Paul Carrack
Paul Carrack, 2003
Background information
Born	April 22, 1951
Origin	Sheffield, England
Years active	1960s - present
Associated acts	Warm Dust, Ace, Squeeze, Mike + The Mechanics
Website	carrack-uk.com

Paul Carrack (born April 22, 1951 in Sheffield, England) is an English keyboardist, singer and songwriter. Carrack has had multiple careers which have overlapped over the last three-plus decades. He has been a member of several bands including Ace, Squeeze, and Mike + The Mechanics, been a session and touring musician for several others, and has enjoyed success as a solo artist as well. His distinctive voice shows up on some of his affiliated bands' best-known hits.

Contents 1 Career Overview 1.1 The 1970s: Warm Dust to Ace to Roxy Music 1.2 The 1980s: Squeezing a solo career around other band commitments 1.3 The 1990s: Sessions, solo work, Squeeze (again) and Spin 1ne 2wo 1.4 Into the 21st century 2 Session Work 3 Discography 3.1 Solo Albums 3.2 Compilations 3.3 Solo Hit Singles 3.4 Ace Hit Singles 3.5 Squeeze Hit Singles (with Carrack on lead vocal) 3.6 Mike + The Mechanics Hit Singles (with Carrack on lead vocal) 3.7 Complete Singles Discography 4 External links

Career Overview

The 1970s: Warm Dust to Ace to Roxy Music

Carrack's recording career began with the progressive rock band Warm Dust, who released 3 albums of original material between 1970 and 1972. Carrack was the keyboard player for Warm Dust, and occasionally played other instruments as well, but he was not the band's lead vocalist.

After Warm Dust broke up, Carrack and Warm Dust bassist Tex Comer helped to found the pub rock band Ace. Carrack wrote and sang "How Long", Ace's debut single and a hit on both sides of the Atlantic in 1975. However, no further Ace recordings caught on.

In 1977 Ace disbanded and Carrack began working as a backing musician for Frankie Miller. This was followed by a turn as a member of Roxy Music, playing keyboards on their 1979 reunion album Manifesto. Carrack would also play on the next two Roxy Music albums, but as a session musician, not a band member.

The 1980s: Squeezing a solo career around other band commitments

Shortly after leaving Roxy Music full time, Carrack issued his first solo album, 1980's Nightbird. It was not a commercial success.

1n 1981, Glenn Tilbrook recruited Carrack to join Squeeze as a replacement for long-time keyboardist Jools Holland. This new Squeeze line-up achieved international success with the album East Side Story, on which Carrack sang their biggest US hit to that time, "Tempted." But by 1982, Carrack had left the band, and had been replaced in Squeeze by keyboardist Don Snow.

Beginning in late 1981, Carrack had joined up with Nick Lowe in a band that featured Lowe, Carrack, Martin Belmont on guitar, James Eller on bass and Bobby Irwin on drums. This band, referred to as Noise To Go, existed to back both Carrack on his solo recordings, and Lowe on his. (This was similar to the arrangement Lowe had with Dave Edmunds and Rockpile in the late 1970s.) "Noise To Go" also backed Lowe's wife Carlene Carter on her 1981 album Blue Nun.

After Carrack's 1982 solo album Suburban Voodoo, Eller left Noise To Go, and Nick Lowe took over bass duties within the group. The group was rechristened Nick Lowe and His Cowboy Outfit, and recorded two albums from 1983 to 1985, with Lowe handling all the lead vocals. They also played behind John Hiatt on side two of Hiatt's 1983 album Riding With The King.

During this era, Carrack also kept himself busy with session work for The Smiths and The Pretenders.

Nick Lowe and His Cowboy Outfit dissolved in 1985, but around the same time, Carrack was contacted by Mike Rutherford (of Genesis) and asked to join Rutherford's new side project, Mike + The Mechanics. Initially, Carrack was one of two alternating lead vocalists for the group. He sang lead on their 1985 hit "Silent Running (On Dangerous Ground)".

In 1986, Carrack was a member of Roger Waters' newly-formed backing band, "The Bleeding Hearts Band", recording tracks for the soundtrack of the film When The Wind Blows. The following year, Waters (still accompanied by Carrack and the Bleeding Hearts) released a solo album, Radio KAOS, and toured the US and Europe. Carrack often filled in as an unofficial support act on the tour, usually playing "Tempted" to warm up the crowd.

Leveraging the success of Mike + The Mechanics, Carrack was able to reestablish his solo career in 1987 with the hit album One Good Reason, and the accompanying hit single "Don't Shed A Tear". From this point forward, Carrack usually managed to maintain both a solo career and a career in Mike + The Mechanics, a band which recorded and toured irregularly due to Rutherford's commitments to Genesis.

In 1989, Mike + The Mechanics had a UK No.2 hit with the "The Living Years", on which Carrack again sang lead. Also in 1989, Carrack recorded a duet with Terri Nunn from the Los Angeles-based synth-pop band Berlin entitled "Romance". The song appeared on the soundtrack to the movie Sing, starring Peter Dobson and Lorraine Bracco.

The 1990s: Sessions, solo work, Squeeze (again) and Spin 1ne 2wo

In the 1990s, Carrack's solo career went into abeyance for a few years, although he maintained a career as a session musician for hire. He also continued working with Mike + The Mechanics, who continued to record through the 1990s. During this era, Carrack assumed keyboard duties within the band, and also began to co-compose some of the band's songs with Rutherford.

In 1990, Carrack was recruited to perform in the groundbreaking live stage show of The Wall in Berlin by Roger Waters. He performed "Hey You" to the crowd of 250,000.

In 1993, Carrack joined with bassist Tony Levin, drummer Steve Ferrone, guitarist Phil Palmer and keyboardist/producer Rupert Hine to form a band known as Spin 1ne 2wo. They released one album, a self-titled project, made up of classic rock covers including songs by Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Blind Faith, Steely Dan and Bob Dylan.

Also in 1993, Squeeze had Carrack return for their album Some Fantastic Place and a subsequent tour. With Carrack on vocals, the band re-recorded their hit "Tempted" for the soundtrack to the movie "Reality Bites" (1994). However, Carrack once again left Squeeze after about a year with the band.

Following his second stint with Squeeze, Carrack joined forces with Timothy B. Schmit and Don Felder of The Eagles for an ambitious but ultimately unrealized recording project. Schmit and Felder soon reunited with the rest of the Eagles and their Hell Freezes Over album, bringing with them one of the songs Carrack co-wrote, "Love Will Keep Us Alive." It was recorded by The Eagles, and won an award as being the most-played single in America in 1995.

Finally in 1996, Carrack resumed his solo career with the album Blue Views.

Into the 21st century

Carrack maintains his active solo career, as well as his career as a session musician. He also became Mike + The Mechanics only lead vocalist after the death of Paul Young in 2000. In 2004, the band was officially re-named Mike + The Mechanics & Paul Carrack.

Session Work

Carrack's distinctive voice and keyboard skills have kept him in demand as a session musician on many projects. Some of his credits include:

• Keyboards on The Smiths' eponymous debut album, The Smiths (1984)
• Piano on The Pretenders album Learning To Crawl (1983)
• Keys and vocals on Roger Waters' "Radio K.A.O.S." (1987) and subsequent tour
• Organ on Elton John's Made in England (1996) and The Big Picture (1997)
• Organ and vocals on B.B. King's Deuces Wild (1997)
• Touring with Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band (2003)

In 1997, Carrack played organ for Elton John on the single "Something About The Way You Look Tonight". Coupled with "Candle In The Wind '97", this became the best selling single of all time.

Discography

Throughout his career, Carrack has released solo albums during his breaks from band duties and session work. His biggest solo hit, "Don't Shed A Tear," came after he signed as a solo artist to Chrysalis Records in 1987 .

Solo Albums

• 1980 Nightbird
• 1982 Suburban Voodoo
• 1987 One Good Reason
• 1989 Groove Approved
• 1996 Blue Views
• 1997 Beautiful World
• 2000 Satisfy My Soul
• 2001 Groovin'
• 2003 It Ain't Over
• 2005 Winter Wonderland

Compilations

• 1987 Ace Mechanic
• 1988 The Carrack Collection
• 1994 Twenty-One Good Reasons: The Paul Carrack Collection
• 1995 Carrackter Reference
• 2006 Greatest Hits - The Story So Far

Solo Hit Singles

• "I Need You" (US #37, 1982)
• "When You Walk in the Room" (UK #48, 1987)
• "Don't Shed A Tear" (US #9/UK #60, 1987)
• "One Good Reason (US #28, 1988)
• "I Live By The Groove" (US #31, 1989)
• "Eyes of Blue" (UK #40, 1996)
• "How Long" (UK #32, 1996)
• "For Once In Our Lives" (US #72, 1997)

Ace Hit Singles

• "How Long" (US #3/UK #20 1975)

Squeeze Hit Singles (with Carrack on lead vocal)

• "Tempted" (US #49/UK #41, 1981)

Mike + The Mechanics Hit Singles (with Carrack on lead vocal)

• "Silent Running" (US #21/UK #6, 1985)
• "The Living Years" (US #1/UK #2, 1989)
• "Over My Shoulder" (UK #12, 1995)
• "Now That You've Gone" (UK #35, 1999)

Complete Singles Discography

Year	Artist	Title	Peak Chart Position			Notes
			UK Singles Chart	US Hot 100	US Mainstream Rock
1975	Ace	"How Long"	#20	#3	-	Band member (lead vocals, keyboards), composer.
1975	Ace	"Rock & Roll Runaway"	-	#71	-	Band member (lead vocals, keyboards).
1975	Ace	"I Ain't Gonna Stand For This No More"	-	-	-	Band member (lead vocals, keyboards), composer.
1976	Ace	"No Future In Your Eyes"	-	-	-	Band member (lead vocals, keyboards), co-composer (with Ace).
1977	Ace	"You're All That I Need"	-	-	-	Band member (lead vocals, keyboards), composer.
June 1978	Frankie Miller	"Stubborn Kind Of Fellow"	-	-	-	Session musician (keyboards).
October 1978	Frankie Miller	"Darlin'"	#6	#103	-	Session musician (keyboards).
January 1979	Frankie Miller	"When I'm Away From You"	#42	-	-	Session musician (keyboards).
February 1979	Roxy Music	"Trash"	#40	-	-	Band member (keyboards).
June 1979	Frankie Miller	"Good to See You"	-	-	-	Session musician (keyboards).
August 1979	Roxy Music	"Angel Eyes"	#4	-	-	Band member (keyboards).
July 1980	Roxy Music	"Oh Yeah (On The Radio)"	#5	#102	-	Session musician (strings).
1980	Paul Carrack	"Beauty's Only Skin Deep"	-	-	-	Performer. First solo single.
May 1981	Squeeze	"Is That Love"	#35	-	-	Band member (keyboards).
July 1981	Squeeze	"Tempted"	#41	#49	#8	Band member (keyboards, lead vocals).
September 1981	Squeeze	"Labelled With Love"	#4	-	-	Band member (keyboards).
October 1981	Squeeze	"Messed Around"	-	-	-	Band member (keyboards).
1981	Carlene Carter (duet with Paul Carrack)	"Do Me Lover"	-	-	-	Duet vocals, keyboards.
1982	Paul Carrack	"Lesson In Love"	-	-	#33	Performer, composer.
August 1982	Paul Carrack	"I Need You"	-	#37	#22	Performer, co-composer (with Martin Belmont and Nick Lowe).
1982	Paul Carrack	"A Little Unkind"	-	-	-	Performer, composer.
1982	Paul Carrack	"Always Better With You"	-	-	-	Performer, composer.
1983	Nick Lowe	"Ragin' Eyes"	-	-	-	Session musician (keyboards).
1983	John Hiatt	"Riding With The King"	-	-	-	Session musician (keyboards). Promo release only.
1984	Nick Lowe and His Cowboy Outfit	"Half A Boy And Half A Man"	#53	#110	-	Band member (keyboards).
1984	Nick Lowe and His Cowboy Outfit	"L.A.F.S."	-	-	-	Band member (keyboards).
1984	The Pretenders	"Thin Line Between Love And Hate"	#49	#83	-	Session musician (piano, backing vocals).
1985	Mike + The Mechanics	"Silent Running (On Dangerous Ground)"	#6	#21	#1	Band member (lead vocals).
November 1987	Paul Carrack	"Don't Shed A Tear"	#60	#9	#5	Performer.
March 1988	Paul Carrack	"One Good Reason"	-	#28	#20	Performer, co-composer (with Chris Difford).
March 1988	Paul Carrack	"When You Walk Into The Room"	#48	#90	-	Performer.
1988	Paul Carrack	"Button Off My Shirt"	-	#91	-	Performer.
1989	Mike + The Mechanics	"The Living Years"	#2	#1	#5	Band member (lead vocals).
1989	Paul Carrack & Terri Nunn	"Romance (Love Theme From Sing)"	-	-	-	Co-performer.
October 1989	Paul Carrack	"I Live By The Groove"	-	#31	-	Performer, co-composer (with Eddie Schwartz).
1990	Paul Carrack	"Loveless"	-	-	-	Performer, co-composer (with T-Bone Wolk).
1990	Paul Carrack	"Dedicated"	-	-	-	Performer, composer.
1990	Rock Against Repatriation	"Sailing"	-	-	-	Band member (vocals). An ad hoc all-star band, with proceeds from the single going to charity.
1990	Roger Waters	"The Tide Is Turning"	-	-	-	Chorus vocals. Live recording.
1990	Roger Waters & The Bleeding Heart Band	"Hey You"	-	-	#37	Lead vocals. Live recording.
1993	Spin 1ne 2wo	"Can't Find My Way Home"	-	-	-	Band member (lead vocals, keyboards).
1993	Spin 1ne 2wo	"All Along The Watchtower"	-	-	-	Band member (lead vocals, keyboards).
July 1993	Squeeze	"Third Rail"	#39	-	-	Band member (keyboards).
September 1993	Squeeze	"Some Fantastic Place"	#73	-	-	Band member (keyboards).
October 1993	Squeeze	"Loving You Tonight"	-	-	-	Band member (lead vocals, keyboards). Initial promo release credited to "The Pressure".
1993	Squeeze	"Everything In The World"	-	-	-	Band member (keyboards). US release only. Reached #9 on US Modern Rock chart.
1993	Squeeze	"It's Over"	#89	-	-	Band member (keyboards, backing vocals).
February 1995	Mike + The Mechanics	"Over My Shoulder"	#12	-	-	Band member (lead vocals, keyboards), co-composer (with Mike Rutherford).
June 1995	Mike + The Mechanics	"A Beggar On A Beach Of Gold"	#33	-	-	Band member (keyboards, backing vocals).
August 1995	Mike + The Mechanics	"Another Cup Of Coffee"	#51	-	-	Band member (lead vocals, keyboards).
January 1996	Paul Carrack	"Eyes of Blue"	#40	-	-	Performer, composer.
February 1996	Mike + The Mechanics	"All I Need Is A Miracle '96"	#27	-	-	Band member (keyboards, backing vocals). Re-recording of Mike + The Mechanics 1985 hit.
April 1996	Paul Carrack	"How Long"	#32	-	-	Performer, composer. A re-recording of his hit with Ace.
May 1996	Mike + The Mechanics	"Silent Running"	#61	-	-	Band member (lead vocals, keyboards). Re-issue of Mike + The Mechanics 1985 hit.
August 1996	Paul Carrack	"Eyes of Blue"	#45	-	-	Performer, composer. Re-issue of Eyes of Blue.
October 1997	Paul Carrack	"The Way I'm Feeling Tonight"	#92	-	-	Performer, co-composer (with Graham Gouldman).
1997	Paul Carrack	"For Once In Our Lives"	-	#72	-	Performer, composer. Hit #3 on Billboard's US Adult Contemporary chart.
October 1997	Elton John	"Something About The Way You Look Tonight"	#1	#1	-	Session musician (organ). Double a-side with "Candle In The Wind '97". The best selling single of all time.
1998	Paul Carrack	"Beautiful World"	-	-	-	Performer, composer.
November 1998	Eric Clapton	"Pilgrim"	#170	-	-	Session musician (organ).
June 1999	Mike + The Mechanics	"Now That You've Gone"	#35	-	-	Band member (lead vocals, keyboards), co-composer (with Mike Rutherford).
August 1999	Mike + The Mechanics	"Whenever I Stop"	#73	-	-	Band member (lead vocals, keyboards).
May 2000	Paul Carrack	"Satisfy My Soul"	#199	-	-	Performer, composer.
2000	Paul Carrack	"My Kind"	-	-	-	Performer, composer.
2001	Paul Carrack	"Groovin'"	#177	-	-	Performer.
2001	Paul Carrack	"Any Day Now"	-	-	-	Performer.
2001	Paul Carrack	"Sunny" / "Harvest For The World"	-	-	-	Performer.
May 2003	Paul Carrack	"She Lived Down The Street"	#90	-	-	Performer, co-composer (with Chris Difford).
August 2003	Paul Carrack	"Where Did I Go Wrong?"	#184	-	-	Performer, composer.
2003	Paul Carrack	"Happy To See You Again"	-	-	-	Performer, composer.
2004	Mike + The Mechanics & Paul Carrack	"One Left Standing"	-	-	-	Band member (lead vocals, keyboards), co-composer (with Mike Rutherford and Sharon Woolf).
2004	Mike + The Mechanics & Paul Carrack	"Perfect Child"	-	-	-	Band member (lead vocals, keyboards), co-composer (with Mike Rutherford and B.A. Robertson).
2004	Mike + The Mechanics & Paul Carrack	"If I Were You"	-	-	-	Band member (lead vocals, keyboards).

External links

• Official Website
• World Of Genesis - Paul Carrack Bio
• A House of Many Rooms - Mike + The Mechanics Fan Site

v • d • e Roxy Music
Bryan Ferry | Andy Mackay | Phil Manzanera | Paul Thompson
Brian Eno | Eddie Jobson | Graham Simpson | Paul Carrack | Andy Newmark
Discography
Studio albums: Roxy Music | For Your Pleasure | Stranded | Country Life | Siren | Manifesto | Flesh + Blood | Avalon
Live albums: Viva! | The High Road | Heart Still Beating | Concert Classics | Concerto
Compilations: Roxy Music Greatest Hits | The First Seven Albums | The Atlantic Years | Street Life 20 Great Hits | The Ultimate Collection | More Than This | The Thrill of It All | The Early Years | Slave To Love | The Best of Roxy Music
Related Articles
New Wave music | Glam rock | New Romantic | EMS VCS 3 | Chris Thomas

v • d • e Squeeze

Chris Difford • Glenn Tilbrook • John Bentley • Stephen Large • Simon Hanson Former members: Paul Gunn • Harry Kakoulli • Jools Holland • Gilson Lavis • Paul Carrack • Don Snow • Chris Holland • Keith Wilkinson • Andy Metcalfe • Matt Irving • Pete Thomas • Kevin Wilkinson • Nick Harper • Ashley Soan • Hilaire Penda • Chris Braide Management and Producers: Miles Copeland III • John Cale • John Wood • Roger Bechirian • Elvis Costello • Dave Edmunds • Nick Lowe • Phil McDonald • Laurie Latham• Eric "ET" Thorngren • Steve Forward • Tony Berg • Peter Smith Discography EPs: Packet of Three Studio Albums: U.K. Squeeze • Cool for Cats • Argybargy • East Side Story • Sweets from a Stranger • Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti • Babylon and On • Frank • Play • Some Fantastic Place • Ridiculous • Domino Singles Related articles New Wave music • Difford & Tilbrook • A&M Records • Reprise Records • Ark 21 Records • IRS Records • Quixotic Records