in the Rain, way back. And this version is just so brilliant. Love it to peaces. Thanks for this Mick ! And I must admit, each time I'm looking out for new snap shots in your videos of Vatersay. Looks like such a fantastic and peacefull place.

Dear Mick, how i miss you!! I would like to see you play in Simple Minds!! Really !!

Regali sempre emozioni bellissime! Grazie per questo e per la musica bellissima! 💙

Keep these videos coming Mick.I hope you will rejoin the band again. 🤜❤️🤛

Brilliant Mick, your skills, and this music are still up there with the best. I have fond memories of hearing you compose some film score in your home studio, while I worked quietly in the background. Great moments that never leave you.

Well done Mick!!👏🏼💯😍🎹 Fantastic!!😍❤️🙌🏼🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👏🏼💯🎹 Thanks a lot!!🙏🏻❤️

Absolutely brilliant!! The best !! Keep these coming please Mick. If possible can you post the outro keyboard solo from PyaM 1986-87 please 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Non parlo Inglese..ho cantato la tua musica mentalmente.. ogni Nota 🎶 un emozione.. indelebile!

One word. Absolutelybeautiful. Love to know where that scenery is though. Highlands? Outer Hebs? I keep meaning to take the Ullapool-Stornaway ferry then isle hop down to Barra, visit Vatersay then catch the mega-long Castlebay-Oban ferry. Why haven't I? One word. Bloodyweather. Maybe this summer, eh? But thanks though, Mick. It's no coincidence the only SM music still worth listening to has a certain Michael MacNeil on keys. I'll never forgive you for leaving the band, but I've gotten over it. Just 😉

Loving every post of yours dear Mick. ❤

Absolutely beautiful Mick. You somehow just have to get back with Jim & Charlie again.

You make my day with your presence, your videos and your music! You are and will always be my inspiration, Mick. Thank you 🤍

Brought me to tears. This is such a gift... thank you, Mick...❤

That's lovely Mick, and a few glimpses of beautiful Barra as an added bonus ❤

Absolutely brilliant, I remember hearing the version/ arrangement on Live In The City Of Light when I was 14 and bought the album, just fantastic, you probably get sick of hearing it but I so wish you would rejoin Simple Minds Mick

It's late afternoon / early evening here in Croatia and the rain has just stopped. Puddles sparkle as the sun is slowly reaching its long hands across the sky, pulling the clouds apart as the light intesifies, bathing the houses in warm hues, one after the other. Birds are the first to respond to the warmth and colour emerging above the city like a big smile encompassing it. Tensions are low, guards are down as beauty takes over, even if only for a few moments until rush is restored and the day takes its usual hurried course again. Just like in your evocative song. Sublime.

Brilliant Thing your talents Mick , your music your skills lovely setting where you live .

Wow, was scrolling TikTok, saw simple minds, came to research on KZfaq, read some comments under book and ended up here. This is epic.

I FU**ING love this, have always loved this intro to BOBT and there's only 1 person who can play it properly !!

Beautiful version, what a talent !!! Totally amazing.

Absolutely beautiful mick 👏👏

Love it. I would buy an album of your insrumentals, utter class!

Gorgeous, then Mel came crashing in and my air drum kit came out...Fantastic Mick...Thank you.

Aww man...this takes me back to the secc in 87(I think) BOBT has always been one of my favourites, and it still is. Loving the videos mick.

Terrific stuff Mick... thanks for all these amazing gems you have been so generously sharing and treating us all to. Even your PJ's manage to ooze class!

This song and mick version from 86 tour inspired me to learn the piano at 50.

Wow, that was a surprise! Made my day. Thank you Mr MacNeil

Sparkle on the brain Mick❤ THX❤

Bloody hell, can’t stop watching this Mick. Absolutely fantastic. Brilliant, you’ve still got it Mick. Wow 😀👍🏻💙

Its the damn YT algorithms Mick! They used to get me and my 22 artists quite a lot, even though most of it is original music and original lyrics. I often get copyright blocked so Ive stopped uploading personally, but since using CDBaby, Distrokid & other distributors I dont have any problems. However after one particular track was uploaded by a distributor I followed it by uploading a video of the song to my own profile and that got blocked. YT and its algorithms are useless, having said that Vimeo & Spotify can be a nuisance too. but at least they repsond quicker. Good luck with future uploads and keep enriching us with your music. Cheers, Clive - Spyda Music Productions 😎😎

Simply the best ………Thank you so much for posting these vids……..can never get enough……would love to see a New Gold Dream vid like this….hope all is well Mick😊

pure magic...thank you so much Mick!!!

The live reworking brought me back to learning the piano after I watched the Ahoy concert excerpts on The Tube in the 80s. The piano was low in the mix on the album version I think whereas the live version gave it space and made it more than equal to the thumping bass and drums in the climax. Wonderful, inspiring stuff!

Absolute legend the very best mick macneil. What a spine tingling piece of music. I open up to take a look

Awww just before bedtime! Thank you for the melodies and much more!