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Simply Red

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Simply Red
Live in Bremen, 2003
Live in Bremen, 2003
Background information
OriginManchester, England
GenresNew Wave, Pop rock, Blue-eyed soul
Years active1985–2010
LabelsElektra, East West, Simply Red
Past membersFormer Members
Websitewww.simplyred.com

Simply Red were a British soul band that sold more than 50 million albums over a 25-year career. Their style drew influences from blue-eyed soul, new romantic, rock, reggae and jazz. Since their early days the main driving force behind the band was singer Mick Hucknall, who by the time the band broke up in 2010 was the only original member left.[1]

History

Pre-history: The Frantic Elevators (1977–1984)

Simply Red originated from the 1976 Sex Pistols gig at the Lesser Free Trade Hall in Manchester, England. Manchester art student Mick Hucknall was one of the many young music fans present, along with Mark E. Smith of The Fall as well as original members of the bands Joy Division, The Smiths and Buzzcocks. The first incarnation of the band was a punk group called The Frantic Elevators, which existed for 7 years, with limited releases on local labels. They split in 1984 with only limited local attention and critical acclaim for their final single, "Holding Back the Years".

Formation and early success (1985–1988)

After the demise of The Frantic Elevators, Hucknall linked up with manager Elliot Rashman. By early 1985, Hucknall and Rashman had assembled a band of local session musicians, and began to attract record company attention. Around this time, the group adopted the name Red (after Hucknall's nickname, which denoted hair colour[2]). The name Simply Red came when the manager of a local venue was confused about the band's name and Hucknall replied that the band's name was "Red, simply [just] Red." The resulting misnomer was printed on publicity posters as "Simply Red," and the name stuck.

The initial Simply Red line-up consisted of Mick Hucknall (vocals), David Fryman (guitar), Tony Bowers (bass), Fritz McIntyre (keyboards), Tim Kellett (brass), and Chris Joyce (drums). Bowers and Joyce had both previously been members of post-punk bands The Durutti Column and The Mothmen; Kellett had also been a member of The Durutti Column, though not at the same time as Bowers and Joyce.

Simply Red signed a contract with Elektra in 1985, but after recording one track ("Red Box") Fryman left the group and was replaced by guitarist Sylvan Richardson, who was billed only as 'Sylvan'.

"Red Box" would eventually see release on the group's first single, but as a B-side. The A-side of the band's first single, released in 1985, was "Money's Too Tight (To Mention)", a cover of a soul song originally recorded by The Valentine Brothers. This single had big international success, reaching the UK and Irish Top 20, later the American, French and Dutch Top 30, and the Italian Top 5. Their debut album, Picture Book, was also released in 1985.

Several low-charting singles would follow for the band. Among the comparative flops was a re-recording of the Frantic Elevators' "Holding Back the Years", done up in a new soul-ballad style arrangement. Released as Simply Red's third single in 1985, the track initially placed outside the UK top 50. However upon being re-released in 1986, "Holding Back The Years" became a major hit, peaking at #1 in Ireland, #2 in Great Britain, #3 in the Netherlands, #20 in Italy and later #1 in the United States. The song established Simply Red as a household nanternational hit.

Simply Red's second album, 1987's Men and Women, saw the band adopting bowler hats and colourful suits instead of their earlier ragamuffin look. As well, the introspection and social commentary of their debut album was replaced by a blue-eyed soul sound with funk influences. Veteran Motown songwriter Lamont Dozier co-authored two tracks with Hucknall for the album—these tracks were credited to 'Hucknall/Dozier/Hucknall' in the original album credits, as an homage to the famous Motown writing team of Holland/Dozier/Holland.

The album's lead single "The Right Thing" was another international hit, charting in the top 40 throughout Europe and North America. Several follow-up singles also met with modest success in the UK and elsewhere.

Peak years (1989–1995)

Guitarist Richardson left after the release of Men and Women, and was replaced by Heitor Pereira (billed as Heitor TP). At the same time, saxophonist Ian Kirkham was added to the line-up.

With their third album A New Flame in 1989, Simply Red adopted a yet more mainstream populist sound aimed for commercial rather than critical success, typified by their cover of Harold Melvin's pop classic "If You Don't Know Me By Now", which became their second U.S. #1 hit, and one of the biggest singles of the year internationally; and their greatest success to the point.

Hucknall was by this time an international superstar, being photographed with models and Hollywood celebrities. This seemed to harm the band's coherence as a unit, with Hucknall declaring in 1991 that Simply Red was "essentially a solo project". The rhythm section of Bowers and Joyce left around this time; they were replaced by bassist Shaun Ward and drummer Gota Yashiki (often billed just as Gota).

The band's career peaked in late 1991 with the release of Stars, which became the best-selling album for two years running in Europe and the UK (though notably had far less success in the US than their previous albums). The album spun off five top 40 singles in the UK, and the singles "Something Got Me Started" and "Stars" were also significant chart hits throughout all of Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand.

After touring and promoting Stars for two years, Simply Red returned in 1995 with "Fairground", a dance-influenced track prominently featuring a sample from Zki & Dobri's Goodmen project. A massive radio hit, "Fairground" went on to become the band's first and only British #1. Its parent album Life sold more than a million copies in the UK alone, making it the fourth-biggest seller of the year. By this time, the band was officially Hucknall, McIntyre, Kirkham, Pereira, and new backing vocalist Dee Johnson. Guest musicians (including Sly & Robbie) filled in on drums and bass. During live shows and TV-show appearances Simply Red were also backed up by Steve Lewinson on bass, Velroy Bailey on drums, and second backing vocalist Sarah Brown.

Mick Hucknall years (1996–2010)

McIntyre, the only original remaining band member aside from frontman Hucknall, left the group after the Life album, as did Heitor TP. From 1996 forward, Simply Red was essentially a trade name for Hucknall and a bevy of session musicians, which would vary from track to track (and gig to gig) as needed—although it should be noted that all post-1996 Simply Red albums and live shows did include contributions from sax player Ian Kirkham. As well, backing vocalist Dee Johnson and returning drummer Gota Yashiki (who would also play bass and co-produce several tracks on the group's later albums) were also frequently involved with the band's later recordings and shows, as was new keyboardist/co-producer Andy Wright.

The group issued the compilation album Greatest Hits in 1996, reportedly against Hucknall's wishes. The album featured one new track, a cover of the 1973 Aretha Franklin hit "Angel" which was co-produced with The Fugees (who also served as backing musicians). Released as a single, "Angel" hit #6 UK.

1998 saw the release of the cover heavy Blue, which spun off four UK top 40 singles, including the top 10 hits "Say You Love Me" and "The Air That I Breathe" The follow-up album, 1999's Love and the Russian Winter, was a relative disappointment, spawning two minor hits that failed to hit the top 10.

Simply Red were at this point dropped from their label. Hucknall subsequently set up 'simplyred.com' to handle releases of new recordings; the new label/website venture proved to be quite successful, as many of the band's simplyred.com releases sold and charted about as well as their earlier recordings.

The band released Home in 2003 which was a mixture of original songs and covers, including a version of The Stylistics song "You Make Me Feel Brand New", which hit UK #7. The album went Double Platinum in the United Kingdom, Gold in Canada, and Platinum in Europe. It featured two other hit singles: "Sunrise" (#7 UK) and "Fake" (#21 UK).

Simplified followed in 2005, mainly an album of stripped down versions of their classic hits. The single "Perfect Love" made it to number 30 on the UK charts, the band's final top 30 placing.

The band's tenth—and as it would turn out, final—studio album Stay was released on 12 March 2007. This was preceded by the single "So Not Over You", released on 5 March 2007, which would peak at #34 UK. Follow-up single "Stay" (released on 28 May 2007) peaked at #36 UK, and was the band's final placing in the UK top 100 (although they would release several non-charting follow-up singles in the following years).

Hucknall released his first solo album, Tribute to Bobby on 19 May 2008.[3]

Mick Hucknall announced that the name Simply Red would be retired after a farewell tour that started in early 2009, and ended in 2010.[4]

"I've kind of decided that the 25 years is going to be enough, so I intend that the 2009 will be the last Simply Red tour."

The band's official line-up as they wound down was Mick Hucknall (vocals), Ian Kirkham (saxophone/keyboards), Dave Clayton (keyboards), Kenji Suzuki (guitar), Kevin Robinson (trumpet/flugelhorn/percussion), Steve Lewinson (bass guitar) and Pete Lewinson (drums). All had played on each of the band's last three studio albums, alongside other session musicians.

Simply Red's final concert took place at the O2 Arena in London on 19 December 2010. The concert was shown live at cinemas throughout the UK. The concert marked the end of Simply Red as a functioning artist.[5]

Discography

Main article: Simply Red discography
See also: Mick Hucknall § Solo discography

Members

Founding members names emboldened.

Former members

Vocalists

Keyboardists

Guitarists

Bassists

  • Tony Bowers (1985–1991)
  • Shaun Ward (1991–1995)
  • Steve Lewinson (1995–1998, 2003–2010)
  • Wayne Stobbart (1998–2003)
  • Tim Vine (1999)
  • Andy Wright (1999–2007)

Drummers

  • Chris Joyce (1985–1991)
  • Velroy Bailey (1995–1998)
  • Gota Yashiki (1991–1995, 1998–2003)
  • Pete Lewinson (2003–2010)

Brass

Woodwind

  • Ian Kirkham (1986–2010)
  • Chris De Margary (1999–2008)

Backing vocalists

  • Dee Johnson (1992–2008)
  • Sarah Brown (1996–2008)

See also

References

  1. ^ McCormick, Neil (26 October 2007). "Simply Red: Splitting up is never easy". The Daily Telegraph. London.
  2. ^ "Mick Hucknall Top 10 Most Frequently Asked Questions".
  3. ^ "BBC music review of Tribute to Bobby". 20 May 2008. Retrieved 26 June 2008.
  4. ^ Schmidt, Veronica (24 October 2007). "Simply Red splitting up after 25 years". London: Times Online. Retrieved 24 October 2007.
  5. ^ http://www.simplyred.com/cinema-tickets-now-on-sale-for-19th-december/
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