{"product_id":"the-country-side-of-paul-carrack-volume-1","title":"The Country Side Of Paul Carrack - Volume 1","description":"\u003cp\u003eI've always wanted to make a country album. A lot of people detect the influences of soul in my music but I've also always loved country.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eGrowing up, I was hungry for any kind of music but I would listen to people like \u003cstrong\u003eChet Atkins\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eThe Everly Brothers\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eHank Williams\u003c\/strong\u003e and I particularly loved \u003cstrong\u003eRay Charles\u003c\/strong\u003e, who is predominantly known for his soul and jazz stuff, but could also sing really great country.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eI have an older brother, John, and one Christmas we were given toy guitars, we used to sing along with skiffle, people like Lonnie Donegan and songs like \"\u003cem\u003eHang Down Your Head Tom Dooley\u003c\/em\u003e\". We really loved \u003cstrong\u003eThe Everly Brothers\u003c\/strong\u003e and would try to sing the harmonies. \"\u003cem\u003eCathy's Clown\u003c\/em\u003e\" was a favourite.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThen in the 80s, when I was in a band with \u003cstrong\u003eNick Lowe\u003c\/strong\u003e, touring America on the bus we would always have \u003cstrong\u003eGeorge Jones\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eWillie Nelson\u003c\/strong\u003e playing, and people like \u003cstrong\u003eThe Osborne Brothers\u003c\/strong\u003e. It just seemed right listening to that when you're on the road in the USA.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOver the years, I've done little bits of country on different albums but then out of the blue, a guy from North Carolina emailed me and said: 'Hi, I'm Steven Wood, I'm a country artist and I'd like to cover your song, \"\u003cem\u003eLighten Up Your Mood\u003c\/em\u003e\". Would that be OK and if so, would you like to maybe play on it or sing a few lines?' I told him I'd always wanted to make a country album and he said: 'Well, why don't we collaborate on something?' So, that was the beginning of this record.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWe talked a lot about country music and what it means, because it's such a massive subject. I like the older stuff, the authenticity of it and I didn't want to pick obscure songs for the sake of it. I wanted familiar songs that I'd always loved with an early 60s-70s vibe so, after some very long conversations we chose tracks by people like \u003cstrong\u003eGeorge Jones\u003c\/strong\u003e, who's a genius basically, and \u003cstrong\u003eMerle Haggard\u003c\/strong\u003e, who I love.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWe even do a \u003cstrong\u003eHank Snow\u003c\/strong\u003e song, which is one of my favourites, and one of my grandson's too. And of course, we do some \u003cstrong\u003eRay Charles\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eHank Williams\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWe also included a couple of tracks I'd had a hand in writing that we wanted to try in a country vein. There's \"\u003cem\u003eLove Will Keep Us Alive\u003c\/em\u003e\", which I wrote with Peter Vale and Jim Capaldi and which was a hit for the Eagles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eI've recorded a number of versions but this is a Steven Wood production, which adds something fresh to the song. And then there's \"\u003cem\u003eIn The Cold Light of Day\u003c\/em\u003e\", which I wrote with Chris Difford from Squeeze with his typical dry approach to lyrics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eI have a great respect for Steven and what he does so I basically let him run the show. He provided the initial tracks, I laid down vocals and he assembled an amazing band of the best Nashville players to record the live instruments.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOn a few tracks, Steven added some perfect Nashville style strings at Starstruck Studios with the Nashville String Machine and the arranger, David Shipps. We knew what we wanted to do. We picked the songs and we did it. I hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed making it.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Carrack UK","offers":[{"title":"LP - Black","offer_id":52038614942027,"sku":"R7802-4767","price":27.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":52038614974795,"sku":"R7802-9255","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/2000x2000bb_ad7b647e-01b6-4360-b8de-28f309516b3a.jpg?v=1749585037","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/de\/products\/the-country-side-of-paul-carrack-volume-1","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}