Simply Red - Infidelity (Elektra)

The second single to be taken off the Men & Women LP, "Infidelity" finds Mick Hucknall in great voice, singing about how "a man can't be trusted" and how infidelity is "my middle name". Surely this can't be Mick singing about himself in real life, can it? Can it? (hem hem)... (Ian Cranna, Smash Hits, May 6, 1987)

Happy go lucky, summery sound from Simply Red; this written by Mick Hucknall and soul legend, Lamont Dozier. Hucknall's voice is as spectacular as ever and this funky, snappy song will have you tapping your toes before you can say 'top notch'! (Debbi Voller, No 1, May 16, 1987)

Simply Red - Jericho (WEA)

One of those frustrating songs with a brilliant intro and verse - blues and jazz combining perfectly with Mick Hucknall's soulful voice and then ruined by a ridiculously out of place chorus which sounds like a stupid football chant. A shame, but still a good single. (Simon Braithwaite, Smash Hits, February 12, 1986)

Simply Red - Money's Too Tight To Mention (Elektra)

A cover version of a rather obscure but hipper-than-hip song by the Valentine Brothers that first surfaced a couple of summers ago. Simply Red couldn't have chosen a better showcase for their obvious talents - social-comment lyrics attacked by really excellent soul vocals, making a record that's understated but powerful, and impossible to resist. Fitting loosely into the Working Week/ Sade school of new jazz/soul, Simply Red are definitely a name to watch out for. Joint Single Of The Fortnight. (Maureen Rice, Smash Hits, June 5, 1985)

The much discussed Simply Red (i.e. much discussed in three London hostelries), a combo of indistinct heritage and no discernable talent have possibly made the greatest initial career blunder ever. Did no-one tell these poor wide eyed terrors that freshly scrubbed little white boy pop groups just do not attempt covers of mighty black dance discs - especially not those of the frightful might of the Valentine Brothers' "Money's Too Tight To Mention"? Apparently not. (Graham K Smith, Record Mirror, June 15, 1985)

Simply Red, who were no doubt signed to Elektra for a princely sum, debut here with a cover of the Valentine Brothers song about being borassic! (Look it up!) Strange that. As white soul goes this is plain fare. If Kane Gang and Bronski Beat make you splash the cash then step right on up. A fool and his money? It's alright really but some of that advance wouldn't go amiss lads, money being in such short supply. Oops, wasn't supposed to mention that. (Max Bell, No 1, June 22, 1985)

Simply Red - Holding Back The Years (Elektra)

Without doubt the best thing to hit the charts this year, Simply Red release a third single from the Picture Book album and I think it's the best. Admittedly a voice like Mick Hucknall's can do little wrong but this searing ballad even outpoints "Money's Too Tight" in the soul stakes. My Only Fear is that a band with this much talent will become disillusioned with their lot and go the way of Level 42. (Mark Booker, No 1, November 9, 1985)

This has an uncanny resemblance to one of those two-chord ‘songs’ you had to endure between the hits on a Barry White album or on the B-Side of an Ace single. It starts and then finishes, with nothing of consequence between. (Mike Gardner, Record Mirror, November 9, 1985)

The two most admirable things about Simply Red are (1) Mick Hucknall's two-fingered attitude and (2) the white soul passion they inject. This plaintive, atmospheric little lament is quite touching but, alas, you can't whistle an attitude nor hum a passion whilst going about your business, so if they wish to move on up, Simply Red will have to learn to write some real tunes that stand up on their own. (Ian Cranna, Smash Hits, May 7, 1986)