10 Essential Paul Carrack Songs

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Our Top 10 Paul Carrack Songs list looks at ten famous songs that utilized the soulful golden vocal talents of the great Paul Carrack. While we could have easily just created a Paul Carrack songs list that just featured songs from his solo albums, Paul Carrack has sang lead vocals on so many classic songs, we felt we needed to present simply the best recording we felt he has ever made, or al least showcase the man’s incredible versatility as a vocalist. This list will include not just songs from his solo album, but also some of the classic material he recorded with the bands Squeeze, Mike & The Mechanics and Ace.

What many people do not realize is that in addition to his legendary vocal chops, the man also is a very talented keyboardist. Paul Carrack has played keyboards on many classic songs while also adding background vocals to those brilliant records. For example, Paul Carrack played organ on Elton John’s reworking of “Candle In The Wind,” which became the biggest selling single of all time. His work as the keyboardist in so many bands should never be underestimated. Paul Carrack has released seventeen solo albums besides his work with those classic bands mentioned above so there will be many songs we have missed on this list. In the end, we hope that this article pays tribute to the great Paul Carrack and serves as a starting point for music fans to check out the rest of Paul Carrack’s great body of work.

# 10 – I Need You

We open up our top 10 Paul Carrack songs list with this great song entitled “I Need You.” The song was released on the album Suburban Voodoo. The record was released in 1982. The song “I Need You,” was written by Paul Carrack, Nick Lowe and Martin Belmont. The album was also produced by the cool Nick Lowe. This is just one of those fantastic soulful grooving songs that just fits so perfectly around the voice of Paul Carrack. It’s probably going to be hard to not write the same thing about every song included on this list as Paul Carrack’s music defines the term GROOVE.

# 9 – Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City

Paul Carrack’s record company makes the point on the album cover that this is pure blue-eyed soul music. Well, we already knew that. Paul Carrack, along with Michael McDonald, probably represented the best of the so-called blue-eyed soul singers of all time. Listen to him tear this classic song up. This one was released in 2008.

# 8 – Love Will Keep Us Alive

The beauty of this one is simply breathtaking. The song “Love Will Keep Us Alive” was composed by Jim Capaldi, Paul Carrack, and Peter Vale. Paul Carrack has recorded the song multiple times and released it on his albums Blue Views, released in 1996, and his greatest hits album, issued in 2006. He also released a version with the Royal Philharmonic on the album A Different Hat, released in 2011. The Eagles recorded a version of the song for their comeback album, Hell Freezes Over, released in 1994.

# 7 – When You Walk in the Room

Paul Carrack takes a classic 1960s song and makes it his own. Carrack’s “When You Walk in the Room” version was released on his standout album One Good Reason. The album was released in 1987. “When You Walk in the Room” was a song written and originally recorded by Jackie DeShannon in 1963.

# 6 – If I Should Fall Behind

If Paul Carrack’s vocal performance on this song doesn’t give you chills, you better check your pulse. Just when you thought Bruce Springsteen’s incredible song “If I Should Fall Behind” couldn’t get any better, Paul Carrack comes along and records this stunning version. The ultimate tribute to faithful love.

# 5 – Living Years

The second half of our Top 10 Paul Carrack songs list features some very popular recordings released by the various bands Paul Carrack was a member of. One of those bands was the Mike Rutherford Genesis spinoff Mike & The Mechanics. While the band featured multiple lead singers including Paul Young, one of their best-released songs was the one entitled “Living Years,” in which Paul Carrack sang lead vocals. For anyone who has ever lost their father, this was a song that touched the heart.

# 4 – Don’t Shed A Tear

We could not compose a top 10 Paul Carrack songs list without including his much loved single “Don’t Shed A Tear.” The song was released on his classic 1987 album One Good Reason. The song stands as the biggest hit of Paul Carrack’s solo career. It was the highest charting song he ever released under his name. It broke the US Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 peaking at number nine. The song was written by Rob Friedman and Eddie Schwartz.

# 3 – Satisfy My Soul

Our favorite song to be released on any Paul Carrack solo album was this incredibly passionate and soulful track entitled “Satisfy My Soul.” This one served as a master class in singing a soul pop ballad. The song was released in 2000 on the album also titled Satisfy My Soul. The song was written by Paull Carrack and his ex Squeeze bandmate Chris Difford.

# 2 – How Long

We all knew this song before we knew who Paul Carrack was. The legendary single from the band Ace was released in 1975. “How Long,” was a huge hit in the U.S.A. “How Long,” broke the Billboard Hot 100’s top 10 peaking at number three in 1975. The song was written by Paul Carrack. Besides featuring the legendary vocal performance by Paul Carrack on the track, the song also featured Paul Carrack’s great Fender Rhodes electric piano playing that surrounded his captivating vocal.

# 1 – Tempted

Landing in the number one spot on our top 10 Paul Carrack songs list is this classic Squeeze track entitled “Tempted.” The song was released on the band’s best album entitled East Side Story. The song “Tempted,” was written by Squeeze founding members and band leaders Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford. It was a smart decision by the band to have Paul Carrack sing the lead vocal on the track. The song would become the bands best recording they ever released. This is just a remarkable song and we knew when we began this top 10 Paul Carrack songs list that this would be the winner.

Feature Photo at top pf page – Photo: Paul_Carrack_2.jpg: User:Elwedritschderivative work: FotoPhest, CC BY-SA 3.0 <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/>, via Wikimedia Commons

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