14:00-16:00 Mon-Fri

Our usual afternoon song selection is spiced with music from Paul Carrack.

Broadcast history

The Songwriters, Sunday 16 October 2011, 18:00

David Randall talks to Paul about his career

The Songwriters, Sunday 26 December 2008, 18:00

The Songwriters, Sunday 18 January 2009, 18:00

The Songwriters, Sunday 24 October 2010, 18:00

Paul Carrack first achieved chart success in 1974 with the band Ace and the song 'How Long'. Since that time, he has appeared in countless sessions - as diverse as Squeeze, Roxy Music and The Smiths - and for two decades fronted Mike & the Mechanics with the late Paul Young (until 2000), and Genesis guitarist Mike Rutherford.

Paul has had a parallel solo career starting in the seventies with Nightbird (1980). This culminated in 1987 with the hit album 'One Good Reason' and the US hit single 'Don't Shed A Tear'.

Paul collaborated with Timothy B. Schmidt and Don Felder of The Eagles and his co-write, "Love Will Keep Us Alive." appeared on the band's 'Hell Freezes Over" album in 1995. This acquaintance was rekindled when Paul contributed 'I Don't Want To Hear Any More' to 2007's 'The Long Road Out Of Eden' album.

A consummate professional, the title of Paul Carrack's 2008 album 'I Know That Name' hints at his apparent anonymity and his many album credits, but 'I Know That Voice' may be a more accurate aphorism for most. The template for Paul's soulful vocal delivery was set over thirty years ago, with Ace's 'How Long', a potent mix of American AOR and Northern Soul which some compared to the funk rock of early Steely Dan.

A selection of Paul's favourite tracks

BEATLES Please Please Me
WILSON PICKETT Midnight Hour
TEMPTATIONS Ain't Too Proud To Beg
SQUEEZE Another Nail In My Heart
SMOKEY ROBINSON Tracks Of My Tears
CURTIS MAYFIELD Move On Up
SLY & THE FAMILY STONE Dance To The Music
JR.WALKER & THE ALL STARS How Sweet It Is
FOUR TOPS Baby I Need Your Loving
EAGLES Take It Easy
CROWDED HOUSE Don't Dream It's Over
THE POLICE Roxanne
ERIC CLAPTON Tears In Heaven
CROSBY, STILLS NASH & YOUNG Love The One You're With
ROBERTA FLACK & DONNY HATHAWAY Back Together Again
SHALAR Night To Remember
MARVIN GAYE I Heard It Through The Grapevine
RAY CHARLES What I'd Say
VAN MORRISON Come Running To Me
BILLY PRESTON Billy's Bag

UK Tour Date 2012

Feb 3 Sage Gateshead
Feb 10 Norwich Theatre Royal
Feb 13 Aberdeen Music Hall
Feb 15 Queens Hall Edinburgh
Feb 17 Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
Feb 24 Anvil Basingstoke
Feb 28 Tunbridge Wells Assembly Hall
Feb 29 Corn Exchange Kings Lynn

Album review (2008)

Paul Carrack website