Picture Book

Picture Book is the debut studio album by the British pop and soul band Simply Red, originally released on 11th October 1985. Produced by Stewart Levine, the album was recorded at Soundpush Studios in the Netherlands and RAK Studios in London. Its musical style blends pop rock, soft rock, and blue-eyed soul across a running time of 44 minutes and 21 seconds.

The album features notable tracks including the US number-one single “Holding Back the Years” and a cover of The Valentine Brothers’ “Money’s Too Tight (to Mention)”. Other singles released from the album were “Come to My Aid”, “Jericho”, and “(Open Up the) Red Box”.

Picture Book garnered critical acclaim, with Nick Duerden from Q describing it as “the most accomplished debut of its year”. It also earned the band a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist in 1987, while “Holding Back the Years” received a nomination for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals.

Commercially, Picture Book was a success, reaching the top 30 album charts in twelve countries and achieving platinum certification in the United States and United Kingdom.

In addition to its standard release, Picture Book was also issued on the CD+G format, which integrated graphics and animations for playback on compatible CD players and televisions.

The album’s enduring popularity is underscored by its inclusion in various retrospective reviews and publications like the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, highlighting its influence and commercial impact.

Picture Book remains a significant milestone in Simply Red’s discography, marking their emergence onto the international music scene with a distinctive blend of soulful melodies and pop sensibilities.