Stars (Simply Red album)

Stars
Studio album by Simply Red
Released 30 September 1991
Recorded 1990–91
Studio Condulmer Studio, Venice, Italy
Genre Pop, blue-eyed soul
Length 41:17
Label EastWest Records
Producer Stewart Levine
Simply Red chronology
A New Flame
(1989)		 Stars
(1991)		 The Montreux EP
(1992)
Singles from Stars
  1. "Something Got Me Started"
    Released: 9 September 1991
  2. "Stars"
    Released: 18 November 1991
  3. "For Your Babies"
    Released: 27 January 1992
  4. "Thrill Me"
    Released: 21 April 1992
  5. "Your Mirror"
    Released: 13 July 1992

Stars is the fourth album by British-based pop/soul/jazz band Simply Red, released in September 1991. Five singles were released from the album, including the UK top ten hits "Stars" and "For Your Babies". The album was a worldwide success, particularly in the band's home country where it has been certified twelve times platinum[1] and was the best-selling album of the year in the UK for both 1991 and 1992,[2][3] the first album to be the best-seller in two consecutive years since Simon & Garfunkel's Bridge over Troubled Water in 1970–71. As of July 2016 it is the 14th best-selling album of all time in the UK.[4]

Stars was the first Simply Red album to feature entirely original material and no cover versions, and it was also the last album to feature member Tim Kellett, who started his own band Olive after touring. It is the only Simply Red album to feature Fritz McIntyre singing lead vocals, on the tracks "Something Got Me Started" and "Wonderland".

It was on the shortlist of nominees for the 1992 Mercury Prize. In 2000 Q placed Stars at number 80 in its list of "The 100 Greatest British Albums Ever".[5]

Stars was re-issued in 2008 as a collectors edition 2CD with bonus DVD digipack. On 20 April 2008, a copy of the album was given away with the British newspaper The Mail on Sunday.[6]

Composition and recording

Recording for the album originally began in Paris in August 1990, but the initial sessions did not go well: the equipment in the studio did not live up to expectations, and with the Gulf War having just started and dominating television news reports, the band found the atmosphere in the bunker-like studios oppressive and not conducive to making music. The group moved to the more relaxed surroundings of Venice to resume recording in the Condulmer Studios.[7]

Hucknall had wanted the album to have a less electronic and more soulful sound, and had recruited programmer Gota after hearing his work with Soul II Soul. Hucknall did not realise that Gota was also a drummer until he heard him jamming on the drum kit one evening in Venice, after which Gota also became the band's full-time drummer. The songs had been written over the previous year: "Something Got Me Started" and "Stars" had been written on the road during the group's previous tour. "Thrill Me" was based on a riff that McIntyre had come up with, while Hucknall described "Wonderland" as "probably the most political song I've written", documenting his dissatisfaction with the British Conservative government of the time.[8]

Artwork

The album cover features a photograph of singer Hucknall in the Californian desert, wearing a Native American painted cloak that he had bought in Spain. Hucknall had insisted that in the shot he would be wearing the cloak and nothing else, displaying his bare legs. However, when photographer Zanna showed the photographs to EastWest Records, they were concerned that Hucknall's bare legs would offend sensibilities in the US, and Zanna had to digitally retouch the picture using a test photograph of her assistant's jeans-covered legs.[9]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[10]
NME4/10[11]
Q[12]

The album received mixed reviews in the UK. The alternative music magazines were cool towards the record: in the NME Andrew Collins dismissed Stars as "an exercise in no-style over no-content... this is the sound of some technicians desperately fanning some smouldering ashes for people with central heating",[11] while in Melody Maker Caroline Sullivan simply stated that "within his strictly-defined oeuvre – sleek, airbrushed music best described as soulette – [Hucknall]'s miles ahead of the competition... Nor, on an objective level, can Stars be faulted... This is a pleasant album, the sleeve is pretty, and now, at least, you've got a Christmas present for Gran."[13]

However, reviews from newspaper critics and other magazines were more positive. In The Guardian Adam Sweeting wrote that "the new songs sound relaxed, refreshed and satisfyingly cohesive... Easy to listen to but not easy listening, Stars keeps shining",[14] while The Independent's Andy Gill was similarly impressed, observing that "Hucknall's socialist soul-boy's conviction and his determination to write songs with stings in their tales place Simply Red several notches above the rest of the smooth soul genre... And in simple evocations of love like 'Thrill Me' or 'For Your Babies', the spark of honesty sets them above the superficial, insincere protestations of love that dominate modern soul music".[15] In Q Ian Cranna hailed "a long overdue change in musical direction, with Hucknall for the most part abandoning his undoubtedly sincere but inevitably fruitless attempts to re-create himself as a soul singer. Instead he's eased Simply Red down a couple of gears into a more relaxed and flowing style which owes as much towards current hip hop-inspired club rhythms as it does to old-style soul or funk", and ended his review by describing Stars as "Simply Red's most accessible and danceable work to date".[12]

Track listing

Original release

All songs written and composed by Mick Hucknall, except where noted.

  1. "Something Got Me Started" (Hucknall/Fritz McIntyre) – 4:01
  2. "Stars" – 4:08
  3. "Thrill Me" (Hucknall/McIntyre) – 5:04
  4. "Your Mirror" – 3:59
  5. "She's Got It Bad" – 3:33
  6. "For Your Babies" – 4:17
  7. "Model" – 3:46
  8. "How Could I Fall" – 4:45
  9. "Freedom" – 3:52
  10. "Wonderland" – 3:49

2008 Collectors Edition bonus tracks

Disc one (extra tracks)
Robert Johnson Sessions
  1. "Come On in My Kitchen" (Robert Johnson) – 1:32
  2. "Ramblin' on My Mind" (Johnson) – 2:11
  3. "Me and the Devil Blues" (Johnson) – 2:03
  4. "When You've Got A Good Friend" (Johnson) – 2:00
Live At Hamburg (23 February 1992)
  1. "Sad Old Red" (Hucknall) – 5:58
  2. "More" (Hucknall) – 4:14
  3. "Something Got Me Started" (Hucknall/McIntyre) – 4:12
  4. "Thrill Me" (Hucknall/McIntyre) – 5:09
  5. "Your Mirror" (Hucknall) – 3:57
  6. "She's Got It Bad" (Hucknall) – 3:45
Disc two - Remixes
  1. "Stars" [PM-ized Mix] – 4:10
  2. "For Your Babies" [Edition Francais] – 4:06
  3. "Something Got Me Started" [Esmoove's Late Night Mix] 8:00
  4. "Thrill Me" [Steppin' Razor Mix] – 6:37
  5. "Freedom" [Perfecto Mix] – 6:24
  6. "Stars" [Comprende Mix] – 6:38
  7. "Something Got Me Started" [Hurley's 7" Mix] – 3:56
  8. "Thrill Me" [Connoisseurs Mix] – 5:56
  9. "Freedom" [How Long Mix] – 4:09
  10. "Something Got Me Started" [Perfecto Mix] – 5:10
  11. "Thrill Me" [Nellee Hooper's Dub Mix] – 4:28
  12. "Thrill Me" [Stewart Levine's Club Mix] (iTunes Only Track) – 6:56
Disc three (DVD)
Live At Montreux Jazz Festival (8 July 1992)
  1. "Love for Sale" (Cole Porter)
  2. "Drowning in My Own Tears" (Henry Glover)
  3. "Every Time We Say Goodbye" (Porter)
  4. "Sad Old Red" (Hucknall)
  5. "Grandma's Hands" (Bill Withers)
  6. "Enough" (Hucknall/Joe Sample)
  7. "If You Don't Know Me by Now" (Kenny Gamble/Leon Huff)
  8. "How Could I Fall" (Hucknall)
  9. "Lady Godiva's Room" (Hucknall)
  10. "A New Flame" (Hucknall)
  11. "Your Mirror" (Hucknall)
  12. "She's Got It Bad" (Hucknall)
  13. "Model" (Hucknall)
  14. "It's Only Love" (Jimmy Cameron/Vella Cameron)
  15. "Joy and Pain" (Frankie Beverly)
  16. "Come To My Aid" (Hucknall/McIntyre)
  17. "Infidelity" (Hucknall/Lamont Dozier)
  18. "The Right Thing" (Hucknall)
  19. "Holding Back the Years" (Hucknall/Neil Moss)
  20. "Stars" (Hucknall)
  21. "Open Up the Red Box" (Hucknall)
  22. "Thrill Me" (Hucknall/McIntyre)
  23. "Money's Too Tight (To Mention)" (John Valentine/William Valentine)
  24. "For Your Babies" (Hucknall)
  25. "Something Got Me Started" (Hucknall/McIntyre)
Promotional videos
  1. "Something Got Me Started"
  2. "Stars"
  3. "For Your Babies"
  4. "Thrill Me"
  5. "Your Mirror"

Personnel

Credits adapted from original album liner notes.

Simply Red
Additional personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1991/92) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[16] 7
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[17] 1
Canadian Albums (RPM)[18] 36
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[19] 3
French Albums (SNEP)[20] 6
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[21] 2
Italian Albums (FIMI)[22] 2
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[23] 2
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[24] 11
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[25] 7
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[26] 2
UK Albums (OCC)[27] 1
US Billboard 200[28] 76

Year-end charts

Chart (1991) Position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[29] 37
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[30] 68
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[31] 54
Italian Albums (FIMI)[32] 7
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[33] 42
UK Albums (OCC)[2] 1
Chart (1992) Position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[34] 20
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[35] 4
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[36] 6
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[37] 10
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[38] 9
UK Albums (OCC)[3] 1

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
Austria (IFPI Austria)[39] 2× Platinum 100,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[40] Gold 50,000^
Germany (BVMI)[41] 5× Gold 1,250,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[42] 2× Platinum 100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[1] 12× Platinum 3,410,000[43]
United States (RIAA)[44] Gold 500,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "British album certifications – Simply Red – Stars". British Phonographic Industry. Enter Stars in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Platinum in the field By Award. Click Search
  2. 1 2 "Top 100 Albums". Music Week. London, England: Spotlight Publications: 21. 11 January 1992.
  3. 1 2 "Top Albums". Music Week. London, England: Spotlight Publications: 10. 16 January 1993.
  4. ↑ Copsey, Rob (4 July 2016). "The UK's 60 official biggest selling albums of all time revealed". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  5. ↑ "The 100 Greatest British Albums Ever!". Q. London, England: EMAP (165): 59–95. June 2000.
  6. ↑ "Simply Red - Stars (CD Album listing)". discogs.com. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  7. ↑ Southall, Brian; Hucknall, Mick (2010). Simply Red: The Official Story. Carlton Books. p. 73. ISBN 978-1-84732-599-0.
  8. ↑ Southall, Hucknall (2010). pp. 72–73.
  9. ↑ Southall, Hucknall (2010). p. 80.
  10. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Simply Red: Stars > Review at AllMusic
  11. 1 2 Collins, Andrew (12 October 1991). "Review: Simply Red – Stars". NME. p. 34.
  12. 1 2 Cranna, Ian (November 1991). "Review: Simply Red – Stars". Q. No. 62. p. 131.
  13. ↑ Sullivan, Caroline (12 October 1991). "Review: Simply Red – Stars". Melody Maker. p. 38.
  14. ↑ Sweeting, Adam (10 October 1991). "Review: Simply Red – Stars". The Guardian. London, England. p. 32.
  15. ↑ Gill, Andy (3 October 1991). "Review: Simply Red – Stars". The Independent. London, England. p. 22.
  16. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Simply Red – Stars". Hung Medien.
  17. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Simply Red – Stars" (in German). Hung Medien.
  18. ↑ "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 54, No. 24". RPM. 16 November 1991. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  19. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Simply Red – Stars" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
  20. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Simply Red – Stars". Hung Medien.
  21. ↑ "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH.
  22. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Simply Red – Stars". Hung Medien.
  23. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Simply Red – Stars". Hung Medien.
  24. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Simply Red – Stars". Hung Medien.
  25. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Simply Red – Stars". Hung Medien.
  26. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Simply Red – Stars". Hung Medien.
  27. ↑ "Simply Red | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart
  28. ↑ "Simply Red – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Simply Red.
  29. ↑ "Jahreshitparade 1991". Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  30. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1991". Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  31. ↑ "Top 100 Album – Jahrescharts 1991". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  32. ↑ "Gli album più venduti del 1991". Hit Parade Italia. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  33. ↑ "Top Selling Albums of 1991". Record Music NZ. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  34. ↑ "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 50 Albums 1992". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  35. ↑ "Jahreshitparade 1992". Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  36. ↑ "Top 100 Album – Jahrescharts 1992". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  37. ↑ "Top Selling Albums of 1992". Record Music NZ. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  38. ↑ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1992 – Alben". Swiss Music Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  39. ↑ "Austrian album certifications – Simply Red – Stars" (in German). IFPI Austria. Enter Simply Red in the field Interpret. Enter Stars in the field Titel. Select album in the field Format. Click Suchen
  40. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Simply Red – Stars". Music Canada.
  41. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Simply Red; 'Stars')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  42. ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Simply Red; 'Stars')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
  43. ↑ Myers, Justin (24 October 2015). "Official Charts Quiz: Who sold more?". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  44. ↑ "American album certifications – Simply Red – Stars". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
Preceded by
Waking Up the Neighbours by Bryan Adams
Chorus by Erasure
Greatest Hits II by Queen
High on the Happy Side by Wet Wet Wet
Wish by The Cure		 UK number one album
12 October 1991 – 25 October 1991
2 November 1991 – 8 November 1991
4 January 1992 – 7 February 1992
22 February 1992 – 13 March 1992
9 May 1992 – 22 May 1992 		Succeeded by
Chorus by Erasure
Greatest Hits II by Queen
High on the Happy Side by Wet Wet Wet
Divine Madness by Madness
1992 - The Love Album by Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine
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