Paul Carrack: 50th Career Anniversary Greatest Hits album

"How Long - HAs This Beein Going On" later this month

Ex-Mechanics vocalist Paul Carrack will release a new compilation on 23 August, celebrating his 50th anniversary in the business. He started his career with the hit single How Long by Ace, which also is the title of the new compilation.

Greatest Hits: How Long Has This Been Going On? (50th Anniversary Collection 1974-2024)

The first single, How Long (2024) is already out today on streaming platforms in most countries.

The album includes seven brand new recordings

How Long
Written by Paul, the first single by Ace is from their 1974 debut album, Five-A-Side. It reached #3 in the US and Canadian singles chart and #20 in the UK. Paul has re-recorded the track several times over the years. In March 2020, 45 years after its original release, the song returned to the charts, reaching #1 on Billboard’s Rock Digital Song Sales chart. This new recording is from 2024.

The Living Years
Paul sang lead on the original Mike + The Mechanics 1988 #1 US hit. The song received four Grammy nominations including Best Vocal Performance. This new recording is from 2024.

Don’t Shed A Tear
Originally recorded in 1987 for Paul’s third solo album, One Good Reason. It became Paul’s biggest solo US hit, reaching number nine on the Billboard Hot 100. This new recording is from 2024.

I Need You
Taken from Paul’s second solo album, Suburban Voodoo (1982). The album, produced by Nick Lowe, was the first project following his time with Squeeze. This was Paul’s first chart hit as a solo artist, peaking at #37 in the US. This new recording is from 2024.

Love Will Keep Us Alive
Co-written by Paul, it was first performed in 1994 by the Eagles, during their Hell Freezes Over reunion tour, with lead vocals by bassist, Timothy B. Schmit. Paul first recorded the song for his 1996 album, Blue Views and in 2011 with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. This new recording is from 2024.

Raining In My Heart
Originally recorded in 1958 by Buddy Holly, it was the very first single that Paul bought together with his brother. It was first performed by Paul on tour in 2019, where he was presented with a very exclusive replica Buddy Holly acoustic guitar by one of the presidents of the Buddy Holly Foundation. This new recording is from 2024.

Over My Shoulder
Originally recorded in 1995 with Mike + The Mechanics, the first single from their fourth album, Beggar on a Beach of Gold. Co-written and sung by Paul, it was the most successful single from the album, reaching number 12 on UK Singles Chart. This new recording is from 2024.

The other 12 old favourites are

Groovin’
Recorded by the Young Rascals in 1967, Paul paid homage to the original on his 2001 collection of personal favourites, also titled Groovin’ (later expanded to Still Groovin’).

Eyes Of Blue
Written by Paul, this Carrack-classic is taken from his fifth solo album, Blue Views (1995), his first album in seven years. Originally released on IRS Records, the single reached the UK Top 40.

Satisfy My Soul
The 2000 title-track from Paul’s seventh solo studio album and the first on his own independent label, Carrack UK. Co-written with Chris Difford of Squeeze and produced by Paul, who played pretty much everything but the drums! The album was made available on vinyl for the first time in 2020, to mark the 20th anniversary.

Dedicated
Originally written and recorded for Paul’s fourth solo studio album, Groove Approved (1989), it was released as a single the following year. This particular version was re-recorded back in 2006 for the compilation album, Greatest Hits - The Story So Far...

Moon River
In 2010, Paul recorded his take on this classic with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for the album, A Different Hat.

Don’t Wait Too Long
Performed with the SWR Big Band, this Madeleine Peyroux song is the title-track from the 2023 album of the same name.

Tempted
Originally sung by Paul as a member of Squeeze for their 1981 album, East Side Story. It’s one of a few Squeeze songs with Paul as lead vocalist, which came at the suggestion of the album producer Elvis Costello. It became a breakthrough hit for Squeeze in the USA.

Sleep On It
Taken from Paul's sixteenth solo studio album, Soul Shadows which reached #25 on the 2016 UK album chart.

I Don’t Want To Hear Any More
From the 2008 album, I Know That Name, reissued in 2014 as I Know That Name - the Ultimate Version. This track featured Don Henley and Timothy B Schmit of the Eagles on backing vocals.

You’re Not Alone
The first single from his 2021 album, One On One. Paul wrote, produced, mixed, engineered and performed pretty-much all instruments (except the brass). Sadly, this was the last time Paul worked with legendary sax player Pee Wee Ellis who passed away that same year.

Let Me Love Again
This was the follow-up single to Sleep On It, also from Soul Shadows, it received worldwide airplay.

Don’t Dream It’s Over
A cover of the Crowded House classic which Paul recorded on Old, New, Borrowed and Blue, back in 2007. Paul had previously sang and played organ on Paul Young’s (ex Q Tips) version of the song for Young’s 1991 singles collection.

The running order of those tracks is like that:

01 How Long 2024
02 Groovin'
03 Eyes Of Blue
04 Satisfy My Soul
05 Don't Shed A Tear 2024
06 Dedicated
07 The Living Years 2024
08 Moon River
09 Don't Wait Too Long (With the SWR Big Band)
10 Love Will Keep Us Alive 2024
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 2024
17 Over My Shoulder 2024
18 Don't Dream It's Over
19 Raining In My Heart 2024