Simply Red
| Simply Red | |
|---|---|
 Simply Red (2009) |
|
| General information | |
| Genre (s) | Blue-eyed soul , pop |
| founding | 1984, 2014 |
| resolution | 2010 |
| Website | www.simplyred.com |
| Current occupation | |
| Mick Hucknall (since 1984) | |
| Kenji Suzuki (since 1999) | |
| Steve Lewinson (1995–1998; since 2003) | |
| Dave Clayton (since 2003) | |
| Roman Roth (since 2012) | |
| Ian Kirkham (since 1986) | |
| Chris De Margary (1999-2008; since 2010) | |
| John Johnson (1998-2008; since 2010) | |
| Kevin Robinson (since 1999) | |
| Dee Johnson (1992-2008; since 2010) | |
| Sarah Brown (1996-2008; since 2010) | |
| former members | |
guitar |
David Fryman (1984–1985) |
guitar |
Sylvan Richardson (1984-1987) |
guitar |
Aziz Ibrahim (1987) |
guitar |
Heitor Pereira (1987-1996) |
guitar |
Mark Jaimes (1996-1999) |
bass |
Tony Bowers (1984-1991) |
bass |
Shaun Ward (1991-1995) |
bass |
Wayne Stobbart (1998-2003) |
bass |
Tim Vine (1999) |
bass |
Andy Wright (1999-2007) |
Keyboard |
Fritz McIntyre (1984-1995) |
Keyboard |
Tim Vine (1996-1999) |
Keyboard |
Andy Wright (1999-2007) |
Drums |
Chris Joyce (1984-1991) |
Drums |
Gota Yashiki (1991-1995; 1998-2005) |
Drums |
Velroy Bailey (1995-1998) |
Drums |
Pete Lewinson (2003-2010) |
Trumpet, flugelhorn, keyboard, percussion |
Tim Kellett (1984-1991) |
Trumpet |
John Johnson (1998-2008) |
Simply Red is a British band formed in 1984. It is made up of frontman and singer Mick Hucknall as well as various, sometimes changing, other musicians.
At the end of October 2007, Mick Hucknall announced that the group would split up after completing the upcoming tour in 2010 and that he would continue to work as a solo artist. In November 2014, however, Hucknall surprisingly announced that he would go on another world tour with Simply Red.
Simply Red have sold around 50 million records to date.
Band name
First and foremost, the band name is due to a nickname of the singer Mick Hucknall . Because of his red hair, friends called him Red at school. Perhaps the name can also be seen as an allusion to Hucknall's passion for the Manchester United football team , whose club color is red. Initially the band gave first concerts under different names. They called themselves, for example, World Service , Red And The Dancing Dead or Just Red , until the decision was finally made for the band name Simply Red . Another variant of the band name is also often rumored: When Mick was asked for the name of his band during contract negotiations, he remembered his nickname 'Red' and replied: "Simply 'Red'" (for example: "Just 'Red'" ). The person opposite took this literally, and 'Simply Red' was born.
Band history
Money's Too Tight (To Mention) debut single (a cover version of a Valentine Brothers song), released in June 1985, hit the UK Top 20 and their song Holding Back the Years hit number one in July 1986 USA . The debut album Picture Book was released in October 1985.
This was followed by Men & Women in March 1987 and A New Flame in February 1989 . Even If You Do not Know Me By Now (originally by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes , 1972) climbed in July 1989 to the top position in the US. For this record, Simply Red was awarded a Grammy in 1990.
At the end of September 1991 Stars followed , which was the first album on which only their own songs appear. The LP became the UK's best-selling album in 1991 and 1992, and even toppled Michael Jackson's Dangerous from the throne.
After a hiatus, Life hit record stores in October 1995 . Here you can find eight other real pop, soul and reggae pearls, Simply Red's first number 1 hit in England, Fairground , and the anthem for the 1996 European Football Championship , We're In This Together . This album also only contains original compositions. The band also gave a live concert at the 1996 European Football Championship at Old Trafford , Manchester United's stadium .
The Greatest Hits released in October 1996 come with a cover version of Aretha Franklin's Angel , this time in cooperation with the Fugees . This was the first Simply Red track to be successfully remixed by Mousse T. ( Horny ).
In May 1998, Blue came out, an album that was originally intended to be a cover album. In any case, the implementation of the Neil Young piece Mellow My Mind is remarkable .
In November 1999, Love And The Russian Winter was released , the last album to be finished under Warner's direction . With the release of this album, the contract expired.
In the fall of 2000 Warner released (without the band's consent or Mick Hucknall) a compilation of Simply Red 's love songs under the title It's Only Love .
Mick Hucknall broke new ground with Home in March 2003 by releasing this album on his own record label simplyred.com , without a large record company behind him and self-financed . The tenth album Stay was released on March 12, 2007.
In October 2007, Mick Hucknall told British radio station Gold Radio that Stay would be the last album and The World And You Tonight would be the group's last single. After the upcoming tour, which should end in 2009, the band will split up and Hucknall will continue to work as a solo artist.
On November 7, 2008, Simply Red 25: The Greatest Hits, the band's official farewell album, which reached number 17 in the German album charts, was released, including a new title called Go Now (cover version of a song that The Moody Blues in turn from Bessie Banks) have covered.)
In April 2010 the band started another eight-month world tour with 78 concerts under the motto Farewell - The Final Show . The final concert of the tour took place at the O2 Arena in London on December 19, 2010. The concert was broadcast live to movie theaters across the UK .
Band anniversary, Big Love tour and new album
On November 3, 2014, Simply Red unexpectedly announced the Big Love Tour 2015 for its 30th anniversary in fall 2015 .
As of April 19, 2015, their official Facebook page said that they would be releasing a new studio album called Big Love . The album with 12 new tracks was released on June 1st, 2015. Shine On is the first single from the album. In addition to an open air tour, there was also a performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 2016 . This concert was broadcast on the Swiss television station RTS Deux .
Discography
Studio albums
| year | title |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 DE
|
 AT
|
 CH
|
 UK
|
 US
|
|||
| 1985 | Picture Book |
DE8th  × 3
(47 weeks)DE |
AT10 (14 weeks)AT |
CH12  (26 weeks)CH |
UK2 × 5
(135 weeks)UK |
US16 (59 weeks)US |
First published: October 14, 1985
Sales: + 3,865,000 |
| 1987 | Men and Women |
DE3 (29 weeks)DE |
AT3 (28 weeks)AT |
CH1 (17 weeks)CH |
UK2 × 3
(63 weeks)UK |
US31 (26 weeks) US |
First published: March 9, 1987
Sales: + 1,915,000 |
| 1989 | A New Flame |
DE2 (44 weeks)DE |
AT2 (41 weeks)AT |
CH1 (33 weeks)CH |
UK1 × 7
(90 weeks)UK |
US22nd (39 weeks)US |
First published: February 13, 1989
Sales: + 4,205,000 |
| 1991 | Stars |
DE2 × 5
(59 weeks)DE |
AT1 × 2
(41 weeks)AT |
CH2 × 2
(32 weeks)CH |
UK1 × 12
(137 weeks)UK |
US76 (43 weeks)US |
First published: September 30, 1991
Sales: + 9,000,000 |
| 1995 | Life |
DE1 (45 weeks)DE |
AT1 (16 weeks)AT |
CH1 (19 weeks)CH |
UK1 × 5
(47 weeks)UK |
US75 (13 weeks) US |
First published: October 9, 1995
Sales: + 3,085,000 |
| 1998 | Blue |
DE1 (23 weeks)DE |
AT1 (20 weeks)AT |
CH3 (15 weeks)CH |
UK1 × 2
(25 weeks)UK |
US145 (3 weeks) US |
First published: May 18, 1998
Sales: +1,107,500 |
| 1999 | Love and the Russian Winter |
DE2 (15 weeks)DE |
AT3 (10 weeks)AT |
CH8 (9 weeks) CH |
UK6th (11 weeks)UK |
- |
First published: November 1st, 1999
Sales: + 1,000,000 |
| 2003 | Home |
DE5 (46 weeks)DE |
AT8th (29 weeks)AT |
CH6th (31 weeks)CH |
UK2 × 2
(35 weeks)UK |
US187 (3 weeks) US |
First published: March 24, 2003
Sales: +1,180,000 |
| 2005 | Simplified |
DE4 (13 weeks) DE |
AT2 (12 weeks) AT |
CH3 (12 weeks) CH |
UK3 (9 weeks)UK |
- |
First published: October 17, 2005
Sales: + 100,000 |
| 2007 | Stay |
DE4 (13 weeks) DE |
AT6 (12 weeks) AT |
CH6 (12 weeks) CH |
UK4th (14 weeks)UK |
US156 (1 week) US |
First published: March 12, 2007
Sales: + 145,000 |
| 2015 | Big love |
DE6 (8 weeks) DE |
AT11 (4 weeks) AT |
CH10 (8 weeks) CH |
UK4th (18 weeks)UK |
- |
First published: June 1, 2015
Sales: + 100,000 |
| 2019 | Blue Eyed Soul |
DE11 (7 weeks) DE |
AT5 (4 weeks) AT |
CH17 (3 weeks) CH |
UK6 (7 weeks) UK |
- |
First published: November 8, 2019
|
Awards
- 2019: in the "Legend" category
- 1992: in the "Best British Group" category
- 1993: in the "Best British Group" category
- 1990: in the category "Best R&B Song ( If You Don't Know Me By Now )"
- 2010: in the category: "Lifetime Achievement International Music"
Web links
- Official website (English)
- Simply Red at MusicBrainz (English)
- Simply Red at Discogs (English)
- Simply Red at laut.de
- Interview with Mick Hucknall. USA, 2003 (English)
- Complete discography (including cover and all collaborations)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Facts and records on rateyourmusic.com
- ↑ Simplyred.com: Official Statement (October 25, 2007)
- ↑ Simply Red are back
- ↑ Montreux Jazz Festival 2016
- ↑ Simply Red - Live at Montreux (Full Performance)
- ↑ Chart sources: DE AT CH UK US
- ^ Paul Sexton: Simply Red Comes Back to "Life". In: Billboard. September 16, 1995, accessed February 15, 2019 .