Paul Carrack
Theatre Royal, Norwich
Review published in the Eastern Daily Press, 15 February 2010
Paul Carrack
How Long Has This Been Going On? So sang one of those greats of the last 40 years, a performer in the same league as Van Morrison, Phil Collins and Jools Holland, as a packed house rocked along.
From rock-jazz fusion in the early 70s, to hit groups Ace and Roxy Music, through Squeeze in the 80s and with Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters, to Mike Rutherford in Mike and the Mechanics, Carrack progressed to a solo career where his total eclectic background was given full rein.
Wearing trademark dark glasses and backed by a 6-piece band and female singer who were impeccable, Carrack showed his versatility in singing and playing guitars and keyboards in numbers ranging from Loving You Tonight, Who Am I?, I Don’t Want to Hear Any More, Love in the Nick of Time and Eyes of Blue.
And he gave us hits he had written for others, such as Love Will Keep Us Alive, and for himself: If I Didn’t Love You, Just For Tonight, Silent Running, Another Cup of Coffee, Over My Shoulder, Everybody Gets a Second Chance.
Carrack sings of love. Highlight was the classic, lump-in-the-throat regret-lament of what a man wished he’d said to his father when he was alive: The Living Years.
When he returns, don’t wish you’d seen him: go and enjoy.
