Editing Simply Red (section)

===1985–1988: Formation and early success===
After the demise of The Frantic Elevators, Hucknall linked up with manager Elliot Rashman. By early 1985, Hucknall and Rashman had assembled a band of local session musicians and begun to attract record-company attention. The group went under a number of names: World Service, Red And the Dancing Dead, and Red (after Hucknall's nickname, denoting his hair colour) but Hucknall decided the latter name would sound better with the addition of the word 'Simply'.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.simplyred.com/faq/|title=Simply Red &#124; Mick Hucknall FAQ|website=Simplyred.com|access-date=27 September 2019}}</ref> The band's name is also linked to Hucknall's allegiance to being a supporter of [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]], as the club's home shirt colour is [[red]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/louisebruton/20-fun-facts-about-simply-red-and-mick-hucknall-f5b5 |title=20 Fun Facts About Simply Red And Mick Hucknall |website=Buzzfeed.com |date=20 March 2015 |access-date=19 February 2017}}</ref>

The initial Simply Red line-up consisted of Mick Hucknall (vocals), David Fryman (guitar), [[Tony Bowers]] (bass), [[Fritz McIntyre]] (keyboards and vocals), [[Tim Kellett]] (brass and live backing vocals) and [[Chris Joyce]] (drums).<ref name="Larkin" /> Bowers and Joyce had both previously been members of [[post-punk]] bands [[The Durutti Column]] and [[The Mothmen]]; Kellett had also been a member of The Durutti Column, though not at the same time as Bowers and Joyce.

Simply Red signed a contract with [[Elektra Records|Elektra]] in 1985,<ref name="Larkin" /> but after recording one track ("Red Box"), Fryman left the group and was replaced by guitarist [[Sylvan Richardson]], billed as 'Sylvan'.

"Red Box" would eventually see release in 1985 as a B-side to the group's first single, "[[Money's Too Tight (to Mention)]]", a cover of a soul song originally recorded by [[The Valentine Brothers]]. "Money's Too Tight (to Mention)" gained international success, reaching the UK and [[Republic of Ireland|Irish]] Top 20,<ref name="Larkin" /> then later the American, French and [[Netherlands|Dutch]] Top 30, and the Italian Top 5. It was included on their debut album, ''[[Picture Book (Simply Red album)|Picture Book]]'', also released in 1985.<ref name="Larkin" />

Several low-charting singles would follow for the band. Among the comparative flops was a re-recording of the Frantic Elevators' "[[Holding Back the Years]]", done up in a new soul-ballad style arrangement.<ref name="Larkin" /> Released as Simply Red's third single in 1985, the track initially placed outside the UK Top 50. However, upon being re-released in 1986, "Holding Back the Years" became a major hit, peaking at #1 in Ireland, #2 in the UK, #3 in the Netherlands, #20 in Italy and later #1 in the United States.

Simply Red's second album, 1987's ''[[Men and Women (album)|Men and Women]]'',<ref name="Larkin" /> saw the band adopting bowler hats and colourful suits instead of their earlier ragamuffin look. As well, the introspection and social commentary of their debut album was replaced by a [[blue-eyed soul]] sound with funk influences. Veteran [[Motown]] songwriter [[Lamont Dozier]] co-authored two tracks with Hucknall for the album—these tracks were credited to 'Hucknall/Dozier/Hucknall' in the original album credits, in homage to the famous Motown writing team of [[Holland–Dozier–Holland]].<ref name="Larkin" />

The album's lead single "[[The Right Thing (song)|The Right Thing]]" was another international hit,<ref name="Larkin" /> charting in the top 40 throughout Europe and North America.  Several follow-up singles also met with modest success in the UK and elsewhere.