"Blue" is the sixth studio album by the British band Simply Red, released by East West Records on May 19, 1998, in the United Kingdom. Initially conceived as a cover album, it features production from lead singer Mick Hucknall, along with Andy Wright, Gota Yashiki, Stevie J, and Joe "Jake" Carter. Notably, Hucknall, Wright, and Yashiki are the sole musicians featured in the album's photography, a departure from previous albums.
The album comprises five cover versions, including renditions of "Mellow My Mind" by Neil Young, two versions of "The Air That I Breathe" by Albert Hammond and Mike Hazlewood, "Night Nurse" by Gregory Isaacs, and "Ghetto Girl" by Dennis Brown. Additionally, "Come Get Me Angel" is a reworked version of the 1996 single "Angel" (originally by Aretha Franklin), and "Broken Man" was first released as a B-side in 1987. "The Air That I Breathe Reprise" samples "Jack and Diane" by John Mellencamp. Furthermore, the Japanese edition of the album includes "So Jungiful," a jungle remix of "So Beautiful" from the band's previous album, "Life."
With its diverse selection of covers and reworked versions of previous tracks, "Blue" showcases Simply Red's ability to infuse their distinctive style into a variety of musical influences. The album's eclectic mix of soulful melodies and contemporary production solidifies its place as a standout release in the band's discography.
