'The Right Thing' was released by Simply Red in 1987. It was taken from their second album 'Men and Women'.
It displays more of a funk influence than the group's previous hits, but also retains the soul sound that became their trademark during the '80s. According to some sources, the racy sexually implicit nature of the song caused the album to be banned in Singapore.
The single reached number 11 in the UK singles chart in early 1987, but did not find significant success in the United States, only reaching number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 at a time where the group were at their peak amount of success in the States.
My collection: 7" single no. 5446
Found: unknown
Tracks: 'The right thing' / 'There's a light'
Showing posts with label Simply Red. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Simply Red. Show all posts
Saturday, 29 November 2014
Tuesday, 18 November 2014
Come to my aid - Simply Red
'Come to my aid' was released as the second single from their debut album 'Picture book'. Five singles were taken from the album, of which this one was the least successful one, peaking at number 66 in the UK singles chart. It did manage to reach number 11 in Italy and number 24 in New Zealand as well, but in other countries, this single did not chart.
According to Wikipedia, 'Picture book' was included in Robert Dimery's '1001 Albums you must hear before you die'. I wouldn't go quite that far, personally, but the singles from this album are nice enough.
My collection: 7" single no. 5444
Found: unknown
Tracks: 'Come to my aid' / 'Valentine'
According to Wikipedia, 'Picture book' was included in Robert Dimery's '1001 Albums you must hear before you die'. I wouldn't go quite that far, personally, but the singles from this album are nice enough.
My collection: 7" single no. 5444
Found: unknown
Tracks: 'Come to my aid' / 'Valentine'
Monday, 8 September 2014
Love fire - Simply Red
'Love fire' is a single taken from Simply Red's second album 'Men & women'. The single was only made in Germany and Spain, although this probably implies a Europe-wide release. However, this did not earn them any chart success.
Only three of the six singles released from 'Men & women' had some substantial (international) chart success, which was surprising in light of the sales of the album. The band's third album 'A new flame' would yield four hit singles and remains their biggest success.
My collection: 7" single no. 5445
Found: unknown
Cost: unknown
Tracks: 'Love fire' / 'Love fire (dub mix)'
Only three of the six singles released from 'Men & women' had some substantial (international) chart success, which was surprising in light of the sales of the album. The band's third album 'A new flame' would yield four hit singles and remains their biggest success.
My collection: 7" single no. 5445
Found: unknown
Cost: unknown
Tracks: 'Love fire' / 'Love fire (dub mix)'
Thursday, 4 September 2014
If you don't know me by now - Simply Red
If You Don't Know Me by Now" is a song written by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff and recorded by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes.
The song was originally written for Labelle (a trio led by Patti LaBelle) but they never recorded it.
The song was later covered by the English band Simply Red, also becoming their best-known hit after reaching number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in July 1989. It peaked at number two in the UK Singles Chart. The B-side was recorded live in Manchester on February 22, 1989.
My collection: 7" single no. 5447
Found: unknown
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'If you don't know me by now' / 'Move on out (live)'
The song was later covered by the English band Simply Red, also becoming their best-known hit after reaching number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in July 1989. It peaked at number two in the UK Singles Chart. The B-side was recorded live in Manchester on February 22, 1989.
My collection: 7" single no. 5447
Found: unknown
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'If you don't know me by now' / 'Move on out (live)'
Sunday, 31 July 2011
Holding back the years - Simply Red
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623151734im_/http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XvEKkM8M9bs/TjW3txnKyLI/AAAAAAAALLo/k3XiypkfluY/s200/simplyred13.jpg)
This 12" single features the full length version of 'Holding back the years', as well as a longer version of 'I won't feel bad'. I only bought the 12" single years after its release because my budget didn't stretch that far in 1985. I wanted to have it since the first moment I heard this longer version.
My collection: 12" single no. 124
Found: Record fair, 1992
Cost: 5 guilders
Tracks: 'Holding back the years [extended]' / 'I won't feel bad [extended]', 'Drowning in my own tears'
Sunday, 19 June 2011
Something got me started - Simply Red
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623151734im_/http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PYeCXubg9W4/Tf5SYoUeMaI/AAAAAAAALBo/5SEOL5r0vHQ/s200/simplyred11.jpg)
In 2005, 'Something got me started' was one of the eight previously released Simply Red songs re-recorded for the album 'Simplified'. It also became the second single release from the album, as a double A-side with a new cover of the Leon Russell song 'A song for you'. This made it the only Simply Red song to date to be released as a single twice.
My collection: 7" single no. 5150
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Something got me started' / 'A new flame'
Thursday, 16 June 2011
You've got it - Simply Red
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623151734im_/http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rVL0f_r0BeY/TfpgJQleYYI/AAAAAAAAK_s/IXvBlgWnJOE/s200/simplyred12.jpg)
The B-side of this single features a live acoustic version of their biggest hit, 'Holding back the years', recorded in Australia in August 1989.
My collection: 7" single no. 5174
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'You've got it' / 'Holding back the years (live acoustic version)'
Monday, 13 June 2011
Thrill me - Simply Red
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623151734im_/http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CrzgriueP2c/TfXjXxE-KgI/AAAAAAAAK7s/qkK4Snd0R2I/s200/simplyred10.jpg)
The B-side featured a remix of 'Thrill me' by Nellee Hooper, wellknown for his remixes of Massive Attack, Seal and Madonna.
My collection: 7" single no. 5123
Found: Backtrack, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Thrill me' / 'Thrill me (Nellee Hooper mix)'
Friday, 19 February 2010
Your mirror - Simply Red
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623151734im_/http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/S38Bz7hOPqI/AAAAAAAAIv4/Q5Effmzf3lw/s200/simplyred9.jpg)
Thankfully, I am not alone in feeling this way: Morrissey once recorded the very pleasant track 'Margaret on the guillotine' (with the repeated line 'When will you die?') and Simply Red recorded 'Your mirror' on their 1992 album 'Stars'. It is an extended critique of the Thatcherite politics. The song criticises the selfishness, individualism and nationalism (including attachment to nuclear weapons) that typified it. The opening verse references Thatcher's famous 'There is no such thing as society' speech. The song suggests these attitudes are inhuman and unnatural by contrasting them with the human instinct towards sharing, and (more fancifully) with the natural environment - the birds singing their 'faithful song' - and a sense of inner beauty. The single reached number 17 in the UK singles chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 1688
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, August 1, 1992
Cost: 6,5 guilders
Tracks: 'Your mirror' / 'Your mirror (live)'
Sunday, 14 February 2010
For your babies - Simply Red
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623151734im_/http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/S3f5iAgHz1I/AAAAAAAAInw/taqblOOhdO8/s200/simplyred8.jpg)
The single reached number 9 in the UK singles chart and number 11 in Ireland. It did not chart in the Netherlands.
My collection: 7" single no. 1582
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, February 10, 1992
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'For your babies' / 'For your babies (Edition Français)'
Saturday, 16 January 2010
Stars - Simply Red
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623151734im_/http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/S1IW83dwHjI/AAAAAAAAH-U/4y-uQ6b_dDk/s200/simplyred7.jpg)
The single reached number 8 in the UK singles chart and number 15 in the Dutch Top 40, but did not chart in the USA.
My collection: 7" single no. 1561
Found: Melody Maker, Den Haag, December 21, 1991
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'Stars' / 'Stars (PM-ized mix)'
Thursday, 7 January 2010
Ev'ry time we say goodbye - Simply Red
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623151734im_/http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/S0Zc6NbCQLI/AAAAAAAAHzU/jH5Wcokp9Tw/s200/simplyred6.jpg)
Simply Red recorded the song on their 1987 album 'Men and women'. It was released as a single just before the end of the year, reaching number 11 in the UK singles chart and number 27 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 596
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, February 18, 1988
Cost: 4 guilders
Tracks: 'Ev'ry time we say goodbye' / 'Love for sale'
Monday, 21 December 2009
It's only love - Simply Red
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623151734im_/http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/Sy_2uuP16yI/AAAAAAAAHko/CmUIaIFZKvA/s200/simplyred5.jpg)
In 1988, Simply Red recorded a cover version of the song for their third studio album 'A new flame'. It was released as the album's first single. It reached number 1 in Italy, number 7 in Ireland and number 13 in the UK. In the Dutch Top 40, 'It's only love' reached number 9.
My collection: 7" single no. 732
Found: Free Record Shop, Den Haag, February 4, 1989
Cost: 6 guilders
Tracks: 'It's only love' / 'Turn it up'
Monday, 14 December 2009
Maybe someday... - Simply Red
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623151734im_/http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/SyaodQuupUI/AAAAAAAAHao/ObKcStA5jGw/s200/simplyred4.jpg)
More recently I found out that the single only charted in the UK, peaking at number 88. Why was this song not more successful? I will never know. It's up there as my favourite Simply Red track.
My collection: 7" single no. 1541
Found: Record fair, October 27, 1991
Cost: 10 guilders
Tracks: 'Maybe someday...' / 'Maybe someday...'
Saturday, 28 November 2009
A new flame - Simply Red
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623151734im_/http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/SxF-A2kG8kI/AAAAAAAAHJQ/si6MNkvuuNo/s200/simplyred3.jpg)
By comparison, this single did a lot worse. It reached numebr 17 in the UK singles chart and number 27 in the Dutch Top 40.
My collection: 7" single no. 4302
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'A new flame' / 'More'
Friday, 20 November 2009
Jericho - Simply Red
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623151734im_/http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/SwcK8lPGCqI/AAAAAAAAG8Y/94dnZf_yyyc/s200/simplyred2.jpg)
Things were different in the Netherlands: their third single 'Holding back the years' had reached number 3 in the Dutch Top 40, and 'Jericho' got to number 17.
My collection: 7" single no. 410
Found: V&D, Den Haag, 1986
Cost: 3 guilders
Tracks: 'Jericho' / 'Jericho the musical'
Sunday, 25 October 2009
Holding back the years - Simply Red
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20200623151734im_/http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_HvCNHaaadrI/SuS0M18LheI/AAAAAAAAGZ8/g1b-vlT87LI/s200/simplyred1.jpg)
In the UK, the single came no further than number 51, but in the Netherlands, the single peaked at number 3. In other territories, the single did not chart.
My collection: 7" single no. 367
Found: Brussels, 1985
Cost: 120 Francs
Tracks: 'Holding back the years' / 'I won't feel bad'
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