Home

Released in 2003, Home marked a significant turning point for Simply Red as their first release on Mick Hucknall's independent label, simplyred.com. This independence allowed for a focused creative direction that leaned heavily into the band's soul and R&B roots. The album is notable for its high-profile covers, including a faithful yet modernized rendition of The Stylistics' 'You Make Me Feel Brand New' and a surprising soul-inflected take on Bob Dylan's 'Positively 4th Street'. The lead single 'Sunrise' became a massive global hit, famously sampling Hall & Oates to create a contemporary soul anthem. Critically, the album was seen as a successful consolidation of the band's strengths - impeccable production, soulful vocals, and a sophisticated pop sensibility - after the more experimental 'Love and the Russian Winter'. It remains one of their most commercially successful later-period works, proving the enduring appeal of their polished 'blue-eyed soul' brand.