Disco de Simply Red: “25: The Greatest Hits [2/3]”

There are very few Soul acts from the U.K. that really have thrived the past several years that really showed the heart and the soul. It is sad considering most of them haven't really struck a chord in America, and Simply red has been no acception. While Mick Hucknall and company have been together for 3 decades of great pop songs, their American Top 40 status has been nothing more than a forgone conclusion, which is definitely sad. Still those guilty pleasure songs that Simply Red have made over the years are still a delight to listen to. While most of the groups' catalog have been overlooked in album sales and MP3 downloads, their overseas catalog has been finally issued for MP3 downloads, and a new hits compilation of just what made Simply Red say Know Us By Now, if you haven't.

The MP3 version of Simply Red's 2009 25: The Greatest Hits expands what made Simply Red's 1996 Greatest Hits album distinctive heart and soul, and brings in their biggest hits from the 80's, 90's and 2000 decades. The songs have all been remastered well, and definitely show nothing but their biggest standards. The collection includes classics from Holding Back The Years, and upbeat dance songs like Something Got Me Started and Sunrise, all the way to distinctive covers like the deep and elequent If You Don't Know Me By Now, and You Make Me Feel Brand New. This editon also expands by bringing in a few extra tracks like You've Got It and the lesser-known Night Nurse from the overlooked Blue. While the biggest hits stand out well, their honestly were a few classics that could've been showcased on the collection from their overlooked late 90's albums Blue & Love In The Russian Water like Wave The Old World Goodbye, Blue and To Be Free, as well as Perfect Love from Simplified.

All in all, Simply Red's 25: The Greatest Hits is still a well-received hits collection that does a good job at reintroducing the U.K. Soul group to a generation that definitely seems to be interested in less-than-polished acts like Britney Spears and David Cook from American Idol, and for die hard fans that still have trurthfully been loyal to Mick Hucknall and the boys over the years. So if you still don't know Simply Red by now, get acquainted with them on Simply Red's 25: The Greatest Hits.

Songs: B-

Price: B 1/2-

Remastering: B 1/2+

Overall: B-

There are very few soul groups that have really thrived from the U.K. in the past several years. While the best have been from Dusty Springfield to George Michael, and recently with the triumph of Welch newcomer Duffy, it seems that it has been the most overlooked area of our music industry. That actually for the past several years has been the case with Simply Red. While they haven't achieved the acclaim they had in America here since the 80's, Mick Hucknall and company have still came out with great success overseas and across Europe. But, the songs they have made in recent years still seem to click very strongly with the soul of the group. Now that Simply Red is celebrating its silver (25th Anniversary,) a new greatest hits album is out to show that they are still not holding back the years.

Simply Red's 2009 25: The Greatest Hits works as a strong reintroduction to the music of the U.K. group, and their biggest songs from the 80's, 90's, and 2000 decade. The 17 track collection handles ver well, and does a decent job at expanding from what was definitive from Simply Red's 1996 Greatest hits album. The songs here are all remastered very well, and including a lot of the groups' standards from their great cover songs like If You Don't Know Me By Now and You Make Me Feel Brand New, to their breakthrough songs including Holding Back the Years, the somber Home and the elequest Stars, the upbeat Something Got me Started, to their recent hits including Sunrise and So Not Over You.

While the collection as a whole handles very well for hard core fans, and newcomers, there were a few of their big tracks that were overlooked from their late 90's era albums Blue & Love In the Russian Water, which does not linger as a surprise for the collection, because those albums didn't sell well here, but a few great tracks like Wave The Old World Goodbye, Blue and Perfect Love from Simplified could've been highlighted here. They nevertheless did manage to score fairly well with their new song, a cover of The Moody Blues classic Go Now, but that song overall doesn't stand out to the strength of the classics.

Still, all in all Simply Red's 25: The Greatest Hits does manage to do a good job at reintroducing the strength of the songs Mick Hucknall and the goup have been known for throughout the years. With a lot of acts right now that are coming out with lackluster material recently like Britney Spears, Beyonce', and American Idol winner David Cook, Simply Red have still proven to be a great guilty pleasure that still know how to record great songs over the years. So if you still don't know Mick and company by now, get acquainted with the group, and get Simply Red's 25: The Greatest Hits.

Album Cover: B

Songs: B-

Price: B 1/2-

Remastering: B+

Overall: B-

To me Simply Red does a great job with R&B standards. The sound quality is superior to the originals and in some cases I like Simply Red's rendition better.

I listen to this each day at work and will put it on my Ipod. I simply LOVE his voice and am truly excited about having this Greatest Hits cd!

Wow. I had forgotten how much I liked the sound of Mick Hucknall's voice...Oh to be 20 again and listening to this at college all carefree...good memories, excellent CD.