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Picture Book (Simply Red album)

October 31, 2023

Picture Book is the debut album by British pop and soul group Simply Red, released in October 1985. It contains the US number-one single "Holding Back the Years", and a cover of The Valentine Brothers' "Money's Too Tight (to Mention)". Three more singles were released from the album: "Come to My Aid", "Jericho", and "Open Up the Red Box".

Picture Book
Studio album by
Simply Red
Released11 October 1985
StudioSoundpush Studios, Blaricum, Netherlands
RAK Studios, London
Genre
Length44:21
LabelElektra
ProducerStewart Levine
Simply Red chronology
Picture Book
(1985) 		Men and Women
(1987)
Singles from Picture Book
  1. "Money's Too Tight (to Mention)"
    Released: 20 May 1985 (UK)[1]
  2. "Come to My Aid"
    Released: September 1985 (UK)[2]
  3. "Holding Back the Years"
    Released: November 1985 (UK)[3]
  4. "Jericho"
    Released: February 1986
  5. "Open Up the Red Box"
    Released: 1 August 1986[4]

The album helped Simply Red earn a 1987 Grammy nomination for Best New Artist. "Holding Back the Years" was also nominated for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals.

A special version of the album was released on the then new Compact Disc + Graphics, or CD+G format which when played on a suitable CD player, 4 bit raster graphic images, text and animations would also be displayed on a connected TV screen.

Critical reception edit

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [5]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music     [6]
Q     [7]
The Village VoiceB+[8]

In The Village Voice, Robert Christgau wrote that there were essentially "only two songs on this album", "Money’s Too Tight (to Mention)" and "Heaven", but that Hucknall and the band carry off the album "on mood and groove alone".[8]

Reviewing the 1996 re-release for Q, Nick Duerden described Picture Book as "the most accomplished debut of its year". He said of Hucknall, "With the most prodigious voice this side of Motown and a burning socialist heart, here he infuses everything with a passion that he's rarely matched since."[7]

William Ruhlmann, in a retrospective review in AllMusic, felt that Simply Red produced "a steady R&B groove reminiscent of '60s Stax house band the MG's" and that Hucknall was a "big-voiced soul singer".[5] In the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, Andy Robbins attributed the record's commercial success in both America and the UK to "Holding Back the Years", which he feels is Hucknall's best vocal performance. Robbins noted rock and jazz sounds, along with soul influences.[9]

Commercial performance edit

The album was commercially successful, appearing in the top 30 album charts of twelve countries, and achieving platinum certification sales in four countries, including the United States and United Kingdom.

Track listing edit

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Come to My Aid"Mick Hucknall, Fritz McIntyre4:03
2."Sad Old Red"Mick Hucknall4:33
3."Look at You Now"Mick Hucknall3:02
4."Heaven"David Byrne, Jerry Harrison4:32
5."Jericho"Mick Hucknall6:03
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Money's Too Tight (to Mention)"John Valentine, William Valentine4:13
2."Holding Back the Years"Mick Hucknall, Neil Moss4:30
3."(Open Up the) Red Box"Mick Hucknall3:56
4."No Direction"Mick Hucknall, Dave Fryman3:41
5."Picture Book"Mick Hucknall, Fritz McIntyre5:49

2008 Collector's Edition bonus tracks edit

Disc one, CD: remixes
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Money's Too Tight (to Mention)" (The Cutback Mix)John Valentine, William Valentine8:29
2."Come to My Aid" (Survival Mix)Mick Hucknall, Fritz McIntyre6:40
3."Holding Back the Years" (Extended Mix)Mick Hucknall, Neil Moss5:48
4."Jericho" (Extended Mix)Mick Hucknall6:47
5."Open Up the Red Box" (Extended Mix)Mick Hucknall6:24

Disc two, DVD: Live at Montreux Jazz Festival (8 July 1986)

  1. "Grandma's Hands" (Bill Withers)
  2. "Sad Old Red" (Hucknall)
  3. "Open Up the Red Box" (Hucknall)
  4. "The Right Thing" (Hucknall)
  5. "No Direction" (Hucknall, Fryman)
  6. "I Won’t Give Up" (Hucknall)
  7. "Holding Back the Years" (Hucknall, Neil Moss)
  8. "Picture Book" (Hucknall, Fritz McIntyre)
  9. "Love Fire" (Bunny Wailer)
  10. "Jericho" (Hucknall)
  11. "I Won't Feel Bad" (Hucknall, McIntyre, Tim Kellett, Chris Joyce, Tony Bowers, Sylvan Richardson)
  12. "Suffer" (Hucknall, Lamont Dozier)
  13. "Infidelity" (Hucknall, Dozier)
  14. "Money's Too Tight (to Mention)" (John Valentine, William Valentine)
  15. "Come to My Aid" (Hucknall, McIntyre)
  16. "Jericho" [Instrumental] (Hucknall)
  17. "Heaven" (Byrne, Harrison)
  18. "Move on Out" (Hucknall)
  19. "Look at You Now" (Hucknall)

Personnel edit

Simply Red

Guest Musicians

  • David Fryman – guitars (8), backing vocals (8)
  • Ronnie Ross – baritone saxophone (2, 4, 5)
  • Ian Dickson – tenor saxophone (2, 4, 5)
  • Francis Foster – congas (1, 3)

Production

  • Producer – Stewart Levine
  • Engineered and mixed by Femi Jiya
  • Assistant engineer – Chris Dickie
  • Mastered by Arun Chakraverty at Master Room (London, England)
  • CD mastering – Barry Diament
  • Sleeve design – Peter Barrett
  • Front cover photo – Simon Fowler
  • Back cover photo – Malcolm Heywood

Charts edit

Certifications and sales edit

Certifications and sales for Picture Book
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[26] 2× Platinum 140,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[27] Gold 25,000*
Belgium (BEA)[28] Gold 25,000*
France (SNEP)[29] Gold 100,000*
Germany (BVMI)[30] 3× Gold 750,000^
Italy (FIMI)[31] Gold 250,000[31]
Netherlands (NVPI)[32] Platinum 100,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[33] Platinum 15,000^
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[34] Gold 50,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[35] Platinum 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[36] 5× Platinum 1,500,000^
United States (RIAA)[37] Platinum 1,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References edit

  1. ^ "Simply Red singles".
  2. ^ "Simply Red official".
  3. ^ "Simply Red singles".
  4. ^ "Simply Red singles".
  5. ^ a b Ruhlmann, William. "Picture Book – Simply Red". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  6. ^ Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.
  7. ^ a b Duerden, Nick (April 1996). "Simply Red: Picture Book". Q: 132.
  8. ^ a b Christgau, Robert (2 September 1986). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  9. ^ Robbins, Andy (2011). "Simply Red: Picture Book". In Dimery, Robert (ed.). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Hachette UK. ISBN 9781844037148. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  10. ^ a b Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  11. ^ "austriancharts.at Simply Red – Picture Book" (ASP). Hung Medien (in German). Retrieved 31 October 2011.
  12. ^ Library and Archives Canada. 11 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2011-10-31
  13. ^ "dutchcharts.nl Simply Red – Picture Book" (ASP). Hung Medien. MegaCharts. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
  14. ^ "Classifiche". Musica e Dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 30 May 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Album". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Simply Red".
  15. ^ "charts.nz Simply Red – Picture Book" (ASP). Hung Medien. Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
  16. ^ "norwegiancharts.com Simply Red – Picture Book" (ASP). Hung Medien. VG-lista. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
  17. ^ "swedishcharts.com Simply Red – Picture Book" (ASP) (in Swedish). Retrieved 31 October 2011.
  18. ^ "Simply Red – Picture Book – hitparade.ch" (ASP). Hung Medien (in German). Swiss Music Charts. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
  19. ^ "The Official Charts Company – Simply Red – Picture Book" (PHP). Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
  20. ^ "allmusic ((( Picture Book > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums )))". AllMusic. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
  21. ^ "Album Search: Simply Red – Picture Book" (in German). Media Control. Retrieved 31 October 2011.[dead link]
  22. ^ "RPM Top 100 Albums of 1986". RPM. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
  23. ^ "Top Selling Albums of 1986 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  24. ^ . Archived from the original on 11 January 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
  25. ^ "Billboard.BIZ – Year-end Charts – Billboard 200 – 1986". Billboard. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
  26. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 253.
  27. ^ "Austrian album certifications – Simply Red – Picture Book" (in German). IFPI Austria.
  28. ^ "European Gold & Platinum Awards 1986" (PDF). Music & Media. 27 December 1986. p. 33. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  29. ^ "French album certifications – Simply Red – Picture Book" (in French). InfoDisc. Select SIMPLY RED and click OK. 
  30. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Simply Red; 'Picture Book')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  31. ^ a b "European Gold & Platinum Awards 1986" (PDF). Music & Media. 27 December 1986. p. 33. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  32. ^ "Dutch album certifications – Simply Red – Picture Book" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Enter Picture Book in the "Artiest of titel" box.
  33. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Simply Red – Picture Book". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  34. ^ Sólo Éxitos 1959–2002 Año A Año: Certificados 1979–1990 (in Spanish). Iberautor Promociones Culturales. ISBN 8480486392.
  35. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Simply Red; 'Picture Book')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
  36. ^ "British album certifications – Simply Red – Picture Book". British Phonographic Industry.
  37. ^ "American album certifications – Simply Red – Picture Book". Recording Industry Association of America.

External links edit

  • Simply Red official website album page
  • Picture Book (Adobe Flash) at Radio3Net (streamed copy where licensed)

October 31, 2023
picture, book, simply, album, picture, book, debut, album, british, soul, group, simply, released, october, 1985, contains, number, single, holding, back, years, cover, valentine, brothers, money, tight, mention, three, more, singles, were, released, from, alb. Picture Book is the debut album by British pop and soul group Simply Red released in October 1985 It contains the US number one single Holding Back the Years and a cover of The Valentine Brothers Money s Too Tight to Mention Three more singles were released from the album Come to My Aid Jericho and Open Up the Red Box Picture BookStudio album by Simply RedReleased11 October 1985StudioSoundpush Studios Blaricum Netherlands RAK Studios LondonGenrePop rocksoft rockblue eyed soulLength44 21LabelElektraProducerStewart LevineSimply Red chronologyPicture Book 1985 Men and Women 1987 Singles from Picture Book Money s Too Tight to Mention Released 20 May 1985 UK 1 Come to My Aid Released September 1985 UK 2 Holding Back the Years Released November 1985 UK 3 Jericho Released February 1986 Open Up the Red Box Released 1 August 1986 4 The album helped Simply Red earn a 1987 Grammy nomination for Best New Artist Holding Back the Years was also nominated for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals A special version of the album was released on the then new Compact Disc Graphics or CD G format which when played on a suitable CD player 4 bit raster graphic images text and animations would also be displayed on a connected TV screen Contents 1 Critical reception 2 Commercial performance 3 Track listing 3 1 2008 Collector s Edition bonus tracks 4 Personnel 5 Charts 5 1 Weekly charts 5 2 Year end charts 6 Certifications and sales 7 References 8 External linksCritical reception editProfessional ratingsReview scoresSourceRatingAllMusic nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 5 Encyclopedia of Popular Music nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 6 Q nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 7 The Village VoiceB 8 In The Village Voice Robert Christgau wrote that there were essentially only two songs on this album Money s Too Tight to Mention and Heaven but that Hucknall and the band carry off the album on mood and groove alone 8 Reviewing the 1996 re release for Q Nick Duerden described Picture Book as the most accomplished debut of its year He said of Hucknall With the most prodigious voice this side of Motown and a burning socialist heart here he infuses everything with a passion that he s rarely matched since 7 William Ruhlmann in a retrospective review in AllMusic felt that Simply Red produced a steady R amp B groove reminiscent of 60s Stax house band the MG s and that Hucknall was a big voiced soul singer 5 In the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die Andy Robbins attributed the record s commercial success in both America and the UK to Holding Back the Years which he feels is Hucknall s best vocal performance Robbins noted rock and jazz sounds along with soul influences 9 Commercial performance editThe album was commercially successful appearing in the top 30 album charts of twelve countries and achieving platinum certification sales in four countries including the United States and United Kingdom Track listing editSide oneNo TitleWriter s Length1 Come to My Aid Mick Hucknall Fritz McIntyre4 032 Sad Old Red Mick Hucknall4 333 Look at You Now Mick Hucknall3 024 Heaven David Byrne Jerry Harrison4 325 Jericho Mick Hucknall6 03 Side twoNo TitleWriter s Length1 Money s Too Tight to Mention John Valentine William Valentine4 132 Holding Back the Years Mick Hucknall Neil Moss4 303 Open Up the Red Box Mick Hucknall3 564 No Direction Mick Hucknall Dave Fryman3 415 Picture Book Mick Hucknall Fritz McIntyre5 49 2008 Collector s Edition bonus tracks edit Disc one CD remixesNo TitleWriter s Length1 Money s Too Tight to Mention The Cutback Mix John Valentine William Valentine8 292 Come to My Aid Survival Mix Mick Hucknall Fritz McIntyre6 403 Holding Back the Years Extended Mix Mick Hucknall Neil Moss5 484 Jericho Extended Mix Mick Hucknall6 475 Open Up the Red Box Extended Mix Mick Hucknall6 24 Disc two DVD Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 8 July 1986 Grandma s Hands Bill Withers Sad Old Red Hucknall Open Up the Red Box Hucknall The Right Thing Hucknall No Direction Hucknall Fryman I Won t Give Up Hucknall Holding Back the Years Hucknall Neil Moss Picture Book Hucknall Fritz McIntyre Love Fire Bunny Wailer Jericho Hucknall I Won t Feel Bad Hucknall McIntyre Tim Kellett Chris Joyce Tony Bowers Sylvan Richardson Suffer Hucknall Lamont Dozier Infidelity Hucknall Dozier Money s Too Tight to Mention John Valentine William Valentine Come to My Aid Hucknall McIntyre Jericho Instrumental Hucknall Heaven Byrne Harrison Move on Out Hucknall Look at You Now Hucknall Personnel editSimply Red Mick Hucknall lead and backing vocals acoustic piano Fritz McIntyre keyboards backing vocals Tim Kellett keyboards trumpet live backing vocals Sylvan Richardson guitars Tony Bowers bass Chris Joyce drums percussionGuest Musicians David Fryman guitars 8 backing vocals 8 Ronnie Ross baritone saxophone 2 4 5 Ian Dickson tenor saxophone 2 4 5 Francis Foster congas 1 3 Production Producer Stewart Levine Engineered and mixed by Femi Jiya Assistant engineer Chris Dickie Mastered by Arun Chakraverty at Master Room London England CD mastering Barry Diament Sleeve design Peter Barrett Front cover photo Simon Fowler Back cover photo Malcolm HeywoodCharts editWeekly charts edit Weekly chart performance for Picture Book Chart 1985 1986 PeakpositionAustralian Kent Music Report 10 6Austrian Albums Chart 11 10Canadian Albums Chart 12 7Dutch Mega Albums Chart 13 1Italian M amp D Albums Chart 14 8New Zealand Albums Chart 15 9Norwegian VG lista Albums Chart 16 26Swedish Albums Chart 17 26Swiss Albums Chart 18 12UK Albums Chart 19 2US Billboard 200 20 16West German Media Control Albums Chart 21 8 Year end charts edit Year end chart performance for Picture Book Chart 1986 PositionAustralian Albums Chart 10 16Canadian Albums Chart 22 29New Zealand Albums RMNZ 23 21UK Albums Chart 24 20US Billboard 200 25 49Certifications and sales editCertifications and sales for Picture Book Region Certification Certified units salesAustralia ARIA 26 2 Platinum 140 000 Austria IFPI Austria 27 Gold 25 000 Belgium BEA 28 Gold 25 000 France SNEP 29 Gold 100 000 Germany BVMI 30 3 Gold 750 000 Italy FIMI 31 Gold 250 000 31 Netherlands NVPI 32 Platinum 100 000 New Zealand RMNZ 33 Platinum 15 000 Spain PROMUSICAE 34 Gold 50 000 Switzerland IFPI Switzerland 35 Platinum 50 000 United Kingdom BPI 36 5 Platinum 1 500 000 United States RIAA 37 Platinum 1 000 000 Sales figures based on certification alone Shipments figures based on certification alone References edit Simply Red singles Simply Red official Simply Red singles Simply Red singles a b Ruhlmann William Picture Book Simply Red AllMusic Retrieved 25 June 2012 Larkin Colin 2011 The Encyclopedia of Popular Music 5th concise ed Omnibus Press ISBN 978 0 85712 595 8 a b Duerden Nick April 1996 Simply Red Picture Book Q 132 a b Christgau Robert 2 September 1986 Christgau s Consumer Guide The Village Voice Retrieved 25 June 2012 Robbins Andy 2011 Simply Red Picture Book In Dimery Robert ed 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die Hachette UK ISBN 9781844037148 Retrieved 25 June 2012 a b Kent David 1993 Australian Chart Book 1970 1992 St Ives NSW Australian Chart Book ISBN 0 646 11917 6 austriancharts at Simply Red Picture Book ASP Hung Medien in German Retrieved 31 October 2011 Library and Archives Canada Archived 11 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2011 10 31 dutchcharts nl Simply Red Picture Book ASP Hung Medien MegaCharts Retrieved 31 October 2011 Classifiche Musica e Dischi in Italian Retrieved 30 May 2022 Set Tipo on Album Then in the Artista field search Simply Red charts nz Simply Red Picture Book ASP Hung Medien Recording Industry Association of New Zealand Retrieved 31 October 2011 norwegiancharts com Simply Red Picture Book ASP Hung Medien VG lista Retrieved 31 October 2011 swedishcharts com Simply Red Picture Book ASP in Swedish Retrieved 31 October 2011 Simply Red Picture Book hitparade ch ASP Hung Medien in German Swiss Music Charts Retrieved 31 October 2011 The Official Charts Company Simply Red Picture Book PHP Official Charts Company Retrieved 31 October 2011 allmusic Picture Book gt Charts amp Awards gt Billboard Albums AllMusic Retrieved 31 October 2011 Album Search Simply Red Picture Book in German Media Control Retrieved 31 October 2011 dead link RPM Top 100 Albums of 1986 RPM Retrieved 3 October 2011 Top Selling Albums of 1986 The Official New Zealand Music Chart Recorded Music New Zealand Retrieved 5 February 2022 Complete UK Year End Album Charts Archived from the original on 11 January 2012 Retrieved 3 October 2011 Billboard BIZ Year end Charts Billboard 200 1986 Billboard Retrieved 24 October 2011 Ryan Gavin 2011 Australia s Music Charts 1988 2010 PDF ed Mt Martha Victoria Australia Moonlight Publishing p 253 Austrian album certifications Simply Red Picture Book in German IFPI Austria European Gold amp Platinum Awards 1986 PDF Music amp Media 27 December 1986 p 33 Retrieved 7 July 2019 French album certifications Simply Red Picture Book in French InfoDisc SelectSIMPLY REDand clickOK Gold Platin Datenbank Simply Red Picture Book in German Bundesverband Musikindustrie a b European Gold amp Platinum Awards 1986 PDF Music amp Media 27 December 1986 p 33 Retrieved 7 July 2019 Dutch album certifications Simply Red Picture Book in Dutch Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld en geluidsdragers EnterPicture Book in the Artiest of titel box New Zealand album certifications Simply Red Picture Book Recorded Music NZ Retrieved 10 June 2019 Solo Exitos 1959 2002 Ano A Ano Certificados 1979 1990 in Spanish Iberautor Promociones Culturales ISBN 8480486392 The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community Awards Simply Red Picture Book IFPI Switzerland Hung Medien British album certifications Simply Red Picture Book British Phonographic Industry American album certifications Simply Red Picture Book Recording Industry Association of America External links editSimply Red official website album page Picture Book Adobe Flash at Radio3Net streamed copy where licensed Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Picture Book Simply Red album amp oldid 1169792192, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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