Sleeve: The cover images are simple, and red on white. It does what it says on the tin. Simples.

Sleevenotes: An impressive 36-page book includes an informative essay, credit information and archive photographs.

Content: The four CD featuring 61 tracks include songs from the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s respectively and a bonus disc of earlier favourite album tracks recorded by the Band of 2005.

High point: For those who already own the classic hit albums, the bonus disc of reworks of Come To My Aid, Picture Book and Infidelity will be a cherished disc.

Low point: None really. Fortunately those wretched 1980s 12” mixes have not been added to this handsome retrospective.

Any glaring omissions? No, this album has been curated with love.

Anything new? Twelve rarely heard recordings from the Class of 2005.

Cheerful or tearful excuse for release? Mick Hucknall’s earlier recordings were quite political and scathing, but it didn’t take long or much success to turn Simply Red’s front man into an international jet setting playboy rockstar. Simply Red perhaps personified Thatcher’s Britain, and like them or not, supplied much of the soundtrack to Margaret’s Generation.