Paul Carrack
Paul Carrack sang lead vocals on How Long by Ace, Tempted by Squeeze and The Living Years by Mike & The Mechanics. He’s written songs that have been covered by The Eagles, and Diana Ross and has played keyboards for The Smiths, The Pretenders, and Roxy Music. Next month there will be an extra special Pay Per View live stream of Paul and his band performing at the Victoria Hall in Leeds.
Harry Pye: When you were in Squeeze you recorded a great cover version of Looking For A Love that never fails to cheer me up when I'm feeling low. There's something lovely about the combination of your voice and Glenn Tilbrook's. Can you tell me anything about that particular recording session or any happy memories you have from collaborating with Squeeze?
Paul Carrak: Wow I’d forgotten all about that! Where did you come across it? I’d love to hear it. I was always a big Bobby Womack fan and was over the moon when he covered HOW LONG, my first ever cover of a song I’d written. I’ve got a feeling, though it was a long time ago and I could well be wrong, that it was recorded at Nick Lowe’s AMPRO studio in Hammersmith which was basically the front room of a terraced house converted to a studio. How we managed to get the whole band in there I’m not sure. It was a very exciting time to be involved with Squeeze and a great learning experience, as are most collaborations.
What music moves you most? What singles would you pick as your desert island discs?
Funnily enough I’ve recently rediscovered British classical composers such as George Butterworth who arranged may old English folk songs into orchestral pieces. It’s strangely evocative of a different time but also very sad because his life was snuffed out on the battlefield of the First World War. What a waste of a beautiful soul. Probably not a very fashionable view in the current climate but you did ask. A lot of modern pop leaves me a bit cold. If I want to get really maudlin a bottle of red wine and Donny Hathaway’s version of ‘Song for You’ has been known to reduce me to tears and that’s not something that happens very often. I think Sly and the family Stone’s ‘Dance to the Music’ might be helpful on a desert Island to keep the spirits up and Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers. As you may detect I haven’t exactly got my finger on the pulse of contemporary pop.
You just released a stunning version of a song by Nick Lowe called, What's Shakin on the Hill. You played keyboards on Nick's original version 3 decades ago. What has been Mr Lowe's response? Was it a song that you always thought you'd record your own version of one day?
Haven’t spoke to Nick lately but I hope he will approve. It would mean a lot. I did actually record a version about 15 years ago on an album called ‘Old New Borrowed and Blue’ but I think this version is better. It was actually recorded with an orchestra for a German TV show and is LIVE in the studio. We are releasing the whole session as an album called ‘Another Side of Paul Carrack’. It’s quite an unusual repertoire including things like Danny Boy, and Ray Charles’ Stix and Stones’.
I've heard that you're planning some kind of pay for view You Tube concert in October. Are you currently rehearsing and working out a set list - what can we expect?
That’s right. We will be streaming a full production show from the architecturally iconic Victoria Hall Leeds. No audience unfortunately. We just felt we needed to do something. Our 2020 tour was abruptly curtailed in March. Our last show was at the London Palladium. We’d 30 sold out theatre shows in the UK and we had another 6 to go which we rescheduled for August but eventually cancelled until next year. As were shows in Holland, Germany, Belgium USA etc
The set list will be the same as it was before lockdown. We felt it might be great for our fans around the world to see what we would have looked like if they had been able to come. I’ve resisted most offers to do streaming stuff from my kitchen etc. This is a bit of a punt as we have no idea how many people will buy into the idea of a Pay per View live stream but we’re confident it will be a classy item done well.”
I love the way you play the Hammond organ. Who inspired you to play it and who do you consider to be the best Hammond organ players around now?
I’m totally self taught and just learned what I could from listening to records by Booker T , Jimmy Smith, Billy Preston and many others. It was very hard. I wish there had been You Tube back then. There’s so much information out there. Mind you there are so many incredible players, particularly in the US Gospel scene that it would have scared me to death. I can’t even dream of being as good as these guys I’ve never even heard of.
Can you tell me about touring with Ringo and playing in his band? Was he fun to be around and full of witty quips?
Well it was pretty incredible. I was a massive fan as a kid and my first instrument was drums) and I saw the Beatles on more than one occasion at Sheffield City Hall. There were a few priceless anecdotes about the Beatles early days which made you realise they were just like any the other band of the time with proper roots. I’m not sure I ever got to grips with being on stage with a Beatle. It was a bit surreal.
What do you think of the lock down? Do you feel things will go back to normal in a year or two and that you'll be able to tour the world once more?
Who knows? We can only wait and see. Things were going far too well for me and I was loving the fulfilment of years of grinding away on the road, so I knew something was bound to upset the apple cart. I’ve had a good, long journey so I can’t complain whatever happens but I worry for my band including my son Jack. That’s another reason for trying to develop a quality streaming situation.
The Living Years was number one in the U.S, Canada, Australia etc (I hope this isn't a silly question but) did you have an inkling it was going to be a huge? Was there blubbing in the studio when you recorded it?
I think we felt it would be a big record (it was number 2 for 2 weeks running in the UK.) I personally felt pleased with the performance and in a way it felt quite cathartic as I had lost my father as an 11 year old and that was a very profound event in my life.
What are the best things about Sheffield? How often do you return there these days?
My band! They are all Sheffield boys with their feet on the ground and a fantastic ethic of professionalism and fun. I married a London girl in my twenties and settled in the south so I don’t get there too often. Mostly to use my season ticket to Sheffield Wednesday FC More out of duty than pleasure.
What's the most recent song you've written and recorded? If you're not on the road do you tend to be playing at home every day?
I have a great little studio at home and have been working hard on a new album (working title One on ONE) which I hope to release in the new year.
Do you have any musical ambitions that are still unfulfilled?
Only to keep trying to produce better and better things.
Do you have any favourite quotes or lines from songs or films?
From the League of Gentlemen and the band Crème Brulee: ‘It’s a Shit Business’ 😊
Pre order the new LP Another Side of Paul Carrack (which features the single, What’s Shaking On The Hill) from this link: https://smarturl.it/AnotherSide
The live stream will go out October 15 on YouTube
World wide @ 8:30pm in 5 different time zones
Tickets from
