Simply Red is an English pop band, formed in the mid 1980s.
Simply R… Read Full Bio ↴Simply Red is an English pop band, formed in the mid 1980s.
Simply Red's roots originate from the notorious 1976 Sex Pistols gig at the Lesser Free Trade Hall in Manchester. Manchester art student Mick Hucknall was one of the many young music fans present (along with original members of The Fall, Joy Division, The Smiths and Buzzcocks) who was inspired to form a band after witnessing that gig. The first incarnation of the band was a punk group called The Frantic Elevators. This band existed for 7 years, with limited releases on local labels, but split in 1984 with only limited local attention and critical acclaim for their final single, "Holding Back the Years".
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 Simply Red (after Hucknall's nickname, which denoted hair color, football allegiance to Manchester United and left-wing political affiliation). They signed to Elektra in 1985, with the somewhat changeable line-up of Hucknall, Tony Bowers (bass), Fritz McIntyre (keyboards), Tim Kellett (brass), Sylvan Richardson (guitar) and Chris Joyce (drums). Their first single, released in 1985, was "Money's Too Tight (To Mention)", a cover of a soul standard originally recorded by The Valentine Brothers. This single had moderate success, reaching the UK Top 20.
In 1986 the band re-recorded "Holding Back The Years", the Frantic Elevators' biggest hit, in a more accessible pop style with adjustments in lyrics and instrumentation. The tune became a major hit, peaking at #2 in Great Britain and later #1 in the United States, and established Simply Red as a household name. Their debut album, 'Picture Book', which had been released previously in 1985, began to sell more copies, and it became an international hit album, with multi-platinum certification.
Their second album, 1987's "Men and Women", saw the band adopting a more sober and professional image, with bowler hats and colorful suits replacing their earlier ragamuffin look, and the introspection and social commentary of their debut replaced by a blue-eyed soul sound with funk influences. Around this time Hucknall became a tabloid personality, drawing attention and criticism for his alleged womanising, and gaining a reputation as "a lecherous loudmouth" and bien pensant. Despite Hucknall's bad reputation and the album's bad reviews, or perhaps as a result of them, Men and Women was a commercial success.
With their third album "A New Flame", 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. 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 band's popular career peaked later that year 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). "Stars" mixed Hucknall's anti-Thatcherite political lyrics with an easy-listening lounge-jazz sound, apparently to avoid alienation of their existing fanbase.
After touring and promoting "Stars" for two years, Simply Red returned in 1995 with "Fairground", a dance-influenced track featuring prominently a sample from Zki & Dobri's Goodmen project. A massive radio hit, "Fairground" went on to become the band’s first British #1, amid critical panning. Its parent album 'Life' sold more than a million copies in the UK alone, making it the fourth-biggest seller of the year. The band followed this up with cover heavy 'Blue' in 1998 and 'Love and the Russian Winter'. After 'Love and the Russian Winter' they left EastWest and Hucknall set up his own record label simplyred.com where he released "Home" in 2003, a mixture of mostly original songs and covers, including a version of The Stylistics song "You Make Me Feel Brand New". "Simplified" followed in 2005, mainly an album of stripped down versions of their Classic hits.
The single "Oh! What A Girl!" released in September 2006 from their album Stay, their 10th, released on 12 March 2007. This was preceded by the single “So Not Over You”, released on 5 March 2007. The third single from the album was the title song "Stay", released on 28 May 2007. The fourth and the last single of Simply Red single , "The World And You Tonight", was released in November 2007.
Mick Hucknall announced that the band were due to split in 2009, after a farewell tour.
"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."
"I've just recorded an album that is a tribute to Bobby Bland, a blues and R'n'B artist. It's a solo project and I've really enjoyed it so much that I feel the time has come now to just put a book-end to the story and the album Stay will be the last Simply Red studio album."
Simply R… Read Full Bio ↴Simply Red is an English pop band, formed in the mid 1980s.
Simply Red's roots originate from the notorious 1976 Sex Pistols gig at the Lesser Free Trade Hall in Manchester. Manchester art student Mick Hucknall was one of the many young music fans present (along with original members of The Fall, Joy Division, The Smiths and Buzzcocks) who was inspired to form a band after witnessing that gig. The first incarnation of the band was a punk group called The Frantic Elevators. This band existed for 7 years, with limited releases on local labels, but split in 1984 with only limited local attention and critical acclaim for their final single, "Holding Back the Years".
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 Simply Red (after Hucknall's nickname, which denoted hair color, football allegiance to Manchester United and left-wing political affiliation). They signed to Elektra in 1985, with the somewhat changeable line-up of Hucknall, Tony Bowers (bass), Fritz McIntyre (keyboards), Tim Kellett (brass), Sylvan Richardson (guitar) and Chris Joyce (drums). Their first single, released in 1985, was "Money's Too Tight (To Mention)", a cover of a soul standard originally recorded by The Valentine Brothers. This single had moderate success, reaching the UK Top 20.
In 1986 the band re-recorded "Holding Back The Years", the Frantic Elevators' biggest hit, in a more accessible pop style with adjustments in lyrics and instrumentation. The tune became a major hit, peaking at #2 in Great Britain and later #1 in the United States, and established Simply Red as a household name. Their debut album, 'Picture Book', which had been released previously in 1985, began to sell more copies, and it became an international hit album, with multi-platinum certification.
Their second album, 1987's "Men and Women", saw the band adopting a more sober and professional image, with bowler hats and colorful suits replacing their earlier ragamuffin look, and the introspection and social commentary of their debut replaced by a blue-eyed soul sound with funk influences. Around this time Hucknall became a tabloid personality, drawing attention and criticism for his alleged womanising, and gaining a reputation as "a lecherous loudmouth" and bien pensant. Despite Hucknall's bad reputation and the album's bad reviews, or perhaps as a result of them, Men and Women was a commercial success.
With their third album "A New Flame", 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. 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 band's popular career peaked later that year 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). "Stars" mixed Hucknall's anti-Thatcherite political lyrics with an easy-listening lounge-jazz sound, apparently to avoid alienation of their existing fanbase.
After touring and promoting "Stars" for two years, Simply Red returned in 1995 with "Fairground", a dance-influenced track featuring prominently a sample from Zki & Dobri's Goodmen project. A massive radio hit, "Fairground" went on to become the band’s first British #1, amid critical panning. Its parent album 'Life' sold more than a million copies in the UK alone, making it the fourth-biggest seller of the year. The band followed this up with cover heavy 'Blue' in 1998 and 'Love and the Russian Winter'. After 'Love and the Russian Winter' they left EastWest and Hucknall set up his own record label simplyred.com where he released "Home" in 2003, a mixture of mostly original songs and covers, including a version of The Stylistics song "You Make Me Feel Brand New". "Simplified" followed in 2005, mainly an album of stripped down versions of their Classic hits.
The single "Oh! What A Girl!" released in September 2006 from their album Stay, their 10th, released on 12 March 2007. This was preceded by the single “So Not Over You”, released on 5 March 2007. The third single from the album was the title song "Stay", released on 28 May 2007. The fourth and the last single of Simply Red single , "The World And You Tonight", was released in November 2007.
Mick Hucknall announced that the band were due to split in 2009, after a farewell tour.
"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."
"I've just recorded an album that is a tribute to Bobby Bland, a blues and R'n'B artist. It's a solo project and I've really enjoyed it so much that I feel the time has come now to just put a book-end to the story and the album Stay will be the last Simply Red studio album."
All Down the Line
Simply Red Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'All Down the Line' by these artists:
Rolling Stones and Martin Scorsese Yeah, heard the diesel drumming all down the line Oh, heard…
Rolling Stones feat. Eric Clapton Yeah, heard the diesel drumming all down the line Oh, heard…
The Rolling Stones (M. Jagger/K. Richards) Yeah, heard the diesel drumming all…
The Rolling Stones/Musicfire.in Yeah, heard the diesel drumming all down the line. Oh, heard…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Simply Red:
''Fake'' Watching love drifting away And I feel like I'm someone else…
03_You're Got It This impossible power A strength that I can't see There's no…
11 I love you, show me Something got me started You know that…
A Picture Book Many types came to see the picture. Many types came to…
A Song For You I've been so many places in my life and time I've…
Ain't That A Lot Of Love I know the desert can't hold all the love That I…
Air That I Breathe If I could make a wish I think I'd pass Can't…
Angel Gotta find me an angel To fly away with me Gotta find…
Back Into The Universe This is your God This is your God As we…
Beside You We follow the river down into the stream That's where my…
Big Love The way you smile that way It sends me miles away Daydream…
Blue I'm blue, blue like a Monday morning Raised up in a…
Broken Man Now I am a broken man, Now I am a…
Close To You This land is real, real as the next man This land…
Come Get Me Angel This one's going out to you girl, wherever you may…
Come On In My Kitchen You'd better come on in my kitchen, babe it's gonna be…
Come To My Aid Come to my aid you're sweet as everything Come to my…
Debris I left you on the debris At the Sunday morning market You…
Do the Right Thing In the middle of the night When the time is right Sexily…
Drowning In My Own Tears Drowning In My Own Tears Words & music Henry Glover It brin…
Enough Alright, you're right Let's talk it over now Talk it over no…
Ev Ry Time We Say Goodbye Every time we say goodbye I die a little Every time…
Every Time We Say Goodbye Ev'ry time we say goodbye, I die a little Ev'ry time…
Fairground Driving down an endless road Taking friends or moving alone …
Fake Watching love drifting away And I feel like I'm someone else…
For Your Babies You've got that look again The one I hoped I had…
Freedom How long we gonna last How long everybody has to ask Freedo…
Ghetto Girl Stay at home now That little girl was born on the…
Go Now We've already said...goodbye (Don't you even try, don't you …
Good Times Have Done Me Wrong I drank a lot Spent too much Gave a lot Screwed up a…
Granma's Hands Grandma's hands Clapped in church on Sunday morning Grandma'…
Groovy Situation Somethings happened to me I found someone you see Oh Yes …
Heaven Everyone is trying to get to the bar. The name of…
High Fives High fives, truly night jive Living in the night time Soul…
Hillside Avenue Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue Was the sign I saw when I…
Holdin Back the Years Holding back the years Thinking of the fear I've had so…
Holding Back The Years (12 Holding back the years, Thinking of the fear I've had for…
Holding Back The Years. Holding back the years Thinking of the fear I've had for…
Home What's worth nothing else but love Take a walk down any…
Home (reprise) Fake cool image should be over ‘Cause I long for a…
Home Loan Blues Just a man, good and sometimes bad But striving to do…
How Could I Fall How could I fall for someone so superficial Funny how the…
I Have The Love We all need somebody Who's proud and believes Who hears wha…
I Know You Got Soul You got it You got it You got it You got I know you…
I Won't Feel Bad If I said you were evil You'd knock me off my…
If You Don If you don't know me by now You will never, never,…
Infidelity When a man just can't be trusted And again he's gone…
It It's only love It's only love It's only love It's only love …
It's Only Love It's only love It's only love Don't be afraid to touch me…
It's You This impossible power A strength that I can't see There's no…
Jericho Listen boy, I'll tell you a thing. I'll make you a…
Lady 'Before we go on the honeymoon is over... Just because I've…
Lady in Red I've never seen you looking so lovely as you do…
Let Me Have It All You have turned into a prayer I can feel I'm almost…
Little Englander We think we're important We are, we're a car, we're a…
Lives And Loves Lives and loves, don't tell me about it To respond to…
Look At You Now Right from the start you tried to hurt me, But look…
Lost Weekend My lost weekend Been more now than a year Oh I hoped…
Love Fire Fire fire Fire fire Fire fire fire fire Can't put it out wit…
Love for Sale Love for Sale Billie Holiday, Cole Porter When the only soun…
Love Has Said Goodbye Again Love has said goodbye again see the road we go…
Love Lays Its Tune Last night I made love for the first time She gave…
Man Made The Gun Man made the gun a sado-sexual machine It's slaughter bring…
Maybe Someday I've been a fool, talking to myself and no-one else I…
Mellow My Mind Baby mellow my mind Make me feel like a schoolboy on…
Model Looking at yourself in the mirror baby Telling yourself to b…
Money I been laid off from work. My rent is due. My kids…
Money In My Pocket Oh oh, yeah yeah yeah Money in my pocket but I…
Money in My Pocket (Plan B mix) Money in my pocket but I just can't get no…
Money TV I remember a time and a place Where Herbie had to…
Money's Too Tight I been laid off from work. My rent is due. My kids…
Money's Too Tight (To Mention) I been laid off from work My rent is due My kids…
Money's Too Tight To Mention I been laid off from work. My rent is due. My kids…
Moneys Too Tight I been laid off from work my rent is due My…
More You've had your flings I've had mine You've grown your wings…
More Than A Dream For those who are in love I'm with you babies How can…
Move on Out So you tell me you're certain about it Sure to tell…
My Perfect Love Your perfect love Your perfect love Oh boy, what a fight We…
Never Never Love So now we've got our independence What are we gonna do…
New Flame I was bowled out I was sold down the river And her…
Night Nurse Tell her try her best just to make it quick Woman…
Night Nurse (Jah Wobble Radio Mix Tell her try her best just to make it quick Woman…
Night Nurse (Trip Hop Mix) Tell her try her best just to make it quick Woman…
No Direction Singing hymns on road and pavements. Hungry Jims, no one sav…
Oh! What A Girl! There came a time in my life A time to move…
Open Up The Red Box Why don't you look at the price I'm paying? Walk in,…
Out On The Range It's lonely out on the range That open space they call…
Perfect Love Your perfect love Your perfect love Oh boy, what a fight We…
Picture Book Many types came to see the picture. Many types came to…
Positively 4th Street You got a lotta nerve To say you are my friend When…
Ramblin' On My Mind Baby mellow my mind Make me feel like a schoolboy on…
Red Box Why don't you look at the price I'm paying? Walk in,…
Remembering The First Time Remembering the first time we made love Remembering the firs…
Sad Old Red I walk on stone, it leads me home. We don't have…
Say You Love Me Say Being one of those grains of sand I get blown all…
She I get off my things, I lay down in the…
She'll Have To Go All you hoes, callin' here for my daddy get off…
She's Got It Bad I get off my things, I lay down in the…
Shine Ooh, shiny eyes, you've broken down a wall Reach for the…
simply red Gotta find me an angel To fly away with me Gotta find…
Smile You make me smile glow and shine You make me glad…
So Beautiful I was listening to this conversation Noticing my daydream st…
So Many People Where do you want to go? Are you sure of the…
So Not Over You Don't know why I still slept on my side of…
Someday in My Life Here from the top of a mountain I see you there In…
Something for You Anyone would cry over you Too bad if they do But baby…
Something Got Me Started I love you, show me Something got me started You know that…
Spirit Of Life Are you the best? Or the equal of every man…
Star Anyone who ever held you Would tell you the way I'm…
Stay Say did I thank you for your kindness It's just the…
Suffer Something deep inside of me That when it comes it won't…
Sunrise As I look into your eyes I see the sunrise The…
Thank You I thank you for the things you have shown me Thank…
The air that I breath If I could make a wish I think I'd pass Can't…
The Death Of The Cool My shyness, my misunderstood My misunderstanding My destiny …
The Right Thing In the middle of the night When the time is right Sexily…
The Sky Is A Gypsy The first time was the best time The language you use You…
The Spirit of Life Are you the best? Or the equal of every man…
The World And You Tonight Don't rush around The world will wait for you And too much…
They Don't Know They don't know They don't know Driving by two lovers Kissi…
Thrill Me OK I'm the one who took you for granted I've made my…
To Be Free To be free Or to feel free The first one is a…
To Be With You I can't pronounce it Don't even understand The words I mean …
Turn It Up Turn it up, turn it so loud It don't ever stop No…
Wave The Old World Goodbye Wave the Old World goodbye It's time to say hello to…
We're in This Together All eyes were clouded, nobody knows How the world wasn't abl…
When You've Got A Good Friend When you got a good friend That will stay right by…
Wonderland People, places Pursuing the chases Our moments were chosen H…
Words For Girlfriends Do I feel jealousy when you're free without me? Maybe Do I…
Would I Lie To You No No Baby Hmm... Na Na Na Na Na Na (Look…
X I love you, show me Something got me started You know that…
You This impossible power A strength that I can't see There's no…
You Make Me Believe Sometimes you're my mama Sometimes my little baby girl Occas…
You Make Me Feel Brand New My love I'll never find the words, my love To tell you…
You"ve Got It This impossible power A strength that I can't see There's no…
and many more tracks by Simply Red.
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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kay
on Picture Book
Ive always heard it was a reference to the list of names of African Americans who were allowed to go to the cinema in around the desegregation era.
Lowell
on Wonderland
In my opinion this song is a commentary, and criticism, of British life under Margaret Thatcher, who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990, when this tune was released. "The end of an era / our future no clearer / my people no stronger / the blame I lay on her" might suggest disappointment with Thatcher's promised reforms of British government. The refrain "wonderland, wonderland / it's beautiful" sounds like a political slogan, promising a new life for all "...until tomorrow comes to haunt us all".