Simply Red - Blue Eyed Soul

Simply Red return with a new studio album Blue Eyed Soul. It's the 12th album from the Mick Hucknall and friends and it's led by the single "Thinking Of You."

All 10 songs were written by Hucknall and the album was recorded at Mark Knopfler's British Grove studios in London with Andy Wright producing. Blue Eyed Soul is the group's first new album in four years.

"I wanted to push my voice a little harder, challenge it a little bit, give myself something to really sing to," says Hucknall.

The album is said to have been inspired by classic funk and soul artists such as Isaac Hayes, Curtis Mayfield, James Brown, Bobby ‘Blue' Bland and Tower of Power.

"At this stage of my career, I could do one of those dark reflective albums looking back on my life and all that kind of stuff that people tend to do at a certain age," Hucknall adds. "But I thought sod that! I wanted to make something punchy. I want to have a good time."