I was browsing through my local record store hoping to spend some Christmas cash, and I came accross this cd. I was so excited because my wife and I absolutely loved their last album, "Home".

So I picked it up right away (without listening to it)and noticed it had "simplified" or slightly stripped versions of several of their hits. Right away, I thought it would have the vintage vibe of the previous album. I took it home and popped it in the stereo, and I was HORRIFIED. The new versions of Red's older material were overproduced with new instrumentation, and the arrangements were NOT listener friendly. I went through every track on the cd and was completely dissappointed. I've always been a fan of Simply Red, but this was clearly packaged to make a few quick bucks. What a shame.....

It's as simple as that: following the recording of acoustic versions of his STARS-album classics for the DVD Classic Albums, Mick Hucknall decided to record other Simply Red classics in an acoustic way to make a whole new album. And he was right to do so because it's truly a great album. His last album, HOME, was already a success and instead of making a new album with new songs, he decides to make a stop in his discography and takes a look at his past albums.
The new versions of FAIRGROUND and FOR YOUR BABIES (already in the Classic albums Stars DVD) are really the best tracks here but it's quite relaxing to hear all this acoustic music in a musical environment where everything you hear is rap music or loud guitars.
Mick Hucknall truly shows (although it wasn't necessary) his talent here and in a very beautiful and pure way.
Maybe in America, Simply Red is not as popular as in Europe (where the group still reaches the top spot each time) but simply listen to the beauty of the melodies and the lyrics and you'll understand why Mick is still here more than 20 years after the Simply Red adventure began.

These days, there just isn't all that much to rave about from acts during the 1980's that were smashes. While there there have been some welcomed comebacks like Erasure with Nightbird that dhowcased a great new audience, others have maintained their presence by just the music alone. Simply Red has been under that radar. After there last album, Home got highly recognized here in the U.S. with hits like Sunrise and You Make Me Feel Brand New scored, Mick Hucknall and company have still got a long way to go to capture a new audience. The latest thing now is actually from those old gems of the past, their old 80's gems.

Simply Red's new record, Simplified, their first album in 2 years, is a more stripped down soulful showcase of a lot of their big tracks from their Warner Brothers status from the 80's and early 90's. The songs on here are decent and delightfully reworked for newcomers, but for die hard fans, it is just a mixed bag. The collection includes reworked versions of great songs like Holding Back The Years, the down to Earth ballad For Your Babies, Your Mirror, and the fully stripped-down version of Something Got Me Started. The album does however include some new material as well such as their latest single Perfect Love, and Sad Old Red as well. Yet, there are some other great tracks that also could've been re-recorded here on this package like If You Don't Know Me By Now, and It's Only Love as well.

All in all, Simply Red's Simplified does fairly carry on well as a great record and a new welcomed chance for anybody who hasn't heard any of their great pop songs, but for others who just know them by now, you're just better off getting their 1996 Greatest Hits record instead.

Album Cover: B

Songs: C+

Price: B-

Mastering: B-

Overall: C+