Disco de Simply Red: “Essentials”

For the most part, this has just what you want. It includes the two big hits "Holding Back The Years" and "If You Don't Know Me By Now", as well as "Stars", "New Flame", and "Money's Too Tight (to mention)". But where is "Your Mirror", "For Your Babies", and their cover of "Angel"? Overall this is a good collection of pop/soul music. But I would just get the "Greatest Hits". That's essential.

British singer Mick Hucknall has been leading Simply Red since 1986, and he has without a doubt one of the most soulful voices in music. Simply Red's music is a brilliant mix of soul & pop, and I never get tired of hearing their tunes on the radio. "The Essentials" is an excellent greatest hits package, with 12 of the group's best-known songs, including the #1 hits "Holding Back The Years" and "If You Don't Know Me By Now," and other tasty tracks like "It's Only Love," "Something Got Me Started," "Money$ Too Tight To Mention," and "The Right Thing." The music is super smooth & super catchy, with Hucknall's voice SO very rich & powerful. Whether you want music to cruise down the highway with, relax at home to, or snuggle up with your sweetheart to, Simply Red fit the bill perfectly. "The Essentials" IS an essential greatest hits CD from one of pop music's finest groups.

It is just so hard to imagine it all the time. When it really comes to greatest hits records, they always seem to falter a little bit. Whether they miss songs that should be essential, or they just do that to make the record cheaper. It just doesn't surprise me in any other way. One of the most talented acts of the 80's and early 90's, SImply Red, have truly shown definitive Soul in the music world. These days, it is just a absolute shame, because so many people don't respect what Soul really is. Still, the songs of Simply Red have made a great impact on the industry from their days. Ultimately, many people think of them as a soft rock category, which Simply Red also seems to categorize themselves inside.

The Essential Simply Red consists of 12 of Simply Red's songs. Mick Hucknall still brings out the best in these songs, despite a varying amount of songs that are missing from this collection. There still are so many great songs and standards including If You Don't Know Me By Now, Holding Back The Years, and It's Only Love. There really is nothing new here, especially if you have Simply Red's 1996 Greatest Hits record. Although there are some good songs that are missing including songs from Love & The Russian Water, and Blue that were overlooked in the process. There also were some great songs like Your Mirror, and Angel, from their 1996 Greatest Hits that were not included.

Although it is a nice Greatest Hits collection, there is still something missing here. As for Simply Red, they are now making a very decent comeback with Home. I strongly suggest you get the other Greatest Hits record from 1996 instead of this one. Still if you're on a budget, this one will have to do. There should be some years that are held back here.