Simply Red | ||
| Allmusic Biography : Led by the vocalist Mick Hucknall, the English blue-eyed soul band Simply Red became international stars with their debut album, Picture Book. On the hit ballad "Holding Back the Years," Hucknall proved that he could sing soulfully without affectation, while their cover of the Valentine Brothers "Moneys Too Tight (To Mention)" proved that they could do light funk capably. With each album, their fan base expanded, especially in the U.K. The band was formed in 1984 by singer Mick "Red" Hucknall (born Michael James Hucknall, June 8, 1960, Manchester, England) with three ex-members of Durutti Column -- bassist Tony Bowers (born October 31, 1952), drummer Chris Joyce (born October 11, 1957, Manchester, England), and keyboardist/brass player Tim Kellett (born July 23, 1964, Knaresborough, England) -- plus guitarist Sylvan Richardson and keyboardist Fritz McIntyre (born September 2, 1956, Birmingham, England). The group signed to Elektra Records and released Picture Book (October 1985), which featured "Moneys Too Tight (To Mention)," a Top 40 cover of a 1982 R&B; chart single by the Valentine Brothers, and "Holding Back the Years," a Hucknall original that topped the U.S. charts. The single caused the album to go platinum, and made the group one of the major successes of 1986. Men and Women (March 1987), which featured two collaborations between Hucknall and soul songwriter Lamont Dozier, was less popular, though it generated the Top 40 hit "The Right Thing." (In the U.K., "Infidelity" and a cover of Cole Porters "Evry Time We Say Goodbye" also made the Top 40.) Richardson left in 1987 and was replaced by guitarist Aziz Ibrahim, who was replaced by Heitor T.P. (born in Brazil). The third album, A New Flame (February 1989), went gold due to the cover of the 1972 Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes hit "If You Dont Know Me by Now" that hit number one and became a gold single. (In the U.K., "Its Only Love" and "A New Flame" also made the Top 40.) By the time of the fourth album, Stars (September 1991), Bowers and Joyce had left, with Shaun Ward joining on bass and Gota on drums, and saxophonist Ian Kirkham had become a permanent member. Stars was a relative commercial disappointment in the U.S. (though it spawned Top 40 hits in "Something Got Me Started" and "Stars" and eventually went gold), but it became a major success elsewhere, especially in the U.K., where it was the best-selling album of 1991, topped the charts for 19 weeks, and spawned the Top Ten hits "Stars" and "For Your Babies" and the Top 40 hits "Something Got Me Started," "Thrill Me," and "Your Mirror." Worldwide, it had sold eight and a half million copies by the second quarter of 1993. Ward and Gota were gone by the release of Simply Reds fifth album, Life (October 1995), leaving a lineup of Hucknall, McIntyre, Heitor T.P., Kirkham, and backup singer Dee Johnson. The album again proved more of a success at home than in America, topping charts all over Europe, as did its leadoff single, "Fairground," while spending only three months in the U.S. charts. Blue followed in May 1998. It topped the British charts and spawned Top Ten hits in "Say You Love Me" and a cover of the Hollies "The Air That I Breathe" at home, but was a negligible seller in the U.S. In November 1999, Simply Red issued Love and the Russian Winter, which reached the U.K. Top Ten, with the single "Aint That a Lot of Love" (a cover of a Sam & Dave song) hitting the Top 20. After establishing the simplyred.com label, the band released Home in April 2003. It reached number two in the U.K., with the singles "Sunrise" and a cover of the Stylistics "You Make Me Feel Brand New" becoming Top Ten hits. Two years later came Simplified, a collection of old and new songs that hit number three in Britain and number two in the Eurochart. Another two-year absence followed before the notable Stay in April 2007. It hit number four in the U.K. and number two in the Eurochart. By the time of its release, the lineup of Simply Red consisted of Hucknall, Kirkham, Sarah Brown (background vocals), David Clayton (keyboards), Peter Lewinson (drums), Steve Lewinson (bass), Kevin Robinson (trumpet), and Kenji Suzuki (guitar). Hucknall then decided to retire Simply Red but he revived the band in 2015, making a splash with the new album Big Love. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 29 Title: 25: The Greatest Hits Released: Tracks: 17 Duration: 1:07:56 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Sunrise (03:19) 2 Stars (04:08) 3 A New Flame (03:57) 4 Holding Back the Years (04:11) 5 Your Mirror (04:04) 6 For Your Babies (04:17) 7 Its Only Love (03:52) 8 The Right Thing (04:22) 9 Something Got Me Started (04:00) 10 So Not Over You (03:38) 11 You Make Me Feel Brand New (05:05) 12 Say You Love Me (03:44) 13 Home (03:33) 14 Fairground (04:26) 15 Moneys Too Tight to Mention (04:29) 16 If You Don’t Know Me by Now (03:25) 17 Go Now (03:26) |
| 25: The Greatest Hits : Allmusic album Review : Simply Reds second major hits collection not only celebrates their illustrious 25-year career but also marks the end of it, thanks to Mick Hucknalls announcement that he will henceforth only be working under his own name. The much more comprehensive 25 features all but two of the tracks included on 1996s Greatest Hits, plus several tracks from the commercially inconsistent last decade. Of course, its the late-80s and early-90s material that made Simply Red, essentially a solo vehicle for Hucknall, a household name. The likes of "A New Flame," "Holding Back the Years," and debut hit "Moneys Too Tight (To Mention)" all showcase their signature blue-eyed soul sound, which has helped to sell over 50 million records worldwide. The funky piano-led "Something Got Me Started" and wistful dreamy title track justify Stars multi-platinum success; their only number one single, "Fairground," is a mesmerizing fusion of tribal rhythms and ambient chillout pop; while "Angel," a collaboration with Fugees Pras Michel, is a surprisingly passable attempt at hip-hop lite. And the likes of "If You Dont Know Me by Now" and "Evry Time We Say Goodbye" show that Hucknall is a master of interpreting classics to make them sound his own. But by the late 90s, their over-reliance on cover versions began to signal their decline. "The Air That I Breathe," "Night Nurse," and "Aint That a Lot of Love," all pale imitations of the originals, explain the dwindling album sales and the Warner Records departure. However, 2003 comeback album Home, released via Hucknalls own label, was a welcome return to form as the Hall & Oates sampling "Sunrise," classy dance-pop of "Fake," and soulful rendition of "You Make Me Feel Brand New" became his best and most successful singles in almost a decade. The only new track featured here, a cover of "Go Now," is a disappointingly lazy final curtain to an eventful career. But overall, 25 is an accomplished collection of songs that cements Hucknalls reputation as one Britains finest soul singers. | ||
 | Album: 2 of 29 Title: Picture Book Released: 1985 Tracks: 10 Duration: 44:30 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Come to My Aid (04:03) 2 Sad Old Red (04:33) 3 Look at You Now (03:02) 4 Heaven (04:32) 5 Jericho (06:06) 6 Money’s Too Tight (to Mention) (04:13) 7 Holding Back the Years (04:30) 8 Red Box (03:56) 9 No Direction (03:41) 10 Picture Book (05:49) |
| Picture Book : Allmusic album Review : The band finds a steady R&B groove reminiscent of 60s Stax house band the MGs, and, as with the MGs, its all in the service of a big-voiced soul singer, in this case a British redhead. Features the U.S. number-one "Holding Back the Years" and the U.K. Top 20 "Moneys Too Tight (To Mention)." | ||
 | Album: 3 of 29 Title: Men and Women Released: 1987 Tracks: 10 Duration: 41:24 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Right Thing (04:19) 2 Infidelity (04:09) 3 Suffer (04:55) 4 I Won’t Feel Bad (04:14) 5 Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye (03:23) 6 Let Me Have It All (03:45) 7 Love Fire (03:58) 8 Move on Out (04:55) 9 Shine (03:22) 10 Maybe Someday… (04:18) |
| Men and Women : Allmusic album Review : After a monster debut, Simply Reds follow-up album simply didnt get the job done. It wasnt a halfhearted effort; Mick Hucknalls crackling vocals were just as exuberant, and the bands Stax/Volt-influenced lines were effectively played. The songs, however, were an uneven batch and lacked the kind of standout single Hucknall had enjoyed on the previous album with "Holding Back the Years." They did turn in an interesting version of "Evry Time We Say Goodbye." | ||
 | Album: 4 of 29 Title: 12" Ers Released: 1987-06-25 Tracks: 6 Duration: 37:57 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Moneys Too Tight (To Mention) (The Cutback mix) (08:39) 2 Come to My Aid (Survival mix) (06:47) 3 Holding Back the Years (12" extended mix) (05:44) 4 Jericho (12" extended mix) (06:54) 5 Open Up the Red Box (12" extended mix) (04:16) 6 The Right Thing (extended version) (05:36) |
 | Album: 5 of 29 Title: If You Dont Know Me By Now Released: 1989 Tracks: 4 Duration: 15:56 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 If You Don’t Know Me by Now (03:25) 2 Move On Out (05:20) 3 Shine (03:30) 4 Sugard Daddy (03:39) |
 | Album: 6 of 29 Title: A New Flame Released: 1989 Tracks: 10 Duration: 40:54 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 It’s Only Love (04:58) 2 A New Flame (03:57) 3 You’ve Got It (03:55) 4 To Be With You (03:22) 5 More (04:10) 6 Turn It Up (04:35) 7 Love Lays Its Tune (04:05) 8 She’ll Have to Go (03:14) 9 If You Don’t Know Me by Now (03:25) 10 Enough (05:09) |
| A New Flame : Allmusic album Review : Although Hucknall tries to resurrect soul in his own original songs, hes most successful at evoking the past, notably on Simply Reds second number one, a remake of the Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes classic "If You Dont Know Me by Now." | ||
 | Album: 7 of 29 Title: Thrill Me Released: 1991 Tracks: 4 Duration: 15:14 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Thrill Me (03:54) 2 Thrill Me (Nelee Hooper mix) (04:07) 3 Thrill Me (live) (05:14) 4 When Youve Got a Good Friend (01:56) |
 | Album: 8 of 29 Title: Stars Released: 1991-10 Tracks: 10 Duration: 41:17 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Something Got Me Started (03:59) 2 Stars (04:08) 3 Thrill Me (05:03) 4 Your Mirror (03:59) 5 She’s Got It Bad (03:34) 6 For Your Babies (04:17) 7 Model (03:46) 8 How Could I Fall (04:45) 9 Freedom (03:52) 10 Wonderland (03:49) |
| Stars : Allmusic album Review : Although it doesnt have a single as strong as "Holding Back the Years" or "If You Dont Know Me by Now," Stars is Simply Reds best album since their debut. Its smoother and more polished than their previous work, yet Mick Hucknall is singing better than ever and his songwriting is improving. That is a good thing, too, since Stars is the first Simply Red album not to contain any cover songs. Having absorbed his pop, soul, and reggae influences, Hucknall is now successfully writing songs in his own style, something that, with the exception of "Holding Back the Years," he hadnt managed previously. The result, in Europe and especially the U.K., was a massive commercial breakthrough for the group. Stars even outsold Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band at home. In America, where the band had never established much audience continuity beyond its two number one hit singles, it was a different story, which, given the bands highly American-influenced sound, was a confirmation of the overall decline of English bands in the U.S. in the early 90s. | ||
 | Album: 9 of 29 Title: Montreux EP Released: 1992 Tracks: 4 Duration: 14:23 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Love for Sale (03:56) 2 Drowning in My Own Tears (03:24) 3 Granma’s Hands (04:03) 4 Lady Godiva’s Room (02:59) |
 | Album: 10 of 29 Title: Soon Come Released: 1995 Tracks: 7 Duration: 28:40 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Money’s Too Tight to Mention (04:14) 2 Holding Back the Years (04:30) 3 Do the Right Thing (04:20) 4 If You Don’t Know Me by Now (03:25) 5 New Flame (03:59) 6 Give It All Up for You (04:02) 7 For Your Love (04:08) |
 | Album: 11 of 29 Title: Life Released: 1995-10-09 Tracks: 11 Duration: 52:50 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 You Make Me Believe (03:53) 2 So Many People (05:20) 3 Lives and Loves (03:22) 4 Fairground (05:33) 5 Never Never Love (04:20) 6 So Beautiful (04:58) 7 Hillside Avenue (04:46) 8 Remembering the First Time (04:44) 9 Out on the Range (06:01) 10 We’re in This Together (04:15) 11 Fairground (remix) (05:33) |
| Life : Allmusic album Review : For Life, Simply Red retain the basic influences that fueled their earlier albums, especially American R&B of the early 70s, specifically the Marvin Gaye of Whats Going On? and Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes-era Teddy Pendergrass. Mick Hucknalls singing has calmed down and smoothed out on such songs as "You Make Me Believe" and "So Many People," but that only makes them sound more like the product of Philadelphia International Records. On "Fairground," he opts for a Latin-tinged sound that ends up evoking Herb Alpert more than Milton Nascimento; reggae turns up on "Out on the Range," and the big-time closer, "Were in This Together," is a South African-style anthem, complete with Hugh Masekelas flugelhorn. Stripped of the international superstar trappings, Life is, of course, pretentious, but it does have a couple of promising songs, notably "So Beautiful" and "Remembering the First Time." | ||
 | Album: 12 of 29 Title: Greatest Hits Released: 1996-10-07 Tracks: 15 Duration: 1:03:20 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Holding Back the Years (04:30) 2 Moneys Too Tight to Mention (04:29) 3 The Right Thing (04:19) 4 It’s Only Love (03:52) 5 A New Flame (03:57) 6 You’ve Got It (03:55) 7 If You Don’t Know Me by Now (03:25) 8 Stars (04:08) 9 Something Got Me Started (03:59) 10 Thrill Me (05:03) 11 Your Mirror (03:59) 12 For Your Babies (04:17) 13 So Beautiful (04:58) 14 Angel (04:01) 15 Fairground (04:23) |
| Greatest Hits : Allmusic album Review : Best of Simply Red: Holding Back the Years 1985-1997 contains all of Simply Reds biggest British and American hits, including "Holding Back the Years," "If You Dont Know Me By Now," and "Something Got Me Started." In addition to the well-known singles, there are two new tracks added to the collection, including "Angel," a duet with the Fugees. Simply Red always worked better on singles than albums, making this single-disc compilation an excellent introduction. | ||
 | Album: 13 of 29 Title: Blue Released: 1998-05-18 Tracks: 13 Duration: 50:32 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Mellow My Mind (03:56) 2 Blue (04:38) 3 Say You Love Me (03:43) 4 To Be Free (04:04) 5 The Air That I Breathe (04:24) 6 Someday In My Life (04:03) 7 The Air That I Breathe Reprise (04:35) 8 Night Nurse (03:57) 9 Broken Man (03:34) 10 Come Get Me Angel (04:02) 11 Ghetto Girl (03:28) 12 Love Has Said Goodbye Again (03:14) 13 High Fives (02:49) |
| Blue : Allmusic album Review : Life failed to deliver on the glories of Stars largely because the album lacked the strong original songwriting of its predecessor. Similarly, Blue, the follow-up to Life, is weak on original material. However, Mick Hucknall makes up for the deficits by assembling a good collection of outside material, ranging from Gregory Isaacs "Night Nurse" to Neil Youngs "Mellow My Mind." Initially, Blue was going to be a covers album, and judging by these numbers -- along with Dennis Browns "Ghetto Girl" and one of the two versions of the Hollies "The Air That I Breathe," not the superfluous chart-grabbing Stevie J. production that replicates all the bad parts of Puff Daddy -- it would have been a great, sultry listen. Instead, hes followed through on an album that accentuates his weaknesses as a writer. Granted, he can oversing on occasion, but if Blue does anything, it proves that his voice is his greatest talent and that he should dedicate himself to material that serves it well. | ||
 | Album: 14 of 29 Title: Love and the Russian Winter Released: 1999-11-02 Tracks: 11 Duration: 47:26 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 The Spirit of Life (04:41) 2 Aint That a Lot of Love (03:53) 3 Your Eyes (04:15) 4 The Sky Is a Gypsy (04:32) 5 Back into the Universe (03:48) 6 Words for Girlfriends (05:06) 7 Thank You (04:00) 8 Man Made the Gun (04:55) 9 Close to You (04:32) 10 More Than a Dream (03:52) 11 Wave the Old World Goodbye (03:48) |
| Love and the Russian Winter : Allmusic album Review : Simply Red entered a holding pattern after 1991s Stars, turning out two records in a row that essentially replicated its charms, only with diminishing returns. Mick Hucknall must have realized he was stagnating, since 1999s Love and the Russian Winter is the first time since Stars that hes shaken up his sound. Its still recognizably Simply Red, as it trades in 70s soul and jazz-pop influences, but there are a number of reasonably contemporary influences added into the mix. As it turns out, these influences are largely based in house music, which means that Simply Red took some weird middle ground between Everything But the Girl and Soul II Soul. Still, these changes are welcome, since theyve revitalized Hucknall and his collaborators, Andy Wright and Gota Yashiki. Theyre willing to try different sounds and write in different idioms. Occasionally, they might sound as if theyre forcing matters somewhat, but theres also a number of gems that pop up on the album, from "The Spirit of Life" to "The Sky Is a Gypsy." And while the title may imply that Love and the Russian Winter is a concept album of sorts, thats not true -- Hucknall and company have reserved their ambitions for their refurbished production instead of channeling them into a song cycle. Thats for the best, actually, since Simply Red works the best on a song-by-song basis, particularly when they rely on love songs (the millennium farewell "Wave the Old World Goodbye" is one of the more awkward moments on the record). Love and the Russian Winter doesnt quite rise to the level of the groups strongest records, but its a refreshing change of pace from an outfit who seemed to have gone stagnant. | ||
 | Album: 15 of 29 Title: The Very Best Of Released: 2000 Tracks: 37 Duration: 2:38:17 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Stars (04:08) 2 Holding Back the Years (05:43) 3 It’s Only Love (04:58) 4 If You Don’t Know Me by Now (03:25) 5 You’ve Got It (03:55) 6 For Your Babies (04:17) 7 Never Never Love (04:20) 8 We’re in This Together (04:15) 9 Angel (04:01) 10 Night Nurse (03:57) 11 Say You Love Me (03:43) 12 The Air That I Breathe (04:22) 13 Evry Time We Say Goodbye (03:26) 14 Mellow My Mind (03:56) 15 Someday In My Life (04:03) 16 Heaven (04:32) 17 Love for Sale (04:59) 18 Lady Godivas Room (02:55) 19 Granmas Hands (04:03) 1 Moneys Too Tight to Mention (04:29) 2 Fairground (05:33) 3 Something Got Me Started (03:59) 4 A New Flame (03:57) 5 The Right Thing (05:34) 6 Infidelity (04:09) 7 I Won’t Feel Bad (04:14) 8 Come to My Aid (05:03) 9 Your Mirror (03:59) 10 Thrill Me (05:03) 11 Remembering the First Time (04:44) 12 To Be Free (04:04) 13 Ghetto Girl (03:28) 14 Aint That a Lot of Love (03:53) 15 Jericho (06:02) 16 Thank You (04:00) 17 Come on in My Kitchen (02:53) 18 I Know You Got Soul (live) (04:01) |
 | Album: 16 of 29 Title: Its Only Love Released: 2000-11-13 Tracks: 19 Duration: 1:16:44 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 If You Don’t Know Me by Now (03:25) 2 Holding Back the Years (04:30) 3 Say You Love Me (03:43) 4 The Air That I Breathe (04:24) 5 It’s Only Love (04:58) 6 Youve Got It (03:56) 7 Evry Time We Say Goodbye (03:26) 8 For Your Babies (04:17) 9 Lady Godivas Room (02:55) 10 Your Eyes (Mousse T acoustic) (03:50) 11 Thank You (04:01) 12 Remembering the First Time (04:45) 13 Angel (04:01) 14 Night Nurse (03:56) 15 Never Never Love (04:20) 16 More (04:10) 17 Mellow My Mind (03:57) 18 Stars (04:09) 19 Aint That a Lot of Love (03:52) |
| It's Only Love : Allmusic album Review : Simply Reds European release Its Only Love is something of a greatest-hits album, featuring singles that were left off the bands first hits collection, including "Remembering the First Time," "Never Never Love," and a lovely version of "Evry Time We Say Goodbye," and collecting later singles such as "Say You Love Me," "The Air That I Breathe," "Aint That a Lot of Love," and "Your Eyes." The set does not exactly complement the other album because it repeats several tracks, including "Holding Back the Years," "If You Dont Know Me by Now," "Angel," and "Stars." Fans of Simply Red will not be disappointed and it serves to highlight the group as one of the most sophisticated, soulful, and diverse of the worlds musical outfits, but this collection is somewhat of a redundancy for those who own all the bands albums, as it does not offer new recordings. Featuring songs ranging from reggae to pop to soul to dance, Its Only Love is an extremely satisfying listening experience. | ||
 | Album: 17 of 29 Title: O Melhor de Simply Red Released: 2002 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:19:09 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Stars (04:07) 2 The Right Thing (extended remix) (05:33) 3 Holding Back the Years (extended mix) (05:41) 4 For Your Babies (04:17) 5 Come to My Aid (remix edit) (05:03) 6 Something Got Me Started (03:59) 7 Its Only Love (04:58) 8 Say You Love Me (03:43) 9 If You Don’t Know Me by Now (03:25) 10 Moneys Too Tight (To Mention) (04:08) 11 I Wont Feel Bad (04:13) 12 To Be Free (04:00) 13 Angel (Mousse T Soul mix) (04:01) 14 Never Never Love (04:12) 15 Jericho (06:02) 16 The Air That I Breathe (04:17) 17 Thank You (03:59) 18 Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye (03:23) |
 | Album: 18 of 29 Title: Home Released: 2003-03-24 Tracks: 11 Duration: 43:05 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Home (03:17) 2 Fake (03:58) 3 Sunrise (03:19) 4 You Make Me Feel Brand New (05:05) 5 Home Loan Blues (05:00) 6 Positively 4th Street (04:33) 7 Lost Weekend (04:05) 8 Money in My Pocket (Plan B mix) (03:38) 9 Something for You (05:59) 10 It’s You (03:15) 11 Home (reprise) (00:53) |
| Home : Allmusic album Review : Most people expected Simply Red to have popped up on VH1s Where Are They Now? at any moment, but Home is their eighth proper album. Finding a niche as Jamiroquai for the smooth jazz set, theyve failed to deliver on the promise exhibited on Picture Book, instead releasing frustrating album after album and living off the worldwide success of Stars. Home looks like a return to form with Mick Hucknall taking over a good amount of the production and releasing the album on his own label, Simplyred.com. Perhaps an outside producer should give them a kick in their velour pants because there are quite a few drab moments on Home, and quite a few embarrassing ones. The worst of it has to be "Sunrise," where Hall & Oates get sampled and credited, but the vocal hook from Aces "How Long" gets lifted without acknowledgment. It sounds as shoddy as one of the song-combining "mash-up" bootlegs that swept through the U.K., and could be a cover-up for Hucknalls lack of songwriting ideas. A bland American Idol-worthy version of the Stylistics "You Make Me Feel Brand New" and a string arrangement of Bob Dylans "Positively 4th Street" with Hucknalls blank delivery are awkward and unnecessary. On the other hand theres the genuine sweetness of "Home," the lavish funkiness of "Fake," and the profound and moving "Home Loan Blues." When the band masterfully slinks its way through Dennis Browns "Money in My Pocket," all sorts of Picture Book flashbacks appear. Home gives half an albums worth of reasons to cheer for Simply Red, still stumbling down the road to recovery. | ||
 | Album: 19 of 29 Title: Stretched & Reconstructed Released: 2004-07-02 Tracks: 13 Duration: 1:10:55 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Fairground (extended single mix) (05:33) 2 Holding Back the Years (12" original extended version) (05:41) 3 Its Only Love (Valentine mix) (05:46) 4 The Right Thing (12" original extended version) (05:34) 5 Aint That a Lot of Love (club 69 Underground dub mix) (06:36) 6 Moneys Too Tight (To Mention) (Fire Island dub) (07:24) 7 Jericho (long version) (06:01) 8 Come to My Aid (12" original extended version) (05:03) 9 Thrill Me (Masters at Work House mix) (05:26) 10 Your Eyes (Ignorants remix) (04:41) 11 Love Has Said Goodbye Again (Rae and Christian mix) (05:14) 12 Ghetto Girl (Blood and Fire Sound System mix) (03:44) 13 Angel (Mousse Ts mix) (04:07) |
 | Album: 20 of 29 Title: Simplified Released: 2005-10-17 Tracks: 12 Duration: 49:18 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Perfect Love (03:12) 2 Something Got Me Started (03:45) 3 Holding Back the Years (04:19) 4 More (04:19) 5 A Song for You (04:08) 6 Your Mirror (04:14) 7 Fairground (05:14) 8 My Perfect Love (03:38) 9 Smile (03:10) 10 Sad Old Red (05:45) 11 For Your Babies (04:24) 12 Evry Time We Say Goodbye (03:06) |
| Simplified : Allmusic album Review : As the second release on Simply Reds own label, Simplified finds the smooth soulsters reworking classics of their back catalog as well as introducing some new songs all in a stripped-down and stylish manner. Featuring such Simply Red classics as "Holding Back the Years" and "More," Simplified works well as a reintroduction to the band. And thats probably the main intention here. Although lead vocalist Mick Hucknall -- whose burnished vocals sound superb here -- and the band have largely kept a low profile since the early 90s, they havent stopped touring and recording and as such have cultivated a devoted fanbase. One can only assume that the band has changed its sound over the years and felt the need to present its classic tracks in a fashion more representative of the band as it is now rather than when it debuted in 1985. The result is a lush but uncomplicated album featuring an organic mix of acoustic instruments including various pianos, organs, and horns that updates Simply Reds classic soul sound while still bringing to mind the best of their output. | ||
 | Album: 21 of 29 Title: If You Dont Know Me By Now And Other Hits Released: 2006 Tracks: 10 Duration: 39:58 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 If You Don’t Know Me by Now (03:25) 2 Holding Back the Years (04:30) 3 Do the Right Thing (04:20) 4 Look at You Now (03:02) 5 No Direction (03:41) 6 I Wont Feel Bad (04:15) 7 Come to My Aid (04:03) 8 Shine (03:22) 9 Fairground (05:53) 10 To Be With You (03:22) |
 | Album: 22 of 29 Title: Stay Released: 2007-03-09 Tracks: 11 Duration: 44:18 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 The World and You Tonight (03:33) 2 So Not Over You (03:50) 3 Stay (03:04) 4 They Dont Know (03:40) 5 Oh! What a Girl! (04:19) 6 Good Times Have Done Me Wrong (05:20) 7 Debris (04:52) 8 Lady (04:59) 9 Money TV (04:05) 10 The Death of the Cool (03:26) 11 Little Englander (03:06) |
| Stay : Allmusic album Review : Given his long history of smooth, classy blue-eyed soul, its easy to forget that Mick Hucknall was inspired to make music by the Sex Pistols. While its true that Hucknalls Simply Red has never, ever sounded like the Pistols -- or any punk for that matter -- there is an obstinate independent streak that runs throughout his music thats led him to such strange detours as Love and the Russian Winter, as well as his position as an independent artist in the new millennium, releasing Simply Red albums via his own label, Simplyred.com. That independent spirit also surfaces on some of the songs on 2007s Stay, his third release on Simplyred.com, but its subtle and buried toward the end of the album. For the first half of Stay, Hucknall remains in his trademark upscale blue-eyed soul territory, sounding smooth and stylish whether hes singing ballads or snappier songs like the effervescent "Oh! What a Girl!" Although this sounds familiar, it sounds fresher than it has in a few years: Hucknall isnt trying to compete with such modern U.K. retro-soul phenoms as Amy Winehouse or Joss Stone, but hes looser and lighter than he was on 2003s Home, which is quite welcome. Just as the vibe feels just a bit too comfortable, Stay takes a couple of sly left turns. First, theres a quite wonderful and unexpected cover of Ronnie Lanes "Debris" thats understated and a bit rougher than the norm from Simply Red. After this, the album opens up a bit. Theres one more standard soul song in "Lady," but its a stronger, tighter, sexier single than much of the rest of the record, and then there comes a trio of angry, social comments that offer strong reminders of Hucknalls past as a punk. Not that they sound punk -- apart from the school childrens choir that sings along on the closer, "Little Englander," theyre recognizably Simply Red -- but with "Money TV" and "The Death of the Cool," he strikes out at the commercialization of culture. Now, some could argue that swaddling these sentiments in such smooth soul undercuts their power, but theres a palpable anger to Hucknalls message and a sly subversiveness in his method that makes this half of Stay interesting -- and when combined with the solid soul of the first half, it adds up to one of his strongest latter-day records. | ||
 | Album: 23 of 29 Title: Songs of Love Released: 2010 Tracks: 12 Duration: 46:15 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Say You Love Me (03:44) 2 You Make Me Feel Brand New (05:05) 3 Stars (04:08) 4 Youve Got It (03:57) 5 For Your Babies (04:17) 6 If You Don’t Know Me by Now (03:25) 7 Its You (03:20) 8 Beside You (04:35) 9 Holding Back the Years (04:12) 10 Smile (03:10) 11 I Have the Love (03:11) 12 Evry Time We Say Goodbye (03:06) |
| Songs of Love : Allmusic album Review : This 2010 collection from popular British-soul outfit Simply Red focuses on the group’s romantic side (which was evident most of the time). Released to coincide with their farewell world tour, Songs of Love features 12 amorous cuts, including the international smash “Holding Back the Years” as well as a brand new track, the appropriately titled “I Have the Love.” | ||
 | Album: 24 of 29 Title: Original Album Series Released: 2011-03-21 Tracks: 50 Duration: 3:35:24 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Come to My Aid (04:03) 2 Sad Old Red (04:33) 3 Look at You Now (03:02) 4 Heaven (04:32) 5 Jericho (06:06) 6 Money’s Too Tight (to Mention) (04:13) 7 Holding Back the Years (04:30) 8 Red Box (03:56) 9 No Direction (03:41) 10 Picture Book (05:49) 1 The Right Thing (04:19) 2 Infidelity (04:09) 3 Suffer (04:55) 4 I Won’t Feel Bad (04:14) 5 Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye (03:23) 6 Let Me Have It All (03:45) 7 Love Fire (03:58) 8 Move on Out (04:55) 9 Shine (03:22) 10 Maybe Someday… (04:18) 1 It’s Only Love (04:58) 2 A New Flame (03:57) 3 You’ve Got It (03:55) 4 To Be With You (03:22) 5 More (04:10) 6 Turn It Up (04:35) 7 Love Lays Its Tune (04:05) 8 She’ll Have to Go (03:14) 9 If You Don’t Know Me by Now (03:25) 10 Enough (05:09) 1 Something Got Me Started (03:59) 2 Stars (04:08) 3 Thrill Me (05:03) 4 Your Mirror (03:59) 5 She’s Got It Bad (03:34) 6 For Your Babies (04:17) 7 Model (03:46) 8 How Could I Fall (04:45) 9 Freedom (03:52) 10 Wonderland (03:49) 1 You Make Me Believe (03:53) 2 So Many People (05:20) 3 Lives and Loves (03:22) 4 Fairground (05:33) 5 Never Never Love (04:20) 6 So Beautiful (04:58) 7 Hillside Avenue (04:46) 8 Remembering the First Time (04:44) 9 Out on the Range (06:01) 10 We’re in This Together (04:15) |
| Original Album Series : Allmusic album Review : This five-disc set, part of Rhinos priced-to-move Original Album Series, features five complete recordings from the Simply Red discography, including the groups 1985 debut Picture Book, 1987s Men and Women, 1989s A New Flame, 1991s Stars, and 1995s Life. | ||
 | Album: 25 of 29 Title: Farewell – Live in Concert at Sydney Opera House Released: 2011-05-20 Tracks: 16 Duration: 1:16:46 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Out on the Range (05:51) 2 Your Mirror (04:10) 3 Heaven (05:08) 4 Enough (06:36) 5 For Your Babies (04:37) 6 You Make Me Feel Brand New (05:27) 7 If You Don’t Know Me by Now (03:41) 8 It’s Only Love (04:24) 9 Sunrise (03:27) 10 Come to My Aid (04:20) 11 The Right Thing (04:27) 12 Money’s Too Tight (To Mention) (05:19) 13 Stars (04:05) 14 Fairground (06:01) 15 Something Got Me Started (04:29) 16 Holding Back the Years (04:44) |
| Farewell – Live in Concert at Sydney Opera House : Allmusic album Review : Recorded at Sydney’s Opera House in October 2010 during Simply Reds farewell tour of 2009-2010, the aptly named Farewell is a CD/DVD set that captures Mick Hucknall in fine nostalgic form. There are no surprises, either in song selection or in his band’s impeccably smooth approach, but comfort is the point of the whole affair: it’s one last chance for fans to hear those songs again. For anybody who isn’t a fan -- or got off board somewhere around the time when Stars turned Simply Red into sensations everywhere but the U.S. -- this will hardly be cause for re-evaluation, but Farewell does celebrate everything that made Mick Hucknall into an international superstar. | ||
 | Album: 26 of 29 Title: Song Book 1985 - 2010 Released: 2013-12-02 Tracks: 61 Duration: 4:25:10 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Moneys Too Tight (To Mention) (04:14) 2 Holding Back the Years (04:30) 3 Sad Old Red (04:32) 4 Come To My Aid (04:04) 5 Open Up The Red Box (03:57) 6 Jericho (06:52) 7 The Right Thing (04:21) 8 Maybe Someday... (04:20) 9 Evry Time We Say Goodbye (03:25) 10 I Wont Feel Bad (04:13) 11 Its Only Love (04:59) 12 If You Don’t Know Me by Now (03:25) 13 A New Flame (03:57) 14 Youve Got It (03:56) 15 Enough (05:12) 1 Something Got Me Started (04:01) 2 Stars (04:08) 3 For Your Babies (04:17) 4 Thrill Me (05:04) 5 Your Mirror (04:04) 6 Lady Godivas Room (02:53) 7 Fairground (05:32) 8 Remembering the First Time (04:40) 9 Never Never Love (04:17) 10 Were In This Together (04:15) 11 So Beautiful (04:59) 12 Angel (04:02) 13 Night Nurse (03:57) 14 The Air That I Breathe (04:22) 15 Ghetto Girl (03:26) 16 Aint That a Lot of Love (03:50) 17 Say You Love Me (03:47) 1 Sunrise (03:19) 2 Your Eyes (04:09) 3 Fake (03:59) 4 You Make Me Feel (05:04) 5 Home (03:15) 6 My Perfect Love (03:38) 7 Smile (03:11) 8 Sad Old Red (05:45) 9 Positively 4th Street (04:33) 10 Oh! What a Girl! (04:20) 11 Perfect Love (03:11) 12 Stay (03:05) 13 So Not Over You (03:52) 14 The World and You Tonight (03:31) 15 I Have the Love (03:10) 16 A Song for You (04:08) 17 Its You (03:22) 1 Picture Book (05:54) 2 Come To My Aid (04:25) 3 Heaven (04:49) 4 Jericho (06:11) 5 Infidelity (04:28) 6 Enough (06:34) 7 So Beautiful (04:58) 8 Out on the Range (05:27) 9 You Make Me Believe (04:25) 10 Mellow My Mind (03:56) 11 The Sky Is a Gypsy (04:29) 12 Something for You (05:59) |
| Song Book 1985 - 2010 : Allmusic album Review : Simply Red are a pop institution, at least in areas of the world that are not the United States, and like all institutions, theyre in need of a monument to their longevity. Song Book 1985-2010 is that monument, a four-disc box set that tells their story, concentrating on their hits but also adding a disc of new recordings where they revisit deep cuts from their catalog, refashioning them so they sound similar to latter-day Simply Red. This last disc is for the diehards but the rest is for those who have enjoyed hits from "Holding Back the Years" through "Stay," the groups last charting U.K. Top 40 single. All the hits are here, along with enough album tracks to give this weight, and if its too much for American fans who only remember "Holding Back the Years," "If You Dont Know Me by Now," and maybe "Moneys Too Tight (To Mention)," with its comprehensive sprawl it nevertheless illustrates the longevity of Mick Hucknalls blue-eyed soul group. | ||
 | Album: 27 of 29 Title: Home (Live In Sicily) Released: 2014-06-30 Tracks: 21 Duration: 1:33:51 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Someday in My Life (Tu Sei Dentro di Me) (05:14) 2 Ocean (05:36) 3 Home (03:39) 4 Positively 4th Street (04:30) 5 Lost Weekend (04:04) 6 Home Loan Blues (05:03) 7 A New Flame (03:56) 8 Night Nurse (03:39) 9 Something for You (06:15) 10 You Make Me Feel Brand New (05:12) 11 Stars (04:13) 12 Money in My Pocket (03:36) 13 Fake (03:50) 14 Thrill Me (05:27) 15 The Right Thing (04:34) 16 Something Got Me Started (04:24) 17 Holding Back the Years (04:44) 18 Moneys Too Tight to Mention (05:19) 19 Fairground (05:34) 20 Sunrise (04:15) 21 Home (reprise) (00:47) |
 | Album: 28 of 29 Title: Big Love Released: 2015-05-29 Tracks: 30 Duration: 1:56:55 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Shine On (03:11) 2 Daydreaming (03:37) 3 Big Love (04:09) 4 The Ghost of Love (03:15) 5 Dad (03:54) 6 Love Wonders (03:55) 7 Love Gave Me More (03:16) 8 Tight Tones (03:35) 9 WORU (04:12) 10 Coming Home (02:53) 11 The Old Man and the Beer (02:53) 12 Each Day (04:17) 1 Sunrise (03:19) 2 Stars (04:08) 3 A New Flame (03:57) 4 Holding Back the Years (04:30) 5 Home (03:15) 6 You’ve Got It (03:55) 7 Your Mirror (03:59) 8 For Your Babies (04:17) 9 The Right Thing (04:19) 10 Say You Love Me (03:43) 11 So Not Over You (03:50) 12 Fake (03:58) 13 Never Never Love (04:20) 14 Thrill Me (05:03) 15 Something Got Me Started (03:59) 16 Moneys Too Tight to Mention (04:14) 17 Fairground (05:32) 18 If You Dont Know Me By Now (03:24) |
| Big Love : Allmusic album Review : Mick Hucknall and Simply Red are rightly inseparable in the minds of most listeners -- he is the frontman and the star, the one constant in the bands history -- but the singers short-lived solo career of 2008-2012 proved there was a difference between Hucknall and the group. Big Love, the album the reunited Simply Red recorded to celebrate their 30th anniversary in 2015, isnt as in thrall to the past as the vocalists two albums of covers, nor is it as comfortable with rock as 2007s Stay. It is, as the title suggests, a record that is romantic to its very core, an album whose bones are as exquisitely smooth as its surfaces (the loungey tongue-in-cheek saloon song "The Old Man and the Beer" is the exception that proves the rule). Even when the tempo picks up a notch on Big Love -- and it doesnt happen all that often -- the speedier songs come in the form of a slow-burning disco tune, an aesthetic that isnt all that far removed from Simply Reds enduring allegiance to the smoothest sounds of the 70s, specifically Philly soul. At times, the overall veneer is a shade too clean, suggesting nothing so much as cocktail hour at a classy conference, but the fact that Hucknall and Simply Red choose to celebrate the softer, soulful sounds of the 70s by doubling down on the smoothness does separate them from the legions of neo-soul divas in the new millennium. Let those singers scale operatic towers: this lot prefers to take it easy and is charming for it. | ||
 | Album: 29 of 29 Title: Symphonica in Rosso Released: 2018-11-23 Tracks: 20 Duration: 1:32:23 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 All or Nothing at All (04:23) 2 Your Mirror (04:43) 3 For Your Babies (05:01) 4 Someday in My Life (04:17) 5 So Beautiful (05:01) 6 Say You Love Me (04:12) 7 Big Love (04:23) 8 Home (03:47) 9 Smile (03:21) 10 It Was a Very Good Year (04:28) 11 Picture Book (06:25) 12 Holding Back the Years (04:47) 13 Stars (04:11) 14 A New Flame (03:54) 15 Its Only Love (04:34) 16 Sunrise (03:37) 17 Something Got Me Started (04:06) 18 Fairground (06:17) 19 My Way (04:53) 20 If You Dont Know Me by Now (06:03) |