Simply Red arrived with a bang in the mid-'80s and their debut album Picture Book went on to sell oodles and spawned (just like the devil himself some would say) a handful of successful singles including Money's Too Tight to Mention, Come to My Aid, and the huge hit ballad Holding Back the Years. Simply Red became a band you either loved or hated - there was very little middle ground.

Simple Red was (and still is) fronted by chief songwriter, Mick Hucknall, fresh from pseudo-punk band The Frantic Elevators. The change of style to jazz/pop/soul was an instant success, and blessed with a distinctive voice that is both strong and wide-ranging, Hucknall and the band have never looked back. Without the usual looks of a pop star, Hucknall has proved that you don't need to grace the covers of fashion magazines to be fashionable.

Follow up albums Men and Women and A New Flame gave rise to further hits such as Infidelity, The Right Thing, It's Only Love and the very successful cover of If You Don't Know Me By Now. However, it was 1991's Stars album that really cemented Simply Red in the big league, going on to be the biggest selling album in the UK in 1992. Follow-up albums have been less successful (still able to reach Number One however), though the last studio album, Love and the Russian Winter in 1999, failed to sell in the same quantities. The Greatest Hits collection in 1996 was also a very big seller, not surprisingly.

The only constant through the band's entire history is Hucknall, followed closely by saxophonist Ian Kirkham, who has been with the band since the second album. No reasons have specifically been given for the constant line-up changes, but rumour has it that Hucknall is no slouch in asking people if they'd like to take a break from the band. It has always been abundantly clear who is in charge of Simply Red.

As alluded to, people either love or hate Simply Red, and the band often come in for unfair criticism for being too clinical and too perfect, especially live, where Hucknall is extremely demanding and apparently does not tolerate mistakes.

It is interesting to watch all 26 videos in chronological order. As the years pass, so Hucknall's waistline grows - slightly. Hairstyles come and go, dress sense varies, and his sense of playfulness in the videos gives way to serious musicianship. Hucknall announced early on that he wanted to be regarded as the best singer of all time. Also of note is the changing musical style especially from 1991’s Stars album. Japanese drum technician, Gota, was brought in to do some drum programming, and ended up joining the band. His musical influence is notable.

Despite umpteen line-ups, the roller coaster rides of success, the supposed aloofness of Hucknall, his reluctance to do interviews, and the reputed long list of beautiful women he has dated, Mick Hucknall and Simply Red (alright - they are the same thing), are still a going concern, and the new album scheduled for release next year will prove interesting. For now, this DVD release of 26 videos is a great addition to any fan's collection, and a nice way to spend time waiting for the next chapter.

Track listing:

There are various aspect ratios on display across the 26 clips, but most are 1.33:1. There are a few that range from 1.66:1 to 1.85:1, but none are 16x9 enhanced.

The most striking thing about watching these videos, apart from watching the band grow and evolve, is taking note of how each video appears to have had more money spent on it then the previous one. Understandably, no record company then or now is going to spend big bucks on a band's debut videos until they are guaranteed income. Most of the videos are fairly straightforward, and only Money's Too Tight to Mention has that truly '80s look about it with a little story-like intro of the band playing themselves arriving at a local pub for a gig. This video, like the first half a dozen, displays some obvious grain, fading colours, and poor shadow detail. It's not all bad news though...

Colours improve dramatically, and the second half almost comes alive in comparison to the first half where things are a little washed out and soft in appearance. All videos are virtually free from film artefacts such as dirt and marks. There is some almost obligatory aliasing, but nothing that will detract from viewing.

Subtitles are included, which is a bonus for those that have often wondered just what it is that is being sung, and the layer change is placed between songs and all but unnoticeable.

The only audio option is a Linear PCM 48/16 track that sounds clear and crisp. The older tracks sound significantly cleaner and crisper that their standard CD counterparts, and there are no problems with audio synchronisation.

Those more familiar with album versions of these tracks may notice that some were remixed when released as singles, so for completists this collection provides added incentive. Of course, this is nothing to do with the transfer.

The only annoyance is some slight background hiss on some of the earlier tracks that becomes more noticeable as you increase the volume, even though in general most of the videos sound better at increased volume. Also, three videos are live performances, though crowd noise is kept to an acceptable minimum.

As with most video clip compilations, there are no extras included. There are several Simply Red video clips available on VHS compilations that are not included here, so as generous as this is, it is not definitive.

Simply Red have released a string of fine albums since 1985, and some great singles and videos to accompany them. The songs are always impeccably performed, and are a mix of originals and the occasional well chosen cover. The band line-up seems ever fluid, with main man Mick Hucknall the thread that ties the whole thing together. Fans will love having all these videos in one collection, and those that find Simply Red boring and annoying will chalk it up as a waste of plastic. Like many, I am in Simply Red's corner and recommend this collection as a must have, as well as the live DVD, Simply Red - Live in London.