"Real to Real Cacophony" (sometimes incorrectly referred to as Reel to Real Cacophony) is the second studio album by Scottish rock band Simple Minds, released on November 23, 1979, through the Zoom and Arista record labels.
The album was recorded and mixed in just five weeks at Rockfield Studios. At the start of the recording sessions, the band had only four completed songs: "Premonition," "Factory," "Calling Your Name," and "Changeling." The rest of the album was written during the sessions, with the band taking a more spontaneous approach in the studio. Producer John Leckie played a key role in shaping the album's sound. Dissatisfied with their first album, Life in a Day, Simple Minds sought to find a unique sound by incorporating the possibilities and atmosphere of the studio into their creative process.
Despite the band's efforts, Real to Real Cacophony was less successful than its predecessor. The album did not chart, and its only single, "Changeling," also failed to make an impact. This lack of commercial success was partly attributed to poor promotion and marketing by Arista Records, who reportedly did not like the album and released the single two months after the album's release.
In the 2002/2003 reissues by Virgin Records, the album's title was mistakenly rendered as Reel to Real Cacophony, and the opening track was listed as "Reel to Real." This incorrect spelling appeared in the discography section of the remastered edition inlays. However, subsequent editions of the album correctly spelled both the title and the track name.
