Simply Red - Holding Back The Years (Elektra)

Without doubt the best thing to hit the charts this year, Simply Red release a third single from the Picture Book album and I think it's the best. Admittedly a voice like Mick Hucknall's can do little wrong but this searing ballad even outpoints "Money's Too Tight" in the soul stakes. My Only Fear is that a band with this much talent will become disillusioned with their lot and go the way of Level 42. (Mark Booker, No 1, November 9, 1985)

This has an uncanny resemblance to one of those two-chord ‘songs’ you had to endure between the hits on a Barry White album or on the B-Side of an Ace single. It starts and then finishes, with nothing of consequence between. (Mike Gardner, Record Mirror, November 9, 1985)

The two most admirable things about Simply Red are (1) Mick Hucknall's two-fingered attitude and (2) the white soul passion they inject. This plaintive, atmospheric little lament is quite touching but, alas, you can't whistle an attitude nor hum a passion whilst going about your business, so if they wish to move on up, Simply Red will have to learn to write some real tunes that stand up on their own. (Ian Cranna, Smash Hits, May 7, 1986)