What does Blue Eyed Soul sound like?

A smooth blend of soulful melodies and polished pop production, reflecting a mature yet vibrant sound. Rooted in jazz fusion and pop rock. Start with "Thinking of You".

Is Blue Eyed Soul a good place to start with Simply Red?

Yes, Blue Eyed Soul is recommended as a starting point for new Simply Red listeners. A smooth blend of soulful melodies and polished pop production, reflecting a mature yet vibrant sound. Released on November 8, 2019, Blue Eyed Soul marks Simply Red's twelfth studio album and their return after a five-year hiatus since 2015's Big Love. At this point in their career, the band continued to explore their signature blue-eyed soul sound while also incorporating contemporary influences, showcasing lead singer Mick Hucknall's enduring vocal prowess.

Who is Blue Eyed Soul for?

Blue Eyed Soul works well if you're into smooth mid-tempo groove, nostalgic warmth throughout and easy listening for gatherings.

How many songs are on Blue Eyed Soul?

Blue Eyed Soul has 15 tracks, running approximately 55 minutes.

Released 7 years ago this November

Blue Eyed Soul

Simply Red · 2019

55 min · 15 tracks · jazz fusion

A smooth blend of soulful melodies and polished pop production, reflecting a mature yet vibrant sound.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Thinking of You Start here — This track encapsulates the album's essence with its heartfelt lyrics and lush instrumentation, showcasing Hucknall's emotive vocal delivery.
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Sweet Child — A standout love ballad that combines catchy melodies with rich harmonies, reflecting the band's ability to craft timeless romantic songs.
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Ring That Bell — This song features an infectious groove and celebrates life and love, emphasizing the album's upbeat and uplifting energy.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

45 /100

Lowland

Higher than 5% of albums we've rated

The album features polished production and strong melodies but lacks cohesion due to remix tracks disrupting its flow.

What we noticed

The first eight tracks maintain a consistent mid-tempo groove, while the final seven tracks include remixes and alternate versions that disrupt the flow.
Melodies are often layered with smooth harmonies, creating a lush soundscape that emphasizes the polished production.
Several tracks feature prominent brass arrangements, which add a classic soul feel to the overall jazz fusion style.

Composition 25% of the score: 6/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 5/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 6/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 4/10

Influence 2/10

Little footprint beyond its audience. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

smooth mid-tempo groove
nostalgic warmth throughout
easy listening for gatherings
headphone detail hunting
remixes for varied experiences

Maybe skip if you

seeking high-energy tracks
prefer longer, experimental pieces

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Late Career Highlight — Shows continued vitality and relevance after a five-year hiatus.
Themes: British soul revival· nostalgic love songs· polished pop sophistication
Career context: Released on November 8, 2019, Blue Eyed Soul marks Simply Red's twelfth studio album and their return after a five-year hiatus since 2015's Big Love. At this point in their career, the band continued to explore their signature blue-eyed soul sound while also incorporating contemporary influences, showcasing lead singer Mick Hucknall's enduring vocal prowess.
Stylistic neighbors: Sade· Seal· Jamiroquai