Review: Paul Carrack at the Orchard Theatre, Dartford, Saturday, January 12

by Keith Hunt

While Paul Carrack has not been known for outlandish antics during his quietly distinguished career, he had a big announcement – albeit tongue-in-cheek – to make for his Good Feeling tour, named after his latest opus.

“We have taken a real liberty on this album by recording a Bruce Springsteen song,” he proudly declared.

Carrack didn’t get into a sleeveless shirt and flex his muscles for a spot of blue collar rock, but proceeded to perform his own inimitable version of If I Should Fall Behind.

Before the capacity audience had time to draw breath after such an unexpected gem, the multi-talented singer and musician segued seamlessly into the mellow Eyes of Blue and conscience-pricking The Living Years.

With impeccable timing, the mood was lifted with The Drifters’ jaunty 1962 hit When My Little Girl Is Smiling. The superbly crafted Better Than Nothing is always a tour de force.

The former Ace, Squeeze and Mike & the Mechanics wizard always includes the popular songs audiences want to hear, but doesn’t necessarily perform them in the same way.

I have seen the supremely soulful singer four times and heard a different version of Eyes of Blue each time. None of them has disappointed.

Wearing one of his trademark hats and thumbs in the air, Carrack kicked off the show in predictable fashion with Good Feelin About It from the latest album.

As usual the backing band of two drummers – one Carrack’s son Jack – sizzling sax, guitars and keyboards demonstrated a rich depth of talent.

There was a slight, but justified, fit of pique about the lack of radio play for his Ray Charles tribute I Can Hear Ray on the grounds it wasn’t strong enough. Shame on Radio 2!

Support act Tinlin – brothers Rolf and Alex – joined the band for their song Make It Right, which features on the album, and then again for the five-star finale.

As is traditional Ace’s How Long and Mike & the Mechanics’ Looking Back Over My Shoulder were on-your-feet chorus singalongs before the show was over all too soon.

Carrack is also fond of finishing on a high with Marvin Gaye’s 1971 anti-war epic What’s Going On, the only song on which he doesn’t play any instruments but roams the stage with just a mic in his gifted hands.

A Carrack-ing evening.

Paul Carrack appears at the Assembly Hall, Tunbridge Wells, on Sunday January 20.