Time (Simply Red album)
Time is the thirteenth studio album by British pop group Simply Red, released on 26 May 2023 through Warner Music. It was produced by Andy Wright, preceded by the singles "Better with You", "Shades 22" and "Just Like You" and followed by the single "It Wouldn't Be Me", which included a new "Single Mix" of the song. The band performed at the O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire on 5 June 2023 to celebrate the album's launch, as well as continuing their tour of Europe in mid-2023. It is their last album that features bassist Steve Lewinson who died in December 2024.
Background and recording
The album's lyrics have been described as "confessional", with Mick Hucknall stating: "When we were in lockdown, I went, 'well, jeez, who am I actually? What makes me tick?' And I realised: 'you are a songwriter. So why don't you write some songs about who you are?' That's really the essence of this album." The album was recorded in London with the band's long-time producer Andy Wright, with the resulting sound described as a mix of "soul, funk, R&B and blues".Personnel
Simply Red- Mick Hucknall – vocals, backing vocals, guitars, bass, harmonica
- Gary Sanctuary – acoustic piano
- Kenji Suzuki – guitars
- Steve Lewinson – bass
- Roman Roth – drums
- Ian Kirkham – saxophones, woodwinds, electronic wind instrument, brass
- Kevin Robinson – trumpet, percussion
- Dave Clayton – keyboards, acoustic piano, organ
- Gavin Goldberg – keyboards, acoustic piano, Wurlitzer electric piano, organ, programming, strings, guitars, bass, drum programming, bassoon
- Danny Saxon – keyboards, acoustic piano, synthesizers, organ, programming, strings, bongos, backing vocals
- Andy Wright – keyboards, acoustic piano, Wurlitzer electric piano, synthesizers, organ, programming, strings, guitars, bass, harp, drum programming, bongos, backing vocals
- Mark Jaimes – synthesizers, programming, guitars, bass, bongos
- Marek Bero – bass
- Geoff Holroyde – percussion
- Daniel Westron – percussion
- BBC Concert Orchestra – orchestra
- Sam Swallow – orchestra arrangements
Production
- Andy Wright – producer, recording, engineer
- Gavin Goldberg – additional producer, engineer, mixing
- Dan Roberts – producer
- Lewis Chapman – engineer
- Jamie Hart – engineer
- Jean-Pierre Chablos – mastering at La Source Mastering
- Stuart Crouch Creative – art direction, design
- Vincent Barker – photography
- Simon Fowler – photography
- Christie Goodwin – photography
- Bob King – photography