Simply Red

Simply Red are reforming next year to mark their 30th anniversary. They split for their 25th

Mancunian Mick Hucknall's band evolved in the mid-80s, topped the US charts and eventually the UK one, went into remission (!) in 2010, and have now returned with a new album out soon. So, here's a few of their notable efforts:

Holding Back The Years

Money's Too Tight (To Mention)

For Your Babies

Fairground

Sunrise

Simply Red: Farewell - Live in Concert at Sydney Opera House
From 2010, this was an hour of oldies delivered with Mick Hucknall's typical ardent expression. It's still strange to think that Stars represented a big shift through featuring no covers. A good show, anyway, though time will tell if there are ever any more.

Simply Red - Live at Montreux 2003
Quite a long show, mixing material from across his career, but especially his then-current album. They did 2 encores, with 80s stuff in the first, then Fairground & Sunrise to finish in the 2nd. Quite a fun showcase, really.

Discovering: Simply Red
Short continuation of the series, covering Mick Hucknall's rise from tragedy, his determination and versatility, changing through soul and reggae and R&B as the years pass. A good counterpoint to the recent release of his first new album since their reformation.

Classic Albums: Stars (Simply Red)
Encapsulating the change in the band from their early success to a more professional and perhaps calculating style, typified by the use of multi-instrumentalist Gota Yashiki replacing the existing drummer and others. The mix of styles on this record were enthused by producer Stewart Levine, and manager Elliot Rashman, amongst others. Lamont Dozier remains a fan, and Mick himself had a lot to say, whether you agree with him or not.

The "Big Love" album did feature at least one good single in

The Ghost Of Love

Painting... Mick Hucknall
The Simply Red frontman manages to promote his new album as a guest on a show where he had three minor portraits done of him, before the final unveiling of the "proper" full size one (which I thought was the least interesting of the lot, but anyway). A quirky form of biography, his missing his father was a theme that cropped up repeatedly.

The Ronnie Wood Show: Mick Hucknall
Old pals working together when Mick toured as the singer in the Faces. This 2012 edition had Ronnie recalling Jimi Hendrix, Steve Marriott, Janis Joplin, John Mayall and Big Bill Broonzy. When Mick joined in, he saluted Rod Stewart and Mick Jagger as his idols. He and Ronnie were fans of Bob Dylan. Mick had an approving e-mail from Rod about him doing the Faces gig. Mick's diamond tooth was a nod to Buddy Guy. Ronnie once partied with Gregory Isaacs. Some talk about BB King, and Mick saying he hadn't seen Bob Dylan live since the 1970s (!)
Altogether a busy little show, which I've quite enjoyed this time around.

Red Mick, by Mick Middles (1994)
A pretty studied biography from the time between the mega-success of Stars and before the return of Life. How Mick slowly found his way to music, and how the Frantic Elevators were a step on the road to Simply Red, plus his alliance with manager Elliot Rashman and tendency to chop & change band members "for the good of the music". There were a few rich anecdotes which prick the pomposity, while also acknowledging what lies behind the Hucknall attitude. A good read, though.

Radio 2 Live in a Day - Simply Red
They kicked off the show at 1pm, in fact, and here in this extract did a perhaps surprising blend of hits.

More importantly, they've got a new album out next month, Blue Eyed Soul.

Blue Eyed Soul entered the charts at #6 

misery guts wrote:Blue Eyed Soul entered the charts at #6 

Adore Simply Red!

Simply Red - Live In Holland
A gig at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam, with the backing of the European Pop Orchestra. They mainly did S Red songs, but a few classics like My Way and All Or Nothing At All. Mick was in good form, made sure to introduce some of the less familiar songs, as well as his band. Hope to get that new album soon too.

They've got a new album, Time, out this very week! 

James Martin's Saturday Morning - Mick Hucknall
Perhaps in an indication of the lack of other outlets, Mick was the guest on this weekend show last weekend. The food might also have been a factor, Mick is a keen cook, and James claimed he was the only guest in 16 years to say that James could cook whatever he wanted. He talked about seeing the famous Lesser Free Trade Hall gig in Manchester where the Sex Pistols appeared, though he preferred local lads Buzzcocks more. The new album is their 13th, they've sold 60 million albums in their career (according to James), Holding Back The Years was the 2nd song he ever wrote, the band will be on tour at festivals in Europe over the summer, returning to the UK in 2025 for their 40th anniversary. He feels homesick after spells on tour, he wants to get home to his family. The new album wasn't planned, but lockdown inspired him to write about himself for once. The previous album suffered as two tours booked for it had to be cancelled with the pandemic. A lot of lost time to make up for. Look forward to the new album.

Time went in at #6