SIMPLY RED - HUCKNALL TAKES SINATRA'S LEAD

SIMPLY RED singer MICK HUCKNALL was inspired by legendary crooner FRANK SINATRA to re-record his old songs with his newly-matured voice for new album SIMPLIFIED.

The A NEW FLAME hitmaker insists the tracks on the new disc, released last month (OCT05), benefit from their new treatment.

And Hucknall claims the differences between the two versions of the Simply Red classics are akin to the differences between Sinatra's output on Capitol records, between 1953 and 1962, and his later years with Reprise records.

Hucknall says, "There are parellels between when you hear the sound and tone of Sinatra's voice on Capitol compared to the tone of what he had on Reprise.

"I've got much more depth in my voice and I've got more bass, even in my speaking voice. And it just sits well with an orchestra.

"Now I've got that maturity, it's almost a duty to record those songs in this way, to show that growth."