One of Britain’s favourite pop bands, Simply Red have been making soul-influenced music for over 25 years. Led by singer Mick Hucknall, they have released 11 studio albums and 21 UK top 20 singles.
After a seven year break, the band return with their 12th album, Blue Eyed Soul.
Simply Red have always been defined by their soul and R&B sound. Their 12th studio album ‘Blue Eyed Soul’ is no exception to this rule.
Lead vocalist Mick Hucknall writes all of the songs on this record and with his soulful voice delivers them with passion. From the open track “Thinking of You” which has a James Brown vibe, through the funky “Bad Bootz”, then to the classic ballads like Sweet Child and Complete Love, this album take you on a journey that you won’t want to come to an end!
BadBootz is the funkiest song on this album and it has a lot of elements from the 1970’s era. From the bass guitar to the horns and the Chic-like chink-a-chink rhythm guitar, it is all here.
Big Love
Simply Red have always been a band that has been a part of the zeitgeist in the U.K. During the 1980s and 1990s, they became one of the best-selling artists in the UK with songs such as Holding Back The Years, which was a hit in both the UK and the U.S.
They have had an incredible run of succes since 1985 with many of their albums peak in the top 10 of the UK charts. Their 1987 album Men and Women reshap the group’s image to become more introspective with a blue-eyed soul sound that was influenc by the funk and soul music of the time.
It was during this time that lead vocal Mick Hucknall releas two solo albums (Tribute to Bobby and Tribute to Myself) before the band disband in 2010. He has clearly had a big change in his mindset since then, as evidenced by the release of “Big Love”, which is an album that is a real celebrate of the group’s legacy.
Shine On
After a revolving door of members and the subsequent disbanding of Simply Red in 2010, lead singer Mick Hucknall has decided to return to the group under his own name. His new album, ‘Simplified’, sees the band revisit their earlier hits in a modernised style.
The title track is an up-tempo funk and soul number that features Hucknall’s trademark vocal style and tasteful instrumental flourishes. It’s a fun, upbeat song that would make for an excellent live performance.
It’s a bit of a mid-point between the band’s more up-tempo material on ‘New Flame’ and their more mellow songs on ‘Stay’. It’s not a particularly strong track or a very memorable one but it will ring true to die-hard Simply Red fans and could well be a hit on the band’s 30th anniversary tour.
The band’s second album, ‘Men And Women’, was released in 1987 and saw the group dabble in a broader range of musical styles and further expand Hucknall’s song writing abilities. The result was an assured stylish sound record that more than earned its place as one of the group’s finest.
The Ghost Of Love
The Ghost Of Love is a sizzling 78 seconds of pure sexy bliss. Taking the award for most sexy music video to the next level. It is one of the more popular entries in this illustrious trilogy, which also includes BadBootz and Big Love. The band is back in full force with the likes of drummer Steve Hucknall and guitarist Andy Hucknallas as a support cast that includes stalwarts Peter Burtis (keyboards) and John Dawkins (percussion). Big Love is simply the best of the bunch, a must-listen for Simply Red fans.
The band is back in the saddle and is gear up for their biggest tour to date, which see play in the UK from the end of this year all the way through May and possible 2018. They have a new look and a new name as well. We’re looking forward to more good times, good company and some groovy tunes down the track. https://www.youtube.com/embed/YgYSBHaDC5k
