"Simone" is a soft-rock ballad with soul influences, with English lyrics, written by David Foster and Boz Scaggs. Boz Scaggs recorded it in April 1980 as track 3 of Middle Man, his ninth studio album, released by Columbia Records that month. The track runs 5:05 and was produced by Bill Schnee. Members of Toto played on the album: Jeff Porcaro on drums, Steve Lukather and Ray Parker Jr. on guitar, and David Hungate on bass, with backing vocals by Venetta Fields, Paulette Brown and Bill Thedford. Reviewing the album for DownBeat, Alan Morrison called the song a "pop masterpiece" and praised David Foster's lyrics. Middle Man reached No. 8 on the Billboard 200. Later versions include a 1995 dance version and a 2021 jazz trio recording. The title should not be confused with "Simone", the jazz tune by Frank Foster, which Rahsaan Roland Kirk recorded in 1976.
