Paul Carrack: A Retrospective (1974-2024)

Paul Carrack A Retrospective: 1974-2024

Overview: Rock singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Paul Melvyn Carrack was born on April 22, 1951 in Sheffield, England. Record Collector said, “If vocal talent equaled financial success, Paul Carrack would be a bigger name than legends such as Phil Collins or Elton John.” WK In the mid-‘70s, Carrack fronted Ace, singing lead on their 1974 hit How Long (#3). Then he served as the keyboardist for Roxy Music in the late ‘70s before launching a solo career which was occasionally interrupted by stints with Squeeze (Tempted, 1981) and Mike + the Mechanics (Silent Running, 1985; The Living Years, 1988). He found solo success with I Need You, Don’t Shed a Tear, and I Live by the Groove. Resume Ace (1974-1977) Roxy Music (keyboards: 1979) solo (1980-) with Carlene Carter (1981) Squeeze (keyboardist/vocalist: 1981, 1993) Spin 1ne 2wo (1993) Mike + the Mechanics (singer/keyboardist: 1985-2004) Links DMDB encyclopedia entry for Paul Carrack Top 30 Songs PaulCarrack.net (official site) Facebook Wikipedia

Awards

Studio Albums Ace Five-A-Side (1974) Ace Time for Another (1976) Ace No Strings (1977) Nightbird (1980) Carlene Carter Blue Nun (1981) Squeeze East Side Story (1981) Suburban Voodoo (1982) Mike + the Mechanics Mike + the Mechanics (1985) One Good Reason (1987) Mike + the Mechanics The Living Years (1988) Groove Approved (1989) Mike + the Mechanics Word of Mouth (1991) Spin 1ne 2wo Spin 1ne 2wo (1993) Squeeze Some Fantastic Place (1993) Mike + the Mechanics Beggar on a Beach of Gold (1995) Blue Views (1996) Beautiful World (1997) Mike + the Mechanics M6 (1999) Satisfy My Soul (2000) Groovin’ (2001) It Ain’t Over (2003) Mike + the Mechanics Rewired (2004) Winter Wonderland (2005) Old, New, Borrowed, and Blue (2007) I Know That Name (20008) A Different Hat (2010) Good Feeling (2012) Rain or Shine (2013) Soul Shadows (2016) These Days (2018) One on One (2021) Don’t Wait Too Long (2023) Compilations CC The Carrack Collection (covers 1974-85, released 1988) 21 21 Good Reasons (covers 1974-90, released 1994) SF Greatest Hits: The Story So Far (covers 1974-2005, released 2006) CT Collected (box set, covers 1974-2012, released 2012) B The Best of (covers 1974-2014, released 2014) HL How Long Has This Been Going On? (covers 1974-2024, released 2024) Under each album snapshot, songs featured on the anthologies are noted. If the song charted, the date of the song’s release or first chart appearance and its chart peaks are noted in parentheses. Click for codes to charts.

Ace Five-A-Side (1974): Ace’s first album gave them a top-5 hit with How Long and started Paul Carrack on the road to fame. How Long (11/9/74, 3 US, 1 CL, 20 UK, 63 AU, 2 DF) CC, 21, SF, CT, B, HL Rock and Roll Runaway (7/26/75, 71 BB, 63 CB, 40 CL, 35 DF) The Real Feeling 21 Ace Time for Another (1976): Ace’s second album didn’t find the success of their debut. The failure of single, No Future in Your Eyes, to even chart after the success of “How Long” was a definite disappointment. No Future in Your Eyes (48 CL, 37 DF) 21 Ace No Strings (1977): This was Carrack’s third and final album with Ace. You’re All That I Need was released as a single, but didn’t chart. You’re All That I Need (47 CL, 33 DF) 21 Paul Carrack The Rumour (1980): After fronting Ace and working with Roxy Music, this was Paul Carrack’s first solo album. The Rumour 21 Beauty Is Only Skin Deep CT Carlene Carter Blue Nun (1981): Paul Carrack dueted with Carlene Carter on these two cuts from her Blue Nun album. Do Me Lover CC, 21 Oh How Happy 21 Squeeze East Side Story (1981): After one solo album, Paul Carrack joined Squeeze as their keyboardist. He also contributed vocals to what is arguably the group’s best-known song. Read more about this album on its DMDB page. Tempted (6/20/81, 49 US, 8 AR, 3 CL, 41 UK, 45 CN, 85 AU) CC, 21, SF, CT, B, HL Paul Carrack Suburban Voodoo (1982): After fronting Ace, working with Carlene Carter, and working with Roxy Music, this was Paul Carrack’s first solo album. I Need You (9/4/82, 37 BB, 26 CB, 20 RR, 20 AC, 22 AR, 30 AU, 4 DF) CC, 21, SF, CT, HL Lesson in Love (10/16/82, 33 AR, 33 DF) CC Always Better with You (11/16/82, 31 DF) CC, 21, CT A Little Unkind (2/7/83, 37 DF) CC, 21 Mike + the Mechanics Mike + the Mechanics (1985): After another solo album, Carrack returned to a group, this time one led by Genesis’ Mike Rutherford. Carrack and Paul Young shared vocal duties with Carrack singing lead on the top-10 hit Silent Running. Read more about this album on its DMDB page. Silent Running (11/4/85, 6 BB, 5 CB, 5 GR, 5 RR, 1 AR, 7 AC, 21 UK, 8 CN, 23 AU, 1 DF) CC, 21, SF, CT

The Carrack Collection Paul Carrack

Recorded: 1974-1985 Released: 1988 Peak: -- Sales (in millions): -- Genre: pop rock Rating: 3.809 out of 5.00 (average of 8 ratings)

Tracks: (1) How Long (2) Tempted (3) Do Me Lover (with Carlene Carter) (4) A Little Unkind (5) Silent Running (6) Lesson in Love (7) I Need You (8) Always Better with You About the Album: Although released in 1988, this compilation doesn’t include Carrack’s solo top-10 “Don’t Shed a Tear” (1987) or his chart-topping song, “The Living Years,” with Mike + the Mechanics (1988). Instead this too-slim retrospective stops at 1985. Still, that does mean one gets How Long, Tempted, I Need You, and Silent Running all in one collection.

Paul Carrack One Good Reason (1987): After the success of Mike + the Mechanics, Carrack’s next solo album gave him the biggest solo hit of his career with the top-10 Don’t Shed a Tear. When You Walk in the Room (5/16/87, 90 BB, 91 CB, 48 UK, 7 AU, 18 DF) 21, SF, CT Don’t Shed a Tear (10/24/87, 9 BB, 9 CB, 9 RR, 36 AC, 5 AR, 60 UK, 33 AU, 6 DF) 21, SF, CT, HL One Good Reason (3/12/88, 28 BB, 33 CB, 24 RR, 20 AR, 38 AU, 23 DF) 21, CT Button Off My Shirt (9/10/88, 91 BB, 12 DF) 21 Mike + the Mechanics The Living Years (1988): Back with Mike + the Mechanics for their second album, Carrack sang lead on this song which went all the way to the top of the charts in the U.S. Read more about this album on its DMDB page. The Living Years (12/27/88, 1 BB, 1 CB, 2 GR, 2 RR, 5 AR, 1 AC, 2 UK, 1 CN, 1 AU, 1 DF) 21, SF, CT, B, HL Nobody Knows (7/22/89, 41 AC, 21 DF) Paul Carrack Groove Approved (1989): Back with another solo effort. I Live by the Groove (18/30/89, 31 BB, 27 CB, 25 RR, 22 AC, 23 DF) 21 Battlefield (1/27/90, 27 DF) 21, SF, CT Loveless (28 DF) 21 Only My Heart Can Tell (35 DF) 21 Dedicated (39 DF) SF, HL, CT

21 Good Reasons Paul Carrack

Recorded: 1974-1990 Released: January 25, 1994 Peak: -- Sales (in millions): -- Genre: pop rock Rating: 3.527 out of 5.00 (average of 8 ratings)

Tracks: (1) How Long (2) The Real Feeling (3) No Future in Your Eyes (4) You’re All That I Need (5) Tempted (6) Do Me Lover (with Carlene Carter) (7) Oh How Happy (with Carlene Carter) (8) The Rumour (9) I Need You (10) Always Better with You (11) A Little Unkind (12) One Good Reason (13) Don’t Shed a Tear (14) Button Off My Shirt (15) When You Walk in the Room (16) I Live by the Groove (17) Only My Heart Can Tell (18) Battlefield (19) Loveless (20) Silent Running (21) The Living Years About the Album: This update to The Carrack Collection adds classic songs like Don’t Shed a Tear and The Living Years. Somewhere between this overly-hefty compilation and the too-light Carrack Collection lies the perfect Paul Carrack compilation.

Mike + the Mechanics Word of Mouth (1991): Everybody Gets a Second Chance (6/15/91, 24 AC, 56 UK, 21 CN, 20 DF) CT A Time and Place (6/15/91, 58 UK, 37 DF) CT Get Up (single, 24 DF) Spin 1ne 2wo Spin 1ne 2wo (1993): This one-time collaboration with Tony Levin found Carrack interpreting rock classics from Blind Faith (“Can’t Find My Way Home”), Cream (“White Room”), Jimi Hendrix (“All Along the Watchtower”), Led Zeppelin (“Black Dog”), and others. Can’t Find My Way Home CT <’ul> Squeeze Some Fantastic Place (1993): Loving You Tonight (10/18/93, 4 DF) CT Mike + the Mechanics Beggar on a Beach of Gold (1995): Over My Shoulder (2/25/95, 12 UK, 22 CN, 11 DF) SF, CT, B, HL Another Cup of Coffee (6/17/95, 51 UK, 53 CN, 38 DF) CT A Beggar on a Beach of Gold (June 1995, 33 UK, 27 DF) CT Paul Carrack Blue Views (1996): Carrack’s first solo album in seven years features “Love Will Keep Us Alive,” a song he wrote with Timothy B. Schmit that was first recorded by the Eagles. Eyes of Blue (1/6/96, 24 AC, 40 UK) SF,CT, B, HL Love Will Keep Us Alive (21 UK) SF, CT, B, HL For Once in Our Lives (6/28/97, 72 BA, 3 AC) Paul Carrack Beautiful World (1997): Beautiful World (single, --) SF The Way I’m Feeling Tonight (single, --) CT Mike + the Mechanics M6 (1999): Now That You’re Gone (6/5/99, 35 UK, 19 DF) CT Whenever I Stop (8/28/99, 73 UK, 20 DF) CT Paul Carrack Satisfy My Soul (2000): Satisfy My Soul (single, --) SF, CT, B, HL Better Than Nothing CT Paul Carrack Groovin’ (2001): This collection of covers featured Carrack’s take on songs made famous by the Four Tops (“Baby I Need Your Loving”), Marvin Gaye (“Too Busy Thinking About My Baby”), Ronnie Milsap (“Any Day Now”), Van Morrison (“Crazy Love”), the Rascals (“Groovin’”), James Taylor (“You’ve Got a Friend”), Dionne Warwick (“Walk on By”), Bill Withers (“Ain’t No Sunshine”), and more. Groovin’ (single, --) SF, CT, B, HL Any Day Now (single, --) SF Walk on By B Paul Carrack It Ain’t Over (2003): It Ain’t Over (single, --) SF, CT Where Did I Go Wrong? (single, --) SF, CT Empty Space CT Mike + the Mechanics Rewired (2004): If I Were You CT Paul Carrack Winter Wonderland (2005): Carrack’s first Christmas album featured his take on Christmas classics such as “White Christmas,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “The Christmas Song,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “Sleigh Ride,” “Let It Snow” and the title cut alongside the non-Christmas classic “What a Wonderful World.” What a Wonderful World (30 DF) SF

Greatest Hits: The Story So Far Paul Carrack

Recorded: 1974-2005 Released: October 23, 2006 Peak: -- US, 146 UK Sales (in millions): -- Genre: pop rock Rating: 2.778 out of 5.00 (average of 8 ratings)

Tracks: (1) How Long (2) Tempted (3) I Need You (4) Silent Running (5) Don’t Shed a Tear (6) When You Walk in the Room (7) The Living Years (8) Battlefield (9) Dedicated (10) Over My Shoulder (11) Love Will Keep Us Alive (12) Eyes of Blue (13) Beautiful World (14) Satisfy My Soul (15) Groovin’ (16) Any Day Now (17) Where Did I Go Wrong? (18) It Ain’t Over (19) What a Wonderful World About the Album: This update to The Carrack Collection adds classic songs like Don’t Shed a Tear and The Living Years. Somewhere between this overly-hefty compilation and the too-light Carrack Collection lies the perfect Paul Carrack compilation.

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Paul Carrack Old, New, Borrowed, and Blue (2007): This is a bit of a mish-mash, gathering covers (Marvin Gaye’s “What's Going On” and “Ain’t That Peculiar,” Crowded House’s “Don’t Dream It’s Over,” the Beatles’ “Girl”) alongside re-recordings (“Love Will Keep Us Alive,” “I Live on a Battlefield”). What's Going On B Don’t Dream It’s Over CT, B, HL Paul Carrack I Know That Name (2008): I Don’t Want Your Love (I Need Your Love) (single, --) B I Don’t Want to Hear Any More (single, --) CT, HL Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City (single, --) CT No Doubt About It (single, --) CT Soul to Soul (with the London Community Gospel Choir) CT He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother CT Paul Carrack A Different Hat (2010): Once again, Carrack delivers a collection of covers and re-recordings. Moon River B, HL Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying (single, --) CT, B Paul Carrack Good Feeling (2012): When My Little Girl Is Smiling (single, --) CT, B Good Feelin’ About It (single, --) CT Time to Move On (single, --) CT Long Ago CT

Collected Paul Carrack

Recorded: 1974-2012 Released: September 11, 2012 Peak: -- Sales (in millions): -- Genre: pop rock Rating: 2.681 out of 5.00 (average of 8 ratings)

Tracks, Disc 1: (1) How Long (2) Tempted (3) Don’t Shed a Tear (4) The Living Years (5) Love Will Keep Us Alive (6) Groovin’ (7) When You Walk in the Room (8) Empty Space (9) Over My Shoulder (10) When My Little Girl Is Smiling (11) Satisfy My Soul (12) Eyes of Blue (13) Always Better with You (14) The Way I’m Feeling Tonight (15) A Time and Place (16) It Ain’t Over (17) Long Ago (18) Everybody Gets a Second Chance Tracks, Disc 2: (1) Dedicated (2) Loving You Tonight (3) Where Did I Go Wrong (4) Silent Running (5) I Need You (6) I Live on a Battlefield (7) Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City (8) Now That You’re Gone (9) I Don’t Want to Hear Anymore (10) Time to Move On (11) One Good Reason (12) Another Cup of Coffee (13) Better Than Nothing (14) Beauty’s Only Skin Deep (15) No Doubt About It (16) Whenever I Stop (17) Good Feelin’ About It (18) Don’t Let the Sun Catch You crying Tracks, Disc 3: (1) She’s Soulful (2) Don’t Dream It’s Over (3) Burning Love (4) Your Own Special Way (5) Love Me As Hard As You Hurt Me (6) If You Believe in Me (7) Too Late (8) Ride On (9) Wish You Were Here (10) Can’t Find My Way Home (10) Soul to Soul (12) He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother (13) Beggar on a Beach of Gold (14) If I Were You Songs Not Featured on Previously Noted Albums: Wish You Were Here (with Nick Lowe, 1983) CT She’s Soulful (1/27/90) CT Burning Love (with Snowy White, 1995) CT Love Me As Hard As You Hurt Me (1996) CT Your Own Special Way (with Steve Hackett, 1996) CT Ride On (with Gare du Nord, 2007) CT If You Believe in Me (from the movie Beautiful Joe,2008) CT Too Late (with Bill Wyman & the Rhythm Kings, 2012) CT About the Album: Box set. Would have been benefited from a chronological presentation and more material from early in Carrack’s career.

Paul Carrack Rain or Shine (2013): Stepping Stone B I’m Losing You (single, --) B One in a Million B Come Rain or Come Shine B

The Best of Paul Carrack

Recorded: 1974-2013 Released: September 7, 2014 Peak: -- Sales (in millions): -- Genre: pop rock Rating: 2.695 out of 5.00 (average of 8 ratings)

Tracks: (1) The Living Years (2) How Long (3) Love Will Keep Us Alive (4) Eyes of Blue (5) Over My Shoulder (5) Tempted (6) Satisfy My Soul (7) Groovin’ (8) Walk on By (9) What's Going On (10) I Don’t Want Your Love (I Need Your Love) (11) Don’t Dream It’s Over (12) Moon River (13) Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying (14) When My Little Girl Is Smiling (15) I’m Losing You (17) Stepping Stone (18) One in a Million (19) Come Rain or Come Shine About the Album: This collection strangely ignores Carrack’s early solo years (“I Need You,” “Don’t Shed a Tear,” “I Live by the Groove”), omits one of his biggest hits (Mike + the Mechanics’ “Silent Running”), and substitutes re-recordings of “The Living Years,” “How Long,” and “Tempted” instead of the originals. This appears to be a case of trying to assemble a compilation without having the rights to all of the material.

Paul Carrack Soul Shadows (2016): Sleep on It HL Let Me Love Again HL Paul Carrack These Days (2018): none Paul Carrack One on One (2021): You’re Not Alone HL Paul Carrack Don’t Wait Too Long (2023): Don’t Wait Too Long HL

How Long Has This Been Going On Paul Carrack

Covers: 1974-2024 Released: August 23, 2024 Peak: -- Sales (in millions): -- Genre: pop rock

Tracks: (1) How Long (2) Groovin’ (3) Eyes of Blue (4) Satisfy My Soul (5) Don’t Shed a Tear (6) Dedicated (7) The Living Years (8) Moon River (9) Don’t Wait Too Long (10) Love Will Keep Us Alive (11) Sleep on It (12) Let Me Love Again (13) Tempted (14) I Don’t Want to Hear Any More (15) You’re Not Alone (16) I Need You (17) Over My Shoulder (18) Don’t Dream It’s Over (19) Raining in My Heart About the Album: This is another odd attempt at pretending to be a career retrospective but substituting some of Carrack’s earlier works with re-recorded versions. Not Featured on a Previously Noted Album: Raining in My Heart HL

Resources/References: PaulCarrack.net (official website) WK Wikipedia page for Paul Carrack Related DMDB Links: First posted 10/12/2020; last updated 4/9/2026.