Simply Red

Hated “Holding Back the Years” with a passion so never bothered to give them a chance. Later learned Mick Hucknell was around the early punk scene and still couldn’t go back and give it a listen. Great soulful voice but the song made my skin crawl.

I thought they were good, but like fancy, city adult music though. I felt the same way about Joe Jackson.

The first time I heard "Holding Back The Years" on the radio in the 80s, I immediately knew it was going to be a timeless classic. Certain songs just hit you that way the first time you hear them.

Their 2003 single “Sunrise” brilliantly sampled Hall & Oats’s “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do)” and is still a favorite of mine.

In the 80's I had a friend who used to pull the car over and savor "Holding Back the Years" every time the song came on the radio. It was like the second coming or something.

Holding Back the Years would make me want to drive into the sea. There are few songs - or singers - that inspire such hatred for me.

That’s what made the hate sex fantasies so fantastic, y’all.

R2 has no soul. Sad.

I needed Mick and Billy Vera in me quite deeply.

I liked Holding Back the Years.

I’ll keep holding on was nice the very first time I heard it. I was around 13 yrs old. Every other time I’ve heard it since that first time I’ve detested it.

I've always like Holding Back the Years. Angie Stone did a great cover.

I was never a huge fan but I did enjoy some of their singles particularly those off "A New Flame" and "Stars" albums. My interest in keeping up with Simply Red kind of vaned in the late90's/early 00's. Also, I think that was the time when we got to hear more about Mick Hucknall being a douchebag. I will say: "Money's Too Tight To Mention" is better than "Holding Back The Years."

This was a major "crossover" hit: it crossed over to black/R&B stations.

WDAS in Philly had this song in heavy rotation back in the day.

Unpopular opinion--"If you Don't Know Me" is as good as the original.

I only know that god-awful Holding Back the Years

I used to get him confused with John Williams’ son who fronts Toto

I love that Martine McCutcheon once puked in his awful dreadlocks in the back of a car after a boozy night out.

Ugly

Sexy

R21 that hurt my eyes

Simply Shit

r21 He looks like if that Guns-N-Roses dude and Trump had a baby.

He looks like Carrot Top and Axl Rose had a baby.

Mick Hucknall reliably assembles the best musicians for his live band.

The first time I saw Simply Red was at Pulsations in the Philly burbs (long since demolished). I remember giggling at Mick chatting up women in the audience before the show.

OP is spreading misinformation. At no point in time was Mick ever considered sexy.

One of THE ugliest motherfuckers I’ve ever laid eyes on

Always loved The Right Thing.

Mick was considered sexy by many woman.

“Money In My Pocket” (from the same album with “Sunrise”) is an amazing track.

Cute

r30 He was not.

I like Simply Blue.

Are you insane OP.

Nobody considered it "hot"

Joe Jackson was awful, and in the same vein

Joe Jackson is wonderful and an out bisexual

[quote] OP is spreading misinformation. At no point in time was Mick ever considered sexy.

To an impressionable, yet beautiful - very - young girl, he was.

Didn't know he was only 24 when he wrote and recorded Holding Back the Years.

Such a unique voice. You either love it or hate it, but you'll never mistake him for someone else.