Simply Red – Recollections
It is undeniably the blessing of renewed interest in physical formats, such as CDs and, of course, vinyl: records reissued in luxury, expanded editions to celebrate anniversaries, for which fans are expected to smash the piggy bank, especially around the holidays. We are literally flooded with re-releases, with master recordings, Dolby Atmos editions, extended and enhanced. Sometimes these new editions truly add something, but usually, they are only interesting for the die-hard fan. Prejudgment: this “Recollections” by Simply Red is probably no different. Forty polished tracks, including the biggest hits to mark the fortieth anniversary of this British band led by singer Mick Hucknall.
However, that does this release far too little justice. This is not just polishing the original recordings, but forty tracks that have been re-recorded. Completely on the band’s own terms, which also has to do with rights to the masters: a ‘Taylor Swift move’. The songs belong to the band and the fans with this release, as Hucknall himself said in an interview. According to the red-haired icon, this comes ‘full circle’: re-recording allows the band to show how Simply Red’s sound has evolved over four decades.
Of course, the first thing you notice is Hucknall’s voice itself: the man is now 65, but his voice still sounds exactly as it did forty years ago. Perhaps there’s a little more gravel in the vocals here and there, but in terms of range and ‘soul’, the throat has not lost a millimetre. Impressive, nothing less. Additionally, producer and Hucknall’s long-time collaborator Andy Wright delivers a top-notch production by using the atmosphere of the original recordings as a starting point. This is especially noticeable on tracks originally from the debut album “Picture Book”. The soul of that record is preserved.
Shall we first give a standing ovation for “Holding Back the Years”? Because, wow, that track gets under your skin. There are only minor, nuanced differences between this version and the 1985 original, but the subtle fresh-up works. The arrangement is just slightly more delicate, bringing the vocals forward a little. You notice that Hucknall’s voice sounds more experienced, literally more soulful, which suits this early material perfectly.
Of course, this is a ‘best of’. In forty tracks, we are presented with Simply Red’s history, including “Stars”, “Something Got Me Started”, and “Fairground”, to name just a few. In that respect, the cow has already been milked with “The Greatest Hits” from 2012 and “Song Book 1985-2010” from 2013. We will leave aside various live compilations and remasters. The question is justified whether “Recollections” adds anything.
Yet it does: for fans, it will be a joyful recognition, and for newcomers, a better entry point than the mentioned compilations of old material. Because this is a much better production: the sound is clear, detailed, with much more depth and therefore warmth. No radical changes, but a confirmation of the legacy. Simply Red reminds us that good songs do not age; they are listened to again, experienced again, and connected again with time and audience. Viewed this way, this album is a bridge between past and present, between the fan from 1985 and the listener in 2025.
Recording forty songs anew is no small feat: you only do this if you want to make a statement. How much easier would it have been to simply dust off the original recordings of these forty tracks and re-release them? Too easy. If you are one of the most popular bands in British pop history, with over sixty million albums sold worldwide, you can make some extra effort for a special fortieth-anniversary celebration. And they have succeeded. (8/10) (simplyred.com)
