I’ve always been an unashamed lover of Simply Red while acknowledging Mick's occasional misogynistic, knobbish tendencies. There's something about that voice and those songs that I really enjoy. Those first four Simply Red albums were exactly on my wavelength at that time in my life. The deal was sealed when Holding Back The Years was the first song I heard after hearing my Dad had died.
When I started at Warner Belgium, there were a few artists with quite the reputation—Mick Hucknall was definitely high on the list of those best avoided. 😁 But you’re absolutely right—he’s one of the finest singers of his generation and has put out some incredible records. And the emotional connection you have with his song, being the first you heard after your dad passed, is incredibly powerful. That’s the magic of great music. Great read, David!
For whatever he's done, the man really does have a hell of a voice. Not this album but "Holding Back the Years" is probably the first truly 80s ballad I ever heard (on the radio in maybe 2010/2011) and it's still pure bliss, all these years later. He's the very exemplification of blue-eyed soul
Somehow, I did the Echo & The Bunnymen jump to Simply Red too.
When I started at Warner Belgium, there were a few artists with quite the reputation—Mick Hucknall was definitely high on the list of those best avoided. 😁 But you’re absolutely right—he’s one of the finest singers of his generation and has put out some incredible records. And the emotional connection you have with his song, being the first you heard after your dad passed, is incredibly powerful. That’s the magic of great music. Great read, David!
For whatever he's done, the man really does have a hell of a voice. Not this album but "Holding Back the Years" is probably the first truly 80s ballad I ever heard (on the radio in maybe 2010/2011) and it's still pure bliss, all these years later. He's the very exemplification of blue-eyed soul
He did a great version of You Are too Beautiful on an album by Andy Hamilton.