Simply Red – A New Flame

Simply Red – A New Flame

Simply Red’s third studio album, A New Flame, is a defining release from the band’s breakthrough late-1980s period. Released in February 1989, the album expanded the sophisticated soul and pop sound established on their earlier records, combining Mick Hucknall’s distinctive, soulful vocals with polished arrangements, keyboards, brass, saxophone and a strong rhythm section. The album became Simply Red’s first UK No. 1 album, spending 91 weeks in the UK Albums Chart.

The album opens with “It’s Only Love”, followed by the title track “A New Flame” and “You’ve Got It”, balancing romantic soul with the polished production that became characteristic of Simply Red. “A New Flame” itself reached No. 17 on the UK Singles Chart in July 1989.

One of the standout tracks is Simply Red’s soulful interpretation of “If You Don’t Know Me By Now”. Originally written by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff and recorded as a hit by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes in 1972, Simply Red’s version became one of the group’s biggest international successes, reaching No. 2 in the UK.

A New Flame was recorded at Air Studios in Montserrat, produced by Stewart Levine and engineered and mixed by Daren Klein, with final mixing taking place at Ocean Way Studios in Los Angeles. The album's recordings and polished production place it firmly within the late-1980s British soul, pop and sophisti-pop sound, making this vinyl LP an essential Simply Red release for fans of Mick Hucknall, blue-eyed soul and sophisticated 1980s pop.

Tracklist

Side A

1. It's Only Love – 4:58
2. A New Flame – 3:57
3. You've Got It – 3:55
4. To Be With You – 3:23
5. More – 4:07

Side B

1. Turn It Up – 4:35
2. Love Lays Its Tune – 4:05
3. She'll Have To Go – 3:15
4. If You Don't Know Me By Now – 3:24
5. Enough – 5:09