Pop stalwart as good as ever

Paul Carrack - Ipswich Regent - Saturday 29th November

IT'S been eight years since Paul Carrack last played in Ipswich but on Saturday night he was back and sounding as good as ever.

The Regent was treated to an evening of polished musicianship and crystal clear vocals that was pure class. Paul Carrack has a lovely voice and his soulful, mellow vocals really suited the first set. These were all ballads and included Satisfy My Soul, Am I In That Dream, and Don't Dream It's Over, made popular by Crowded House.

After the interval his seven piece band picked up the pace starting with the classic How Long that Paul recorded with one of his first bands, Ace.

They then played a couple of tracks from the new CD, I Know That Name, that included It Ain't Easy To Love Somebody.

This track featured some punchy horns and had a real feel good groove.

Then came the part that most of the audience had been waiting for; a series of tracks from the Mike and the Mechanics days.

Another Cup Of Coffee was followed by Silent Running and The Living Years and we also later heard Looking Back Over My Shoulder.

No Paul Carrack concert would be complete without a nod towards his time with Squeeze and his performance of Tempted was probably the best moment of the night for me.

It's easy to see why Paul has been in demand to work with top stars for so many years. He has written for the Eagles, performed sessions for The Smiths, toured with Roger Walters and Nick Lowe, and even played organ on Elton John's Something About The Way You Look Tonight which as a double A side has gone on to be the biggest selling UK hit single ever.

No surprise then that the evening had been so professional. Not a note out of place, the sound was perfectly mixed so you could hear every instrument and voice, and the songs chosen to give the most enjoyment.

The concert was finished off with the Marvin Gaye classic, What's Going On which again showed the soulful quality in Paul's Voice.

Mark Westall