I see that Simply Red has (have?) a new album out in a few months……hmm that’s odd because I seem to recall that Mick Hucknel ended the band a few years ago. Surely it couldn’t be a case of the band name being far bigger than that of the vocalist?!?
What an old sceptic I am!
As long as he’s using any monies to fund more Blood & Fire reissues, it’s ok with me.
I wish he would. There hasn’t been anything for ages.
As you probably know, Blood and Fire ceased trading in 2007, and the greatest reissue label in any genre, ever, was no more.
In 2014 there were rumours that the label would be revived as some form of collaboration with VP Records, but sadly the venture came to nothing.
For reggae lovers, the B&F catalogue is simply a feast – a feast laden with the absolute choicest cuts of vintage Jamaican music.
If I had to keep just a dozen Blood and Fire albums, they would be these mighty twelve:
King Tubby and Friends – Dub Gone Crazy
Keith Hudson – Pick a Dub
Yabby U – King Tubby’s Prophesy of Dub
Horace Andy – In The Light / In The Light Dub
The Congos – Heart Of The Congos
King Tubby & Soul Syndicate – Freedom Sounds In Dub
Glen Brown & King Tubby – Termination Dub 1973-1979
Yabby You – Jesus Dread 1972-1977
Junior Byles and Friends – 129 Beat Street: Ja-Man Special 1975-1978
Johnny Clarke – Dreader Dread 1976-1978
The Chantells & Friends – Children Of Jah 1977-1979 (a real overlooked gem, this one)
Dennis Brown – The Promised Land 1977-1979
To be fair the last few Simply Red albums were Mick and a bunch of session men. The last original band member left after the Life album in 1996.
The brand name sells the albums in many cases !
But there were street parties, bunting and a national holiday when he said they were done.
Damn you Hucknall, you schoolgirl phoning dirty old fucker. (it’s a long story and no, shant)
Incidentally, how do you pronounce Hucknall? Are you ‘huck-null’ or ‘huck-nawl’?
I must know.
Mick Hucknall? It’s pronounced ‘T O S S E R’. Hope this helps.