For better or worse, Simply Red is Mick Hucknall. It’s been said he’s a little tempestuous (but then what pop star isn’t from time-to-time) but his voice is a gift and his charity work well-known.

Holding Back The Years deserves to make this list simply because it was so different from what was happening at the time and it introduced Hucknall’s voice to the world. SR’s take on If You Don’t Know Me By Now may not improve hugely on the original, but the timbre of Hucknall’s improvisations certainly give it weight. Stars is a bit on the disco tip but it’s a purely executed piece of pop.

These are the 3 best songs by Simply Red.

Simply Red – Holding Back The Years
Simply Red – If You Don’t Know Me By Now
Simply Red – Stars