| Remembering the First Time | |
| Cover: | File:RememberingTheFirstTime.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Simply Red |
| Album: | Life |
| Genre: | Pop |
| Length: | 4:44 |
| Label: | EastWest |
| Producer: | Mick Hucknall[1] |
| Prev Title: | Fairground |
| Prev Year: | 1995 |
| Next Title: | Never Never Love |
| Next Year: | 1996 |
"Remembering the First Time" is a song by British soul and pop band Simply Red. Written by frontman Mick Hucknall, it was featured on their fifth album, Life (1995), and released by EastWest in December 1995 in a new remix for the single. It reached number 22 on the UK Singles Chart and number three on the UK Club Chart. The song also peaked at number seven in Iceland, number 19 in Spain, and number 23 in the Netherlands. On the Eurochart Hot 100, it reached number 80. The music video for the song was directed by Irish filmmaker Michael Geoghegan.[2]
AllMusic editor William Ruhlmann complimented the song as "promising".[3] Swedish Expressen said it "is like browsing a tribute book about modern soul music; - Chic guitar, Dr. Dre synth, house piano and a breath-taking wind instrument arrangement that is sent down from the sky with Federal Express."[4] Caroline Sullivan from The Guardian noted the song's "oscillating keyboard note".[5] Kevin Courtney from Irish Times declared it as a "pseudo funky pop choon".[6] A reviewer of Music Week gave it top score with five out of five, stating that it "is bound to follow in the footsteps of its successor, with the same up-beat melody and a refrain to stir heartstrings nationwide."[7]
Calvin Bush from Muzik complimented Mick Hucknall for picking the right remixer for the track, writing, "Here, Dave Valentine's Self Preservation Society bin Mick's vocals, put their heads down and happily march to acid house land aimed with lancing beats and smokescreen strings".[8] Dele Fadele from NME wrote, "'Remembering the First Time' is down to earth and direct, when it could have been more metaphorical."[9] In an 2014 retrospective review, Pop Rescue described it as "upbeat", with some piano and bassline "carrying Mick's vocals along."[10] Brad Beatnik from the Record Mirror Dance Update gave it four out of five, saying that "it might not be as immediate" as "Fairground", but "is still a convincing combination of club class and commercial hooks."[11]
A1. "Remembering the First Time" (Satoshi Tomiie Classic 12-inch mix) (8:50)
A2. "Remembering the First Time" (7-inch Cool Disco Mix) (4:34)
B1. "Remembering the First Time" (A&G Division's Full Testament) (12:06)
| Chart (1995–1996) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[12] | 80 | |
| Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[13] | 7 | |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[14] | 3 | |
| Spain (AFYVE)[15] | 19 | |
| UK Club Chart (Music Week)[16] | 3 |
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 4 December 1995 | EastWest | [17] | ||
| Japan | 21 December 1995 | CD | EastWest Japan | [18] |