"Brilliant Mind" is a song by British new wave band

Furniture Furniture refers to movable objects intended to support various human activities such as seating (e.g., stools, chairs, and sofas), eating (tables), storing items, eating and/or working with an item, and sleeping (e.g., beds and hammocks). Fu ...

, released in 1986 by Stiff as the lead single from their second studio album ''

The Wrong People ''The Wrong People'' is the second studio album by British new wave band Furniture, released on 10 November 1986 by Stiff Records. Background In 1986, Furniture signed a recording contract with independent label Stiff Records. Their first releas ...

''. It was written by

Jim Irvin Jim Irvin is an English singer, songwriter, music journalist and podcast host. Early life Born James Lawrence Irvin and raised in west London. Career Furniture Irvin was the singer in the English new wave band Furniture, who released singles ...

Hamilton Lee Hamilton Lee (born 7 September 1958 in London, England), also known by variations on Hamid Mantu, is an English musician. Lee is best known as the drummer, percussionist and co-leader of Transglobal Underground, under his "Hamid Mantu" alias. ...

, Sally Still and Tim Whelan, and produced by Mick Glossop. "Brilliant Mind" reached number 21 in the UK Singles Chart and remains the band's only entry in the chart. The song was featured in the John Hughes film '' Some Kind of Wonderful'' (1987).

Background

In 2010,

recalled of the song, "The chorus came to me as I got on a 110 bus in Hounslow, after signing on the dole. The only way was up. And, ironically, this was the song that did it."

Music video

The song's music video was shot at the Wag Club, Wardour Street, London, in front of an invited audience of the band's friends. Speaking of the video to '' Record Mirror'' in 1986, Irvin said, "We had to haul all our friends out of bed at the crack of dawn so we'd have an audience. It looks quite refreshing because it's absolutely bereft of effects – hasn't even got the luxury of colour."

Critical reception

On its release, Paul Massey of the ''

Aberdeen Evening Express The ''Evening Express'' is a daily local newspaper serving the city of Aberdeen, Scotland. History It was first published in November 1879. It was a tabloid during the 1930s to the 1950s until it resumed as a broadsheet in November 1958, six da ...

'' stated, "Excellent track from a promising London five-piece that twists, turns and grabs your attention: Jim Irvin's vocals are a treat. Hear it." Jerry Smith of '' Music Week'' praised it as an "excellently delivered subtle song with echoing guitar line and rousing sax used within an economic arrangement to produce a powerful number". He added, "After a couple of plays its nagging hook becomes not only interesting but memorable as well." In a review of the song's 1991 reissue, Sherman at the Big Controls, writing for '' NME'', described the song as "

Pigbag Pigbag were a British post-punk band, best known for their instrumentals, active between 1980 and 1983. Origin and formation Pigbag were formed in Cheltenham in late 1980 by Chris Hamlin, a fashion student at Cheltenham Art College. Hamlin ...

-meets-

June Brides The June Brides are an English indie pop group, formed in London in 1983, by Phil Wilson and Simon Beesley of International Rescue. Influenced by Postcard-label bands such as Josef K and punk-era bands such as Buzzcocks, The Desperate Bicycl ...

indie pop" and noted the "superbly pretentious line" of the chorus. He stated, "Incredible. I put this on at 33 by accident and it sounded like the best Joy Division record ever! Play it at 45 and it's got the best

Peter Hook Peter Hook (born Woodhead; 13 February 1956) is an English musician, best known as the bassist and co-founder of the rock bands Joy Division and New Order. Hook often used the bass as a lead instrument, playing melodies on the high strings wi ...

bass riff ever! It actually sounds much better than I remember it five years ago."

Track listing

7–inch single (UK, Germany, France, Italy and Australia) #"Brilliant Mind" – 3:43 #"To Gus" – 2:45 12–inch single (UK and France) #"Brilliant Mind" (Extended Mix) – 7:01 #"Brilliant Mind" (7" Mix) – 3:43 #"To Gus" – 2:45 #"Brilliant Mind" (Reprise) – 1:17 (unlisted track)

1991 reissue

7–inch single (UK) #"Brilliant Mind" – 3:43 #"On a Bus with Peter Nero" – 4:01 12–inch single (UK) #"Brilliant Mind" (Extended Mix) – 7:01 #"Brilliant Mind" (7" Version) – 3:43 #"On a Bus with Peter Nero" – 4:01 #"Brilliant Strings" (Reprise) – 1:17

Personnel

Credits are adapted from ''The Wrong People'' vinyl LP liner notes and the UK 12-single vinyl single. Furniture *

– vocals * Tim Whelan – guitar * Maya Gilder – keyboards * Sally Still – bass *

– drums Additional musicians * Larry N'Azone – saxophone * Charlie Buchannon – strings * Tim Beaton – strings Production * Mick Glossop – producer ("Brilliant Mind") * Furniture – producers ("To Gus", "On a Bus with Peter Nero") Other * Pete Moss – front cover photography (1986 release) * Henry Bond – back cover photography (1986 release) * Ryan Art – sleeve design (1991 reissue)

Charts

References

{{authority control 1986 songs 1986 singles 1991 singles Furniture (band) songs Songs written by Jim Irvin Song recordings produced by Mick Glossop Stiff Records singles