Reviews (page 7 of 8)
HL: title track, “Holding Back the Years”, “Heaven”, “Money’s Too Tight” Kind of an amalgam of synthy sophistipop and more organic, R&B sounding tracks. Definitely wasn't expecting the Talking Heads cover. You could say the duller patches made the standouts.... stand out more. August 24, 2023
Ok. A couple of good songs. I do like the tone of his voice
There's a tension on this album between the Simply Red who wants to play smooth, 60s-style soul and the Simply Red who wants to fit in with the big synthy sound of pop music in 1985. I don't have to tell you which of the two sounds better and which has held up better over time. The band really shines when they remember to lean into the soul. The downbeat numbers ("Holding Back the Years," "Picture Book," "Heaven") are really lovely, and the best showcase for Mick Hucknall's wonderful vocal. Of the upbeat numbers, "Money's Too Tight (to Mention)" and "Come to My Aid" really swing. Fave Songs: Holding Back the Years, Money's Too Tight (to Mention), Come to My Aid, Jericho, Sad Old Red, Picture Book
cheesy 80’s schlock. not for me.
This was tough.
Not my jam.
Not as shit as I expected
Irish R&B. One of a kind, but requires a certain taste in music.
Pop rock. Alguna conocida. Ni fu ni fa.
Simply Red. No tiene Stars.
Two absolute classics and the rest truly awful.
Man, this album and artist came out of nowhere....little soul, little blues, little jazz....and a great voice! Great Album!
Pop ochentero inglés un tanto falto de chispa. Buena voz, pero con tonos un tanto monótonos. Para escuchar en un ambiente muy relajado
Not the biggest fan of this, but without any hard feelings. Of course my favourite song on the album was written by David Byrne :)
Kids, if you have one of the greatest male singing voices in the history of pop music, I beg you not to pair it with soulless song writing and vapid lyrics. This could be so much better than it is, and I'm a bit baffled as to why its on this list. It's basically just a Michael Bolton album, but with more early 80s flair. Is this album the birth of muzak? Is that why it's significant? 2/5
Come To My Aid into Sad Old Red is a really weird transition. This album is this really weird bland mashup in this 90s fashion. Money's Too Tight (To Mention) is just the most 90s song you could imagine. This kinda sucks.
1/10, 10%
Top 3 Songs: 1 - Holding Back the Years (7) 2 - Come To My Aid (1) 3 - Money's Too Tight (To Mention) (6)
An interesting spin on 80's pop with soul vocals. Quite pleasant and a nice listen during work. But ultimately, rather forgettable.
The first couple of tracks are surprisingly jazz infused and led me to think I may quite like this. I was sadly wrong. The majority of it is not-very- good 80s soft rock and cheesy blue-eyed soul. Also, Mick Hucknall dressed up as the Artful Dodger on the album cover looks amusingly ridiculous. Rating: 2/5 Playlist track: Holding Back the Years Date listened: 17/07/23
"Ever had a reaction to anything so visceral that you are immediately opposed to that particular thing and want no part of it in your life whatsoever? That's me with Simply Red. I simply can't do it." - my internal reaction upon receiving this album, before listening to this album and then actually listening to it and being pleasantly surprised by it. I was going to hate this throughout but I couldn't muster it any longer. This is some smooth yet unexpectedly eclectic stuff from Ol' Red, with a Talking Heads cover to boot. Rather picturesque. Favorites: Come to My Aid, Sad Old Red, Look at You Now, Heaven, Jericho, Money's Too Tight (To Mention), Holding Back the Years.
kinda cool vibe!
Simply no reason for this to be on this list. Is this like a nostalgia thing for Brits? 1/5
Very strong overall. The stylish voice, of course, is the strength, and beyond that everything is solid (or solid plus). The opener is compelling and a strong start, and easily the second-best cut on the record, perhaps even tied for first, though "Holding Back the Years" has a timeless quality. "Look At You Now" has an essential '80s feel, thin synths, skittering percussion and high believable energy, but it's a notch below the best of that lamented era. "Heaven" is white soul of a pretty high standard, "Jericho," too, though in a slightly more languid register. "Money Too Tight" is a credible addition to the canon of pop songs about filthy lucre, but it reflects this record's fatal flaw – trying too hard (see also "Sad Old Red," "No Direction" and "Red Box"). Title cut is already slightly overdone, though in an appealingly earnest way. And while there is a pleasing and assured polish to the playing, the jazz chops aren't really all that; indeed, it's easy to impress a certain type of pop fan with references about jazz chops (one might even have been such a fan at one point, though one's outgrown it by spending more time on the thing itself). One might be just intrigued enough to listen to more records, in the many, many SR have seem to made in the years hence, though one suspects MH, for the true distinctiveness voice (and one he didn't misuse or undersell) likely got mostly what he deserved, which was being slightly more than a one-hit wonder, perhaps a victim of his own good taste. Call this a flawed 4.
Two great songs, one of which is Talking Heads cover. I still haven't decided whether the lead singer is a dude or a woman. I guess it doesn't matter.
Not my favorite 2.5/5
Too pop for my taste, but nevertheless includes Monkeys too tight to mention. A classic 80s party song.
On kyllä niin kasaria kuin vaan voi. Ei oikein muistettavia tai erikoisia kappaleita
Absolute banger of an album. Forget what you think of Mick Hucknall, just listen to it!
It was painful to listen to, the singer is annoying. Any bluesy part of the album felt like a cheap imitation.
There’s an old joke which I’m willing to bet sarcastic elbows will also quote (and I think he told me it anyway) - what’s the difference between a wildebeest and simply red? A wildebeest has the horns out front and the arsehole in the back. I don’t know anywhere enough about mick hucknall to know if the joke is even fair but I will say there’s a bit of groove on this. It’s that particularly British groove coming out of northern soul - starts with I don’t know, Joe Cockker? Rod Stewart? Continues through Bowie, Queen, the style council, jamiroquai, everything but the girl and no doubt a thousand others I’ve blanked on. But this is part of it and it’s no surprise it sold so well. Well crafted. Well played. Well produced. It’s a 3.5 that I’ll round up to 4.
Warm and enjoyable over big speakers for pretty much anyone who lived and loved through the 80s a wonderful reminder of the joy of Simply Red and his bouncy locks and magical voice... And what a nice way to wake up. Great blue eyed soul (was it always called that?).
He always had a good ear for covers did old mate Mick. That's about it really, this type of mid 80's pop music really stinks, Sade, Phil C#### et al, incredible to think this was a less than a decade after punk. As they say, for every revolution there is a counter revolution. And I've always been dubious about this white boy "soul" singer business, what does that mean exactly? That he sounds like Solomon Burke? For those of you who just got the x rays back and the news is bad, I did listen to it all, and found the whole thing underwhelming. And funnily enough, for all the raves he gets about his pipes, it is not a good listen across a whole album, soul singer my arse. Give it a wide berth and put Rain Dogs on instead.
Don’t think I ever got over the Harpo Marx impersonation on the album cover. No doubt Hucknall had a terrific voice, but I don’t think most of the material on this album has weathered well. His performance on Holding Back The Years is great. The cover of Talking Heads’ Heaven is abysmal up against the original. And even though their version of Money’s Too Tight is okay (although not nearly as interesting as the original), the fact they covered something that had been a disco hit in the UK only 3 years before they released this album does suggest they were not totally confident in their original material. And with good reason. I find most of these songs pretty limp. And what ever happened to Hucknall?
What's the difference between Simply Red and a bull? A bull has the horns up front and the arsehole at the back. According to wikipedia, Mick Hucknall was among the people present at the Lesser Free Trade Hall in Manchester in June 1976 where the Sex Pistols were playing. This gig was influential in the formation of Joy Division, the Smiths, Buzzcocks, The Fall... and Simply Red? Jesus, Mick, you were right there; were you not paying attention? How do you see one of the single most influential punk shows of all time and end up doing... this? This is a slightly warmed up regurgitation of soul with tepid jazz inflections, all passed through the 1980s cheese-ulator production filter. The over-reliance on synths sucks all the warmth out of the record, and the drum machines squeeze all the swing out of everything. The cover of Talking Heads' 'Heaven' is appalling. It's an insipid and inhuman record that only Patrick Bateman could love. The more I listen to this record, the more I despise it. I own a copy of this record, which I think I need to get rid of immediately. I am _never_ going to listen to this again.
There are some very catchy singles but I didn't feel that way about everything on the album. Some songs are pretty dull compared to the hits which weakens the album's structure as a whole. Highlights: Money's Too Tight To Mention, Holding Back The Years
BAD
Giving this an extra star because 'Holding back the years' makes me think about 'Only Fools and Horses'.
Just bland as fuck
I really thought I'd hate this, but it's a decent listen though gets a bit naff near the end
Sound exactly like what you think a Simply Red album would sound like. It absolutely sucks 👍🏾
eh
In June 1976, the Sex Pistols played a concert at Manchester’s Lesser Free Trade Hall, kickstarting the UK punk movement and directly prompting the formation of such influential bands as Joy Division, Buzzcocks, The Smiths, and The Fall. The message? Anyone can do this, anyone can start a band. A teenaged Mick Hucknall was also present; after listening to this record, one wishes he had been otherwise engaged that evening.
Simply some pipes on the vocalist. Not particularly my jam, but it's also not terrible by most measures. I appreciate that the best or at least most well known songs are in the middle of the record from a "How am I ever going to make it through this?" perspective because I was starting to lose patience.
Really enjoyed! I loved the cover most of all, but the originals were great and interesting. Lots of catchy stuff with great production and arrangements. Gonna give this one a 4 because I need to do a relisten soon.
Ughhh...I hate this type of 80's synth soul. This is literally my least favorite type of music
Niet top dit. Beetje over the top, en slechts 1 goed nummer gehoord.
More of a 5, some solid tracks but overall pretty one note and bland
If I had one major critique of this 1001 Albums project, is that the list relies too heavily on debut albums from artists in a specific genre to stand in for that genre. This album is so bland and forgettable, but it fits the 80's mid-tempo pop that dominated the airwaves, so it's included. I almost shut it off when the lyric "Everyone is trying to get to the bar, the name of the bar, the bar is called Heaven" 1.5/5
Simple Red: mega-hits through covers and had almost forgotten how many excellent original material they have.. On this album: Jericho, Holding Back The Years, Picture Book, Come To My Aid: 4*, all at least 4 star. And the same goes for their cover of Money's Too Tight To Mention. Don't like their Sad Old Red and their Talking Heads cover, but the remaining songs are fine. 4 stars (7/10)
Solid performances, liked the jazzy bits. Overall a decent album, but nothing special.
Holding back the years is the only noteworthy thing on this record.
Trim out some of that cheese and make this LP a 10".
This was like 12 different genres yet I still loved it. Funky
Pop rock. Alguna conocida. Ni fu ni fa.
Simply horrible.
Forgotten '80s. Did this guy guest star on The Love Boat...? I'm pretty sure that this album lives there. Funny enough, this wasn't as irritating as I thought it may be. I genuinely didn't mind it.
Simply Red is apparently “immaculately polished” adult contemporary music. I simply hate it. Would rather listen to an immaculately polished turd. Oh, sorry, then we got to “Holding Back the Years.” That song slaps. Doesn’t it? Is that the rare immaculately polished adult contemporary song. Or is it just that those hits were so ubiquitous on 80s radio that I’ve got a nostalgia itch it scratches? It’s a question I’ve found myself asking a lot with albums where the classic hits don’t live up to the rest of the work.
Nice elevator music.
This was fine. But sounds so dated though I still like holding back the years
There is some cheesy sounding 80s stuff in here, sure. But there are also quite a few higher energy tracks too. I heard some disco influence and a track or two that reminded me of Steely Dan. Overall I’m surprised I enjoyed it a little bit.
Eh the music was simply just ok. I didn’t hate it but nothing really stood out to me.
Is it easy listening? Smooth jazz? New wave? Blue-eyed soul? I dunno. Mick Hucknall sure can sing but those staid 80s synth chords need to be left behind with the Betamax tapes and the Trapper Keepers.
favs - come to my aid - sad old red - jericho - holding back the years - open up the red box - picture book
Pish. A poor facsimile of the real thing, copied so many times any meaningful emotions have been lost. He can sing, but I'd rather he didn't. Just listen to some old soul and R'n'B records instead - this is not worth your time.
I don't really know why this has so many negative reviews? I mean yeah it's a pop-soul album with 80s production wich makes it at some points meh... but it's really not that terrible. definitely not a 10/10 masterpiece but for me it's a nice6/10 (3/10)
Sweet Jesus this is boring
Singles: -------------------------------------------- Money's Too Tight (to Mention) (#13 UK, #28 USA) Come to My Aid (#66 UK) Holding Back the Years (#2 UK, #1 USA) Jericho (#53 UK) Open Up the Red Box (#61 UK) Standouts: Holding Back the Years, Money's Too Tight to Mention, Others: Sad Old Red, Heaven, Jericho, Red Box, Picture Book 3.5/5
2/10. Didn't even finish it. Meh jazz pop rock album.
Very funky, liked it a lot
Some bands or singers start with a extremely good album and then become your worst nightmare. Like: UB40s Signing off (also in 1001 albums), and guilty pleasure: I do like 1st Whitney Houston album. Same for Picture Book, goods songs, jazzy sometimes political like Reagan&Thatcher in Money's too Tight. Love this album. Wish they had stopped afterwards.
love it
J'ai trouvé ca bon. pas vraiment de sens, egenre R&B disco, maracas, ca va un peu partout pour une albumq ui est en fin de compte assez moyen. Mais ce n'est pas agacant. On dirait de la musique de lobby genre grand turismo 4. 2.90
Some of the songs kind of morph together. Heaven and holding back the years for example.
This is a pretty irritating album, especially by the time we get to No Direction. It reminds me of when Terence Trent D'Arby went off the tracks. A wonderful initial soulful album and then just it went weird, not particularly melodic, and funk without fun. It's surprising how good Holding Back the Years is compared to how mediocre/bad the rest of the album is. Would not do it again.
Pari leiskautusta ja muuten aika joutavaa.
Positiivinen yllätys. Menevä ja tasainen.
Que discazo loco, me encantó. De los mejores que escuché.
I don’t usually like to slag off bands that it’s fashionable to hate, although I’m tempted to make an exception for Simply Red. There’s something about Mick Hucknall that rankles, sure, but mainly I think it’s that they deal in some of my least favourite types of music (syrupy soul, bland funk, background schmaltz, et cetera). HOWEVER, I’m a fair man, and on second listen I don’t think it’s a one star record. The first and last tracks were alright and a couple of other tracks at least have some energy about them. When it’s bad it’s really bad, though. 1.5 / 2
Really dug this
Simply shite
Ég ætla að hækka meðaltalið fyrir þessa plötu. Mér finnst Hucknall æðislegur söngvari, bandið er þétt og flott, sum lögin eru ljómandi góð og níundatugarproductionin (gated reverb, echo) eru innan velsæmismarka. Þessi er fín.
Wine bar singer that made it big. Ironic to see Hucknall’s no doubt sincere singing about money being too tight to mention whilst soundtracking the yuppie 80s. Can we blame him for this? Probably not. But we can blame him for an execrable cover of Talking Heads’ Heaven which fails to understand the song. Occasionally, there are songs here which pick the beat up and find a groove but really this is not remotely close to being worthy of this list.
9/10 some really amazing stuff here a bit dorky at times, but for the most part it’s super solid
Þessi plata er algjört comfort zone fyrir mig. Kann hana utanbókar og gríp í við og við. Ljúft popp.
Album is ok. Too many bad songs to be higher. But some parts of some songs are pretty good.
I was baited into thinking this was British pop by my friends. This is a lot more Jazzy/soul-like/alternative than rock. It's pretty good and enjoyable to listen to. The lead singer doesn't have a silly accent so it's even more enjoyable. The slower songs are still good, but not really my speed. Their use of sax and horns really compliment the music in a way that doesn't make it sound like it's trying too hard to be ska or any other type of genre. They do a really good job of mixing genre's track to track. The song Jericho has some serious Michael Jackson vibes to it. I was going to give this a 4, but the middle section of the album slows down a lot. While they are still good tracks they don't really "wow" me a whole lot. It picks up more toward the end of the album and really closes it out well. It's a pretty short album consisting of about 10 songs (not including the extra remixes and extended tracks). It got close to being a low 4 but the mid-section really dragged the album down. It's a high 3/5
i was led to believe this would be bad. it was just fine.
I usually like 80s soul pop and new wave. This was bad. No.
Lead singer Mick Hucknall’s voice is so damn soulful! HBtY is a freaking masterpiece. The album altogether has very 80s new-wave arrangements, but I enjoyed it. Favorite songs: Heaven, Holding Back the Years, and Red Box.
At first, I couldn't tell what genre the album was supposed to be. Was it jazz? Was it new wave? Then, about halfway through the album, it just became boring '80s pop
It's not a bad album, I just can't figure out what separates this album from other synth-pop/R&B albums in the 1980's. It's fine and there are good songs, yet it does not belong here.
Very 80s pop record, with some (smooth) jazz elements among others. Not great, not bad.
VERY 80's. Not my favorite. Lots of synth and keyboard. Music is tight.
Fairly simple jazz that doesn't make any progressive moves
Blechhh. This blows. Even their one good song…wasn’t. And they even managed to make a Talking Heads song skippable.
Generic 80’s stuff…blah blah blah…..holy shit I know that song!
Honestly not bad but not too satisfying either. I don’t personally mind it but it does sound empty to my ears at parts and I only wish there was more, and kind of cliche with a very 80’s defining sound. It’s not bad by any means but does feel barebones, which makes sense knowing it’s their debut. I’m not sure if anyone else feels the same but that’s what I got from this experience
o cara canta muito, tem belas baladas com uma pitada de jazz mas elas todas soam iguais. tambem tem horriveis composições dançantes super anos 80 com aquela escolha nojenta de sintetizadores.
Well-crafted songs, well-played musicianship, and well sung. But I think it's too formal & too formulaic (in their own way, in what they are able to write & play) to be really original and really emotional (also inspirational).
Painful. The 80s were a difficult time for music, and this album was painful to get through. Of al the great music in this world, why subject someone to this? No more Simply Red please.
This album reminded me of something. Which is it, milquetoast or milk toast? Apparently, milquetoast comes from a comic strip character from the 1920s. The character was spineless and timid. I wouldn't call this album spineless, because that doesn't make any sense. And so, milk toast is toasted and cubed bread with warm milk poured on top. Like a homemade cereal. And much like this album, at least put some sugar and cinnamon in there to make it a little less boring.
Such a beautiful voice. Not my genre.
Good singing, but not really my thing.
Sounds like the score of an opening credits bustling cityscape montage in a generic 80s movie
too dad music for me
Erg van genoten. Nog verassend gevarieerd ook. Prima album.
Classic met een paar heerlijke nummers. Vind het wel een beetje musical muziek achtig en kan er niet té lang naar luisteren. Drie sterren voor holding back the years, jericho, heaven
Lekker groovy, baslijntjes om U tegen te zeggen én kende de band nog niet. Chille verrassing. Minder mooi was de verrassing toen ik googelde, het hoofd van frontzanger Mick Hucknall zag en me een ongeluk schrok.
Heel lekker, Simply Red staat altijd hoog in mijn lijst!
Prima jaren 80 album om op de achtergrond te hebben staan!
Toch een paar nummers geskipt, simply red is niks voor mij
Es un disco repleto de energía ochentera. La voz es muy buena, las letras en cambios no tienen muchos contenido. La realidad es que las vibras levantan el proyecto a montones y hacen que sea super escuchable 6,5/10
Love. Gotta find out who this guy is.
This was a classic 80's album. Listening to Picture Book is like taking a bubble bath with a glass of wine in hand - it's the ultimate stress reliever. You can just sit back, close your eyes, and let Mick Hucknall's soulful voice transport you to a place of pure zen. Picture Book is packed with some seriously groovy tunes. "Money's Too Tight (To Mention)" is a certified bop, and "Come To My Aid" will have you swaying your hips like Mick Jagger on stage. Overall, I highly recommend Picture Book to anyone in need of a little R&R. So, grab a glass of something chilled, kick back, and let Simply Red work their magic.
Solid Standouts: Holding Back the Years, Money's Too Tight to Mention Others: Sad Old Red, Heaven, Jericho, Picture Book Rating: 3.5
Never heard of this group or this album before. A little bit dated at times, but that doesn't really bother me at all in this case, it's got just the right amount of 80s synth funk going on that it's got good groove without being sickeningly cheesy (save for the more ballad-ish songs, which just don't really work for me). Fucking solid musicianship all around.
Take some blue-eyed soul, dance beats, and 80s production; put itall together and for that reason, I am out.
Pretty diverse pop album. It does start to drag towards the end.
I thought I liked most 1980s pop but this album proved that even I have limits sometimes.
Is there such a thing as too much 80's? No. Except in this case, the exception that proves the rule. Why is this album on this list? It isn't the best ever, or the best of the 80's, or even the best of 85. It's fine, I guess, cool voice, but it doesn't break any new ground. I'm not mad just confused. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I love it so very much, I'm so glad it was recommended 😍
Besides the hit singles from this album by Simply Red, I hadn't heard the rest of the songs and was somewhat surprised how jazz-influenced it is. Mick has a strong voice and carries the songs, but the music has a slick faux-jazz, R & B sound that is okay, but wears thin quickly. I was never a fan of Simply Red, simply because of the songs I heard on the radio never interested me. As a whole, a strong debut, but definitely not my idea of essential.
This is so yacht-core and silly. I just don’t like the album altogether. The single here is an all-time great to most extents. But otherwise I find the whole affair very…taxing. I will probably never put this through a relisten.
I was bored after like 2 tracks lmao
Good I hate 80s "soul" music. It's fucking soulless. I'd forgotten their one hit, Holding Backing the Years. Not that I knew it was this band's song, just have a vague recollection of the song. It's ok, I guess
Perfectly acceptable 80s smooth rnb. Not amazing, Hucknall's voice feels a bit weak, and the backings a bit too synthetic. Was amused when the accents show on the shout chorus on 'Heaven'. Minus one because the singer is a United fan and fairly grim piece of work. Google "hucknall apology guardian" if you need evidence on that last point.
Simply has an extraordinary voice. Let down by some of the material, but so absolute crackers in there too, including of course the singles.
2.5
Not saying I hated it, but this album doesn’t belong on a “greatest of all times” list, no matter how good that one song is. I mean, there’s at least two covers on here, incl. a Talking Heads song. Nope
I wish reviews could be downvoted, so we could take collective action against morons who think it’s funny to discriminate against redheads. How pathetic a person do you have to be to try to inflate your self worth by putting down people with a different hair color. The best thing you can say about yourself is at least I have the same hair as everyone else? On the flip side, this album sucks. As an official defender of redheads I hereby give you permission to hate it on its own merits without worrying about being discriminatory. I believe the last song has an attempted dub breakdown in the middle, which is just unconscionable.
Just a very middle of the road album apart from a few gems, better off just putting those on a playlist and saving your time some nice jazz bits in Sad old Red and Holding back the years. Overall a background album but a waste of time on this list for one song.
I had zero expectations of simply red before this album. I still don’t. Really boring, generic pop. Made me feel like I was listening to the soundtrack of a b movie.
Not my type of music. I was never a fan of his/their songs, I find them boring and rather repetitive. Mick Hucknall has a very nice voice, but the music and the track in general are just bland. Every song on the "Picture Book" album sounded like a generic summer hit you would listen to on MTV and forget about it as soon as September comes. There was some nice use of saxophone or other brass instruments, few nice melodies, but most of the time I was just waiting for it to end, so that I can go back to listen...anything else actually. Simply Red was simply too red for me, whatever that means.
Not really very good. There were a couple interesting sections, but nothing that really held my attention. I did not enjoy this album, but at least I finished it.
Ooh I've never heard of this group before but I'm loving it. The lead singer (Mick Hucknall) has an incredible voice. I was definitely surprised when I googled him and saw what he looked like haha - not what I expected. “Come to My Aid” and “Look at You Now” are jams! The album has some good cheesy 80’s pop, some jazzy songs and some Michael Jackson-style funk. Also a smooth cover of Talking Heads’ “Heaven.” “Jericho” was a highlight too.
The mix quality really is fantastic from the first second of music. What's funny is that this album is next in the list immediately after "The Fall - This Nation's Saving Grace" which also came out in 1985 but had a completely different fidelity level in the audio quality. This mix feels like walking on grass after crawling through some mud. Everything is so clear and distinct and yet still homogeneous. I'm just realizing now that I'm listening to a remixed 2008 version. My bad. Leaving my comments. Track 2 to 3 is a fun tone shift. Track 5"Jericho" was super cheesy and the vocals didn't feel right. Ok Track 6 I don't like either. I feel like this album got off to a good start and then started to get cheesy? I really don't like the choruses + the bridge "we're talkin bout money money" in this one.. Track 7 goes back to an overall sound that I like. But the last 2 tracks have definitely soured my experience so far! Track 9, "No Direction" is sweet, it sounds like a Living Colour song. ugh and then Track 10 "Picture Book" i really don't like. "We beseech thee, we beseech thee." I hated having a "Money's Too Tight to mention" reprise. It wasn't great the first time. Yea I didn't love this album.
It’s pretty good. I know a few of the songs and the rest are sung by that same unique voice. Question is, will that voice get tired after hearing too much of it? For now, I like it. 3/5
Woohoo my 500th album! I was considering talking about my favorite of my 5 stars but I don’t feel like it right now and I think relistening to all of those after the 1001st album would be more fun. I can say that dummy and kimono my house have stuck with me the most so far, though. As for this album, I was expecting it to be like tainted love where holding back the years was the only good song but I was wrong. This album was a good British pop soul thing that slightly reminded me of prefab sprout and the top song wasn’t even my favorite. Jericho and sad old red were probs my favorites
Wow… this is dull. Cheesy organs, unnecessary saxophones, and an allegedly soulful singer. When you think you’re nostalgic for the 80s, just put this on and be cured.
An example of 80s British Soul - Pop that is bound to the constraints of the genre. While a gifted singer, it isn't enough to make up for the largely uninspired lyrics and lack of uniqueness. Overall, this sounds like so many other artists of the era and unless it was sentimental, it can stay in the past.
There was that one song
This album is like every genre of music...
Good background music
This was really boring
Meh
I enjoyed this more than I thought. I put my prejudice against Mick Hucknell aside and tried to listen to it with fresh ears. He does have a great Blue Eyed Soul voice and the songs on the first album are really good. Never was a fan of the singles - I can't put my finger on why exactly
I had my doubts on this album, I've only heard Holding back the Years, which I never liked. The opening track surprised me a little but then it quickly divulged into adult contemporary washed out soul music. The cover of Talking Heads Heaven is downright insulting.
Records like this make me almost resent getting involved with this whole 1001 albums thing.
Didn't like it. Maybe it was too slow. Maybe it was the blue-eyed soul. Maybe i heard it too many times in dentist offices. It just isn't my thing.
I guess I know that one song. But not sure what I head to hear the rest of the album.
Lame, dated 80s music. Kudos for dissing Ronald Reagan though.
Fun, electronic, neon-feeling album, that gets you nodding your head and tapping your feet.
ATTENTION K-MART SHOPPERS: THERE IS A BLUE LIGHT SPECIAL ON PAMPERS IN AISLE 7.
Background Music
Okej album, lagan. Neće ići u rotaciju.
This is great. 1985 but does not seem 45+ years old. A really good blend of pop, funk, soul, r&b. For me, evokes the feeling of having been emotional over something for a long time, feeling tired of it, and turning inward and a bit cold with a new veiled perspective of the world.
This is 80s Simply Red which is awesome because I only found them in the 90s. It’s got “moneys too tight to mention” which is such a jam and blues tracks too. It’s nice to see how the band developed; I had to listen to the stars album straight after
SLAPS
3.5?
Aburrido. Ha envejecido mal. Excepto "Jericho" que sigue siendo una gran canción. 2 estrellas y gracias.
actually really nice listen.
Pretty complete as an album, flows well with some catchy songs - but totally 80's 3.5/5
Before I listened to this, I knew I always liked "Money's Too Tight to Mention" and that I never liked "Holding Back the Years." So I was curious to know how I'd like the whole album. Turns out, it was kind of the same hot and cold feeling. I liked the song I always thought was "Come to My Head" so it was a good start, but at the end I really disliked "No Direction" and "Picture Book." I had to go back to the beginning to remember that I did really like some of it. It's kind of all over the place, so I'm going to place it in the middle.
I have never loved Simply Red. Something just feels like it is missing for me whenever I hear one of his tunes. I thought that perhaps an album might open my eyes to the allure, but there were no hidden gems in here for me to bring me around. When I thought that maybe I should give it a second listen just in case it would grow on me, I just couldn't bring myself to do it today.
A hometown friend gave this to me, kind of out of the blue, right before I left for college. I would never have bought it for myself but I listened to it sometimes and enjoyed it. Still, I was surprised to see it on this list. I don't know why! It's really good. There are bits that certainly smack of the 80s but mostly I think it's aged pretty well and it's more suited to me in late middle-age than it was in my (rockin') teens. Very nice!
I got into Simply Red with their Stars album in 1991. I loved that album, and later got into their Greatest Hits. So I knew and liked a few of the hits off this album. I'm glad to have had this come up as there are a lot of great new songs from Simply Red that already favorites!
Has a Talking Heads cover
My dad used to listen to Simply Red in the car, alot. Brings me back.
I had heard Simply Red before but never this album. It’s ok, but never really reaches greatness
Everyone now and then I come across an album that has it, and this has got it. Not much more to be said aside from the fact that I loved the cover of Heaven especially the big sax. Jericho has got some serious attitude to it. A very good obviously 80s album that never gets "too" 80s (thanks to a very heavy soul or something influence). I also love that in this case I am absolutely zero influenced by prevailing opinion cause I've never even heard of him. I actively avoid preconceptions as a hard rule for all these albums but in reality they sneak in every now and then - here is a pure unadulterated love of a record.
Not my jams
1985 - British Pop rock; soft rock; blue-eyed soul
when the reds go marching, on on on! he's like the much better prototype of the used teabag that is ed sheeran. hideous ginger creature, the pastiest of things with suspisious eyes using predominantly black music styles to sing music that gets the women going. the prototype completed women though didn't he. can't see ed sheeran ever conquering slick mick in the all time tables. micks got a pretty good voice if you didn't know what he looked like, but there's just something so jarring about MOR soul being belted out by someone who looks like an eco warrior that's been trapped in a tunnel for the last 5 months surviving off stale golden wonder crisps and drinking his own piss.
A baby boy forms from the penis of a Wotsit. He travels through life, threatening to destroy the world with his gentle voice. He wades his way through a trough of broken bottles and cow shit to present his immaculate balls to the queen in an unflinching display of dominance and humility. This is the result.
There's 2 or 3 pretty good songs dotted amongst a load of absolute drivel. I preferred The Frantic Elevators, but who doesn't? Mick Hucknall though innit, so he deserves 10 stars, never mind 5.
Pop oitentista que apresentou dois hits de fm.
Debut album for Simply Red. Much soul through an 80s lens. Good stuff, but too few real standouts. 3.5/5
Decent.
2 good songs. One very bad song
no strong feelings, some is decent but not overly catchy to me
p541. 1985. 2 stars Bland, middle of the road faux jazz/soul, only without the technique or the soul. One massive hit and a lot of filler. Not essential listening. Q. What’s the difference between Simply Red and a bull? A. The bull has the horns at the front and the arsehole at the back
Always a little dubious of the so-called blue eyed soul, particularly (and this is an unfair prejudice) when it originates in the UK - similar feelings on the blues. You can’t argue this guy’s got a Voice though, yet I don’t think that quite carries it for me. It’s best when the accompaniment is more traditional, some of this has a kind of light-jazzy-pop vibe that magnifies the whole “but is it really authentic?” issue.
I really like some of the more synthy jazzy prog of the early 80s, but this is just too "doctor's office music" for me. Super elevator-y and unmemorable.
не оставило впечатлений
Cheesy mid 80's soft rock sung by a beef tomato. Sold shitloads of copies and probably got played to death in middle managers' Ford focuses and shitty dinner parties with canapes and cocaine. Best Tracks: Come To My Aid; Money's Too Tight (To Mention); Holding Back The Years
Good storytelling
This album was alright. At times had elements of disco, pop, jazz and always had an 90's feel to it. Standout was the catchy "Come to My Aid"
A good album, I hadn't heard of them before. Really enjoyed the use of jazz instruments, the flutes, horns, stand up bass. Would listen again. Sound was British 80s pop, but jazzy and soulful.
This album was shockingly awesome
I feel like I've had a series of these middle-of-the-road, three-star albums lately. Like nothing bad or offensive about them, I could even say I somewhat enjoyed listening to them, but also nothing really special or super-interesting about them. Maybe it's just me. It's a decent album, but that's about it. 3 stars.
I vibe with all the style changes
Pretty solid album with a well balanced tracklist and quite interesting songs.
I actually don't mind Simply Red, but this album may not be his best work. Not bad, but not particularly memorable. Stand out tracks: Holding Back the Years.
It’s new wavey duran duran style pop rock with the flavour of soul… It’s quite good but if I were to be honest nothing really stuck too much on me and the album can feel fairly uninteresting and samey at points. Take the first side for example it goes faster song, slower song,faster song, slower song then Jericho a song that for the most part I’ve already herd through the first 4 songs being a very middling type track in every aspect instead of it’s length and the “ you won’t go to the ball” bit feels kinda cringeworthy. Maybe that’s a bit to mean to brand the first 4 as faster song and slower song but it’s fair. To be more detailed about the 4 come to my aid was forgettable, sail old red was also a bit dull, Look at you now was fun but nothing special and heaven is very good but a cover. The groovy moneys too tight to mention starts off side two with a banger (the kinda track all side two track one’s should be) still though it’s a cover track so not much of the songs best moments are their original ideas. Holding back the years is a nice middle of the road single it apparently charted really well but I don’t think I’ve ever herd this maybe because it’s forgettable. I don’t really like the vocals in the chorus of open up the red box but the rest of it is just eh mid side 2 filler. The penultimate track no direction is full funk if it was on side one I think it’s inclusion would’ve felt more valid. Picture book is a solid closer though one of the only tracks I rate highly on this album. It’s a 3 maybe if the album was sequenced better I would’ve liked it but it’s just a bit bland. I would’ve sequenced it like this: 1 Come to my aid 2 sad old red 3 No direction 4 look at you now 5 holding back the years 6 Moneys too tight to mention 7 Heaven 8 Jericho 9 picture book (Yes I know I cut out open the red box but I just kinda felt it was a bit filler)
Mostly awful
I had not listened to this group before. The work has that classic British one-two hop-groove that can be quite funky at times. Lyrics surprisingly heartfelt and relatable - very authentically delivered.
Good album. Didn’t go mega hard but solid
Strong start and enjoyable album until it gets a little bit boring halfway through. Overall it's an OK album. It's very 80s.
I don't think I've heard of them before this but it's enjoyable. Very 80s pop. Gives me Steely Dan vibes.
Very diverse album. Straight 80s to lounge Jazz.
I disliked this album, but among the 1001 albums, I was missing this type of music. I can't name this style correctly, but it's something like a grew-up millennium child listening to some "Flashback '80s or 70s" album with cover art that is a poster of some movie from the '80s. It's much more a feeling than a musical style, but it was lacking on this list before this album. Nice to listen to it, but 2-stars is my maximum
Jesus wept. The singles are enough to go no further.
Hard '80 really don't enjoy the album To mellow and soft. Heaven is the only enjoyable song.
Sensual vibes
Simply no
Oh Christ. This is going to test my commitment more than Brothers in Arms did, isn't it. Ok, I listened. It's toss. Actually a shame, an album full of left leaning, anti-capitalist lyrics including a massive smash hit taking the piss out of Reaganomics at its absolute height, you just want it to be good. A Talking Heads cover, as well. To be fair, Come To My Aid has a decent track struggling to get out with decent Orange Juice/Smith's guitar work but Hucknall smothers it by being annoying all over the top of it. The rest is cod lounge-jazz crap. Or the worst kind of 80s mainstream electro rock. With Mick Hucknall being really annoying all over the top of it. I was softening slightly thinking about the good points but then Open the Red Box happened and sealed the 1/5.
3 1/2
Read voice
What wrere we thinking, much blander and slower than I remember
Surprisingly good and funky. Felt like the music over powered the voice at times but it’s alright
Cover art 1/5 Album a two
Simply Red were always one of the bands I said I HATED! All the singles I've heard have been atrocious and headache inducing. I went into Rhos with an open mind, and you know what it wasn't nearly as bad as I was expecting!
rock suave com pegada anos 80, divertido mas não especial
It's okay.
Simply Red
Dated.
I really enjoyed this album I thought it was very groovy and fun and overall enjoyable!
It does instantly make me feel like I'm in high school again. That's not a bad thing. But I don't really love the music - it's just more than a little dull and smooth. Very distinctive singer, not sure if I like it or not, but I'm sure it wouldn't matter - it's just sort of non-memorable. Funny - there are albums I disliked a hell of a lot more than this one but understood why they could be on the list. This one's a mystery. 4/10 2 stars.
Ew. This was released in '85?! Why does it sound like mid 70s disco trash? Gross.
Chrerlin
Groovy. The cover of ”Heaven” stands out as particularly effective, otherwise the music is very of it’s time
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Long promised road, Money’s too tight
Lots of covers... ok, but the mid-80s production is wretched.
Maybe I'm too harsh with this album? I don't know. Just give us better albums and it won't happen again.
The New Wavish songs on this album are bangers, but the other jazziest ones are pretty weak. It's a good album, just not an excellent one.
Boring. I'm giving a 2 stars just because I know it's a cult album. Pale copie of other artist such more talented. So Beige...
A love/hate album for me. So many brilliant synthesizer lines and very catchy sounds that defined the 80s, but at the same time, half of the songs make me think Simply Red were trying too hard to be popstars by clumsily borrowing soul music or jazz aesthetics. Glad to know them better anyway!
Ehh... pretty middle of the road 80s schlock. Not that great and sounds very dated. 2.5/5
some funky stuff but in the end it's soft rock. You know what you getting, and it doesn't excite me.
2, was ok but generic
I didn't have cable growing up, but my grandparents did and we'd visit them a couple times a year. I wanted them to have MTV, but the cable tier they had only had Vh1. So I got a big dose of this, Tracy Chapman and Swing Out Sister. And I'm all the better for it. Holding Back the Years is a great song. Hoo boy, though, Jericho. That one almost broke me. Yeah, nothing really gets to that same height as Holding Back, but this isn't hack work. They're putting their backs into it.
Simply Red (and Mick Hucknall) have long been the butt of jokes and the sneers of critics on these shores, and as such I was primed to join in with the ludification. But...this is really good. Hucknall is a good singer, the album is full of grooves, and in 'Holding Back the Years' they have a ballad for the ages. I really dig the light funk groove that pervades - 'Come to My Aid', 'Jericho', 'Money's Too Tight' all sparkle. 'Sad Old Red' is a very decent cabaret jazz number. One that I'll stick on the stereo again in the near future.
I think all this soft 80s adult-oriented pop is payback for me having missed the two Black Sabbath records. That's on me, guys. You make a deal with the devil and the devil wants his due. I didn't mind "Heaven," "Holding Back the Years," or "Picture Book." But I'm going to have that lower octave singing of the line "Open Up the Red Box" stuck in my head the rest of my life and I am not sure I deserved that one.
This album has moments of where everything seems to line up and the instrumentals and vocals complement each other well. However, when mixing a timeless style like soul, and a very dated synth sound, it’s bound to be jarring when listened to 35 years after its release. The lyrics occasionally express economic anxieties that were prevalent at the time especially in the UK, but there’s such a disjunction between the music and words being sung that it doesn’t quite have the same effect as a new wave album for example that expresses the same sentiment. Overall, not bad, not great, but an interesting clash of styles.
Actually enjoyed this a fair bit more than I thought I would. Those initial expectations were pretty low mind ...
Simply Shite.
4-bit nancy graphics
It's a good album, and there are a couple of good songs, but just overall not something I enjoy.
I like the hits from this album, but the whole thing is a bit much.
Dangerously close to liking a Simply Red album here. Money's too tight to mention still slaps.
Nice enough album, a couple hits and the rest were pretty chill.
Look I listened to it. What more do you want? It's getting 2 instead of 1 because it's not actively offenseive, unless you have to listen to it all the way through like this
I know a few Simply Red songs, but only recognised one here (didn't catch the name) and I didn't even know it was Simply Red. Definitely wasn't a worldwide smash hit like STARS was in the early 90s - boy do I remember that!! Overall, I really don't have anything bad to say about this album. If you're a hipster you'll hate how well written, cleanly produced and nicely pulled off it is (did they not even know just what groundbreaking garbagey talentless noise dinosaur jnr were making at the same time?!), but if you're not a complete toss it'll just come across as well written, cleanly produced and nicely pulled off. Not my fav genre by any stretch but totally ok for 45min on a Sunday morning. 3/5.
I remember a few of their songs. While back then, as I do know, I find their sound overall to be just too syrupy for me, I can appreciate Mick Hucknall's voice. I listened to this album and I was bored for the most part. Although it was played a ton back in the 80s, I was surprised to find I did enjoy "Holding Back The Years". I like the groove and it showcases Mick's voice nicely. When I hear this song, my ear wants a grittier, darker version, and I think that applies to this whole album for me. I'll bet there are some great covers out there.
Not a bad pop album. Definitely have some mixed feelings as some songs were catchy and good and others were almost skippable. Definitely a product of its era as well which made this one just ok. 5.8/10
The Talking Heads cover (Heaven) just doesn't approach David Byrne's tongue-in-cheek delivery, and frankly doesn't work for me, but overall it's a nice album. Anyone not moved by Holding Back the Years simply has no soul, in my opinion.
This was good as background music. Nothing really stood out to me.
Started off pretty well, got a bit tedious by the end. Simply Meh
Lacked bops but some nice bits.
There were a couple of good songs, but it was mostly very bland soft rock with generally godawful 80s production with every single worst cliché of that decaee
I thought this was peak 85, then a sax solo started..... Very enjoyable tunes
Before Mick Hucknall went full tosser.
Never heard of them. This was very cool, especially the first song
nähädu, den gubben går inte. det är som att picka sig själv under nageln med en nål
"This is the second Simply Red song on this tape. One's unforgivable. Two's a war crime. Can I fast-forward?"
The debut album from Simply Red - classic stuff... ...although perhaps the overall album isn't as good as the (over-played at the time) Heaven and Money's Too Tight (To Mention)...?!
meh
Fav songs: - Come to My Aid - Money's Too Tight (To Mention) - No Direction - Picture Book
Very good music for drive time home just as night is falling
This is why I didn't like pop.
6/10 some jams but the 80s overproduction and corny vocals detracted at times
7/10. Maybe an 8 out of 10? Solidly enjoyable throughout, nothing grabbed my attention
Surprisingly funky. Main gripes are the vocals are slightly annoying and the lyrics have nothing. 8/10
The funny thing is listening to this album, it was even worse than I expected it to be. There have been some dubious selections so far which make me question the validity of the 1001 albums but this takes the biscuit. I refuse to believe that this is one of the 1001 greatest albums ever made. If you Google 'Best albums of 1985' you get lists with some great albums, none of which are by Simply Red.
Band has big "Jamiroquai but different be-hatted cunt in charge" vibes.
Belangloser Pop-/Disko-Kram. Aber auf hohem Niveau.
This is an actual enigma. It's so bland that I completely forgot every song, every word sung and every note played the second the album ended. I didn't gain or lose anything. Can't decide if this is a 1/5 or a 2/5 - probably like a 1.75, so I'll be generous and round it up.
MOtR
meh
Fun(ky) - very 80s and funny fairlight i guess trumpet but yea so far quite pleasant melodies. 'sad old red' is jazz n nice. it's all quite pleasant but idk if it's for me in the foreground...
Simply Red? More like Simply Fuck Off. Absolute cuntbag of an album. Dogshit.
On the cheesy uninteresting side - but it’s got its own sound
Amazing album. So fun to listen to and definitely will be revisiting again.
There is another challenger for the battle against the mediocrity of '80s synthpop. Equipped with elements from jazz and soul, as well as a pretty good vocalist, Simply Red made a pretty nice effort in it in their debut, "Picture Book". But unfortunately, they lost the battle. The generic sound of the '80s synthpop didn't engulfed them, but it knocked them to the ground. "Come to My Aid" is such an early triumph. The banger sounds generic, but they used the sound well and produced such an electrifying synth pop song. After it comes a live (?) jazz infused song. While the instrumentals here are great, the overall sounds are unremarkable and even boring. It's not really downhill from here. Some songs, especially the slower ones, are pretty good. But it's all dull and boring. Not exactly generic, but still terrible. Not a really bad album though. An easy listen, at least for the first time.
I don't think this has aged well
3/5 okeyish but no
Easily a good album in its own right, but not my style, so I probably won't return to this one. Some fun groovy motown 80s-ness, but also a bit of excess cheesiness that described many 80s songs. Love the singer's voice a lot; sorta a mix between Phil Collins and George Michael and Elton John?
11/24/2021 Today's Album: "Picture Book" by Simply Red - I like this album decently well. I think the sound is really clean and emblematic of what was going on with pop rock in the 80s. Some moments sound like Michael Jackson, Prince, Alan Parson's Project, The Police, and maybe even some Van Halen? There's some really nice stuff on the opening moments of the album, like the Paul Simon like anthem that is Come to my Aid or the soultry bassline that backs Sad Old Red. I think that there are some very forgettable songs on this album, but that isn't to say there isn't great musicianship throughout the rest of the track list with some catchy hooks and groovy basslines. Overall, I had a good time when I was listening to it. It definitely had a coherent feel and consistent vibe throughout Score: 6.5/10 pretty good. Highlights: Come to My Aid, Sad Old Red, Heaven, Holding Back the Years, Open up the Red Box, Picture Book
These guys are a better band than I remember. There are some really good tunes on here, but all of it is just outside of my style preferences. It's very dated to the eighties.... instrument choice and production wise
Better than I expected.
insufferable. I couldn't get through 3 songs. Feels like the worst of 80's tropes.
Sad old red was a good song!
5/10
I don't know Simply Red enough to tell you what music is theirs. Before listening to the album I was pretty sure that I do not like this band. I've heard "Holding Back the Years" many times and I've never liked that track. I listened to the whole album, but it was kind of a slog to get through. It's not bad music, it's just not for me. I wouldn't know who to recommend the album to.
Very nice smooth production made for easy listening.
easy listening, typical 80s synth style with a smooth voice. Nice!
Better than I had expected.
This guy has a crazy powerful voice, but to listen to him for an hour straight is made me a bit nauseous.
I'm going to be open minded about this record.... but I just cannot like Simply Red, just not interested in 80s soul.
When this popped up this morning my initial reaction was "Oh God". I'm still scarred from having to endure Stars on repeat back in '91, when all I wanted to listen to was Jimi Hendrix. Anyway in the spirit of this adventure, I did listen to this album in full. It was alright.... I survived the experience. Will I listen to it again? Doubtful. But I can at least tick it off the list.
This album surprised me. Loved it.
Ik ben niet zo hele bekend met het repertoire van Simply Red, anders dan de bekende hits. Dit album begint meteen herkenbaar en gaat daarna in een zeer lekkere jazzy vibe verder. ****
Просто хороший
Some 80's pop album, couldn't listened to the end
6/10
Heel erg soulfull album. Begon wel een klein beetje te vervelen na een tijdje
Kolejne wyspiarskie granie, tym razem banda Simply Red rodem z manchesteru, rocznik tego debiutanckiego albumu to 85, a gdyby klasyfikowac gatunkowo to najbardziej pasuje niebieskooki soul po dosc popowej stronie spektrum gatunku, 44 minuty na 10 trakach, gdzie wiekszosc kawalkow miesci sie w 4 minutowym radio pleju tajmie, pomimo tego ze dlugosciowo plyta jest akurat, nie za dluga nie za krotka, to jednak czuje, ze za tydzien juz nie bede pamietal z niej zadnego traczka, zarowno lirycznie plyta niczym nie przyciaga uwagi, instrumentalnie kawalki takie jak sad old red czy jericho grane sa jak cool jazzowe numery, ktore pod tym wzgledem slucha sie dobrze, ale obok nich czuc kontrast bardziej soulowo rokowych numerow jak otwierajacy come to my aid, ktory krzyczy swoimi trumpetami i klawiszami, to sa lata 80, nie potrafie zrozumiec jak banda chciala polaczyc tak dwa rozne style grania na jednym materiale i kto byl zadowolony z finalnego efektu, ze az album znalazl sie na liscie 1001 albumikowej, ale tak juz to jest z wyspiarskimi materialami, na plejaka wrzuuce sobie moneys too tight ktory najlepiej laczy dwa swiaty plyty w jednym traczku, takie zdziwienie dlaczego ten traczek tak rozni sie lirycznie od reszty materialu, a okazuje sie, ze jest to cover murzynskiego soulowego kawalka od the valentine brothers z 70s, wiec pan Hucknall, ktory jest tutaj glownym wokalem i klawiszami jest tak bialy, ze tego pietno jest odczuwalne na liryce tej plyty, z ciekawostej jeden traczek pisany byl przez pana Bryne z Talking Heads, to jest heaven, ktory rowniez pasuje tutaj jak piesc do nosa, im dluzej sie tej plyty slucha tym gorzej chce sie ja oceniac, wiec koncze ten wymeczony odsluch
Ook nog eens jazzy
Wat een aalgladde shit is dit toch met die simpele rooie zanger! Wel in Blaricum opgenomen dit album, lees ik net. Helpt geen zak.