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Simply Red

Simply Red

Mick Hucknall initially came up through the foothills, fronting cult-level Manchester post-punk outfit The Frantic Elevators. However, his grit and graft paid dividends, for when Hucknall launched Simply Red, in the mid-80s, they were more than ready for the rollercoaster ride that rapidly ensued after their classic single, Holding Back The Years, topped the US Billboard chart in 1986.

Having acquired mainstream success, Hucknall and his team made it look deceptively easy to maintain. With their flame-haired frontman’s silky smooth vocals perfectly complementing his band’s classy, soul-infused pop, Simply Red hit on a winning formula which led to albums such as 1989’s A New Flame and 1991’s arguable career highlight, Stars, enshrining the band’s legend and racking up multi-platinum sales. Beginning in 2010, a lengthy hiatus was initially assumed to be a split, but Hucknall and co returned with an accomplished new album, Big Love, in 2015, and have remained very much in contention since.

Best Love Songs Ever: 60 Timeless Tracks For Lifelong Lovers

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Best Love Songs Ever: 60 Timeless Tracks For Lifelong Lovers

From lung-busting ballads to intimate sentiments, the best love songs can put into words the feelings we find it hardest to express.

Best 80s Songs: 30 Epochal Tracks From Pop’s Golden Age

List & Guides

Best 80s Songs: 30 Epochal Tracks From Pop’s Golden Age

Though divisive both politically and culturally, the 80s produced consistently stellar music – as the best 80s songs make abundantly clear.

‘Time’ Album Review: Simply Red Bring A Dose Of Heartfelt Pop Nostalgia

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‘Time’ Album Review: Simply Red Bring A Dose Of Heartfelt Pop Nostalgia

A mixture of soul, funk, R&B and blues, Simply Red’s 13th album, ‘Time’, finds Mick Hucknall in sincere and life-affirming form.

‘Blue’: The Story Behind Simply Red’s Melancholic Sixth Album

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‘Blue’: The Story Behind Simply Red’s Melancholic Sixth Album

Marking a pivotal moment in Mick Hucknall’s career, Simply Red’s ‘Blue’ album saw him poignantly explore the past to express his sorrows.

‘A New Flame’: The Story Behind Simply Red’s Steamy Third Album

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‘A New Flame’: The Story Behind Simply Red’s Steamy Third Album

Impassioned and romantic, Simply Red’s ‘A New Flame’ album stoked the fires of success with Mick Hucknall’s red-hot blend of sophisti-pop.

Stars: The Story Behind Simply Red’s Astronomical Hit Song

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Stars: The Story Behind Simply Red’s Astronomical Hit Song

Looking to the sky for inspiration, Simply Red’s hit single ‘Stars’ explored the nature of fame and skyrocketed the band to cosmic heights.

‘Love And The Russian Winter’: Behind Simply Red’s Chill-Out Comedown

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‘Love And The Russian Winter’: Behind Simply Red’s Chill-Out Comedown

A heartwarming mix of dance-pop and jazz, Simply Red’s ‘Love And The Russian Winter’ is a testament to the group’s refusal to play it safe.

Life: The Rollercoaster Journey Behind Simply Red’s Mid-90s Classic

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Life: The Rollercoaster Journey Behind Simply Red’s Mid-90s Classic

Simply Red’s soaring follow-up to ‘Stars’, ‘Life’ saw Mick Hucknall stretch his wings to produce a breezy work of 90s pop-soul.

‘Stars’: The Album That Wrote Simply Red’s Name In The Firmament

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‘Stars’: The Album That Wrote Simply Red’s Name In The Firmament

With Simply Red’s ‘Stars’, Mick Hucknall harnessed the personal, emotional and political to create one of the best pop albums of the 90s.

Mick Hucknall: How The Simply Red Frontman Grasped The Stars

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Mick Hucknall: How The Simply Red Frontman Grasped The Stars

From Manchester lad to soul-pop sensation, Simply Red singer Mick Hucknall’s rise to fame is a true rags-to-riches story.

Best Simply Red Songs: 20 Red-Hot Takes On Blue-Eyed Soul

List & Guides

Best Simply Red Songs: 20 Red-Hot Takes On Blue-Eyed Soul

With fiery sophisti-pop and Mick Hucknall’s flaming locks, the best Simply Red songs brought a sparkle back into blue-eyed soul.