|
This soul-influenced UK band revolves around
the central figure of vocalist Mick Hucknall (b.
8 June 1960, Denton, Greater Manchester, England).
Hucknall's first musical outing was with the punk-inspired
Frantic Elevators, who recorded a handful of singles,
including the impressive ballad, "Holding Back
The Years". When they split up in 1983, the vocalist
formed Simply Red with a fluid line-up that included
Ojo, Mog, Dave Fryman and Eddie Sherwood. After
signing to Elektra Records the band had a more
settled line-up featuring Hucknall, Tony Bowers
(bass), Fritz McIntyre (b. 2 September 1958; keyboards),
Tim Kellett (brass), Sylvan Richardson (guitar)
and Chris Joyce (drums). Their 1985 debut Picture
Book climbed to number 2 in the UK charts, while
their enticing cover version of the Valentine
Brothers' "Money's Too Tight To Mention" was a
Top 20 hit. Although the band registered a lowly
number 66 with the follow-up "Come To My Aid",
they rediscovered the hit formula with a sterling
re-recording of the minor classic "Holding Back
The Years", which peaked at UK number 2. The song
went on to top the US charts, ushering in a period
of international success. Their next album, Men
And Women, included collaborations between Hucknall
and former Motown Records composer Lamont Dozier.
Further hits followed with "The Right Thing",
"Infidelity" and a reworking of the Cole Porter
standard, "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye". Having
twice reached number 2 in the album charts, Simply
Red finally scaled the summit in 1989 with the
accomplished A New Flame. The album coincided
with another hit, "It's Only Love", which was
followed by a splendid reworking of Harold Melvin
And The Blue Notes' "If You Don't Know Me By Now",
which climbed to number 2 in the UK and topped
the US chart. In the early 90s, Simply Red (now
effectively Hucknall and various backing musicians)
consolidated their position as one of the most
accomplished blue-eyed soul outfits to emerge
from the UK in recent years. The 1991 album Stars
pursued hip-hop-inspired rhythms, alongside their
usual soul style. It topped the UK charts over
a period of months, outselling much-hyped efforts
by Michael Jackson, U2, Dire Straits and Guns
N'Roses. The follow-up Life was also a bestseller,
although it showed little sign of creative development.
The album did feature the wonderful "Fairground",
however, which provided Hucknall with his first
ever UK chart-topping single. The band returned
to the charts in 1996 and 1997 with cover versions
of Aretha Franklin's "Angel" and Gregory Isaacs'
"Night Nurse". Their fifth consecutive UK number
1 album, Blue, featured several other covers (including
two takes of the Hollies' "The Air That I Breathe")
and marked a return to the smooth soul style of
A New Flame. The disappointing Love And The Russian
Winter, which was pilloried in the press, broke
the band's run of UK chart-toppers. Hucknall took
stock and decided to break away from major record
companies by recording his new album at home and
releasing it on his own label. Home was the first
album release on Simplyred.com and, with sales
of over a million copies, proved to be a notable
success for an artist running his own label. Hucknall
also returned to the upper regions of the UK singles
chart in spring 2003 with the Hall And Oates-sampling
"Sunrise". Hucknall is also a co-owner of Blood
And Fire Records, a label dedicated to reissuing
classic dub reggae albums.
|
