Album Review

Paul Carrack – Good Feeling

• 18th Sep 2012

Paul Carrack has had a very successful solo career as well as being familiar for session work with many leading artists and also as the voice of Mike and the Mechanics. But this album shows yet another side to a massively talented vocalist.

The aptly titled Good Feeling is a collection of tracks that pay tribute to classic sixties and seventies soul music. It’s different from Carrack’s usual solo output, but the old time feel does not mean that the music is dated. Carrack’s smooth and resonant voice creates something that sounds like a modern take on soul, which is exactly what I think he was going for.

The title track and lead single is a strong and soulful song that pretty much sums the album up. It’s upbeat with some lovely organ work behind the vocals and while it won’t be a chart topper it should see plenty of radio play. It is followed by the laid back Marmalade Moon, written with Squeeze’s Chris Difford, and Nothing Without You, which channels any number of seventies soul artists.

I Can Hear Ray is so smooth and melodious that laid back doesn’t even come close. Name checking Ray Charles and featuring a great sax solo, this is one of the highlights of the album. The ballad Long Ago slows things down rather nicely and is complemented by Make It Right, a mid tempo pop song with a deeper vocal tone.

There are a couple of pleasant covers next. Bruce Springsteen’s moving ballad If I Should Fall Behind sees Carrack backed initially by just a twelve string guitar and that is pretty much all his fine vocals need. A new version of Nick Lowe’s From Now On is included too. Carrack first covered the song many years back and this time it has a sweet vibe and subtle guitar that sits in the background.

I Don’t Want To Lose Your Love has a real Philly soul feel to it. The current single Time To Move On is definitely more Motown and has a great horn arrangement. When My Little Girl Is Smiling is a tender love song before the closing A Child Is Born shows Carrack in emotional mood. This one is sung crooner style and just manages to stay on the right side of cheesy.

Overall, Good Feeling does pretty much what it says on the cover. It won’t be for everyone, but if you like your music mellow and relaxed then you will enjoy Paul Carrick’s fine vocal stylings.