Simply Red
This '80s soul-influenced group was led by Manchester born vocalist Mick Hucknall (b. Michael James Hucknall, 8 June 1960, Denton, Gt. Manchester, England). Hucknall's first recording group was the punk-inspired Frantic Elevators, who recorded a handful of singles, including an impressive vocal 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 the group had a more settled line-up featuring Hucknall, Tony Bowers (bass), Fritz McIntyre (keyboards), Tim Kellett (brass), Sylvan Richardson (guitar) and Chris Joyce (drums). Their debut album PICTURE BOOK climbed to number 2 in the UK charts, while their enticing cover of the Valentine Brothers’ Money's Too Tight To Mention was a Top 20 hit. Although the group 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 number 2. The song went on to top the US charts, which ushered in a period of international success. Their next album, MEN AND WOMEN, included collaborations between Hucknall and former Motown composer Lamont Dozier (of Holland-Dozier-Holland fame). 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 & The Bluenotes’ If You Don't Know Me By Now, which again climbed to number 2 in the UK. Since then, Simply Red have consolidated their position as the one of the most accomplished blue-eyed soul outfits to emerge from the UK in recent years. The 1991 album STARS showed them pursuing hip-hop inspired rhythms, alongside their usual soul-inspired style. It topped the British charts over a period of months, outselling much-hyped efforts by Michael Jackson, U2, Dire Straits and Guns N’ Roses. By July 1993 STARS had sold an astonishing 3 million copies in the UK alone.