It's Only Love

Personnel: Andy Wright (keyboards, programming); James Wiltshire, Gota Yashiki, Merv Pearson, Steve Hilton, Ned Douglas (programming).
Audio Mixers: Daren Klein; Femi Jiya; Gota Yashiki; Femi J.; Yvonne Ellis; Mick Hucknall.
Audio Remixer: Mousse T .
Liner Note Author: Allen Jackson .
Recording information: Air Studios, Monteserrat; Air Studios, Montserrat; Pepparmint Park Studios; Peppermint Park Studios; Whitefield Street Studios, London, England; Whitfield Street Studios, London, England.
Photographer: Zanna.
Simply Red's European release It's Only Love is something of a greatest-hits album, featuring singles that were left off the band's first hits collection, including "Remembering the First Time," "Never Never Love," and a lovely version of "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye," and collecting later singles such as "Say You Love Me," "The Air That I Breathe," "Ain't That a Lot of Love," and "Your Eyes." The set does not exactly complement the other album because it repeats several tracks, including "Holding Back the Years," "If You Don't Know Me by Now," "Angel," and "Stars." Fans of Simply Red will not be disappointed and it serves to highlight the group as one of the most sophisticated, soulful, and diverse of the world's musical outfits, but this collection is somewhat of a redundancy for those who own all the band's albums, as it does not offer new recordings. Featuring songs ranging from reggae to pop to soul to dance, It's Only Love is an extremely satisfying listening experience. ~ Jose F. Promis