Over My Shoulder and The Living Years by Mike + The Mechanics, Tempted by Squeeze, and How Long? by Ace – I’ve had them all going round my head in a loop ever since I found out I was going to be interviewing Paul Carrack, who, I am delighted to discover, lives in Chorleywood.

Originally from Sheffield, Paul’s latest tour is a celebration of more than 50 years in the music industry. He’s a label owner, hugely popular recording and touring artist, one of the most in-demand voices and songwriters of his generation and the creator of a catalogue of household hits.

He started out in the jazz rock band Warm Dust, who released three albums between 1970 and 1972, and then went on to form Ace, in which he was vocalist and songwriter. When Ace disbanded, Paul had a spell as a studio member of Roxy Music, enjoyed a short time with Squeeze, released a few solo albums, and had a stint in Nick Lowe’s Cowboy Outfit. He has been a session man with the likes of The Smiths, The Pretenders and Roger Waters, and, perhaps most famously, writing and singing for Mike + The Mechanics, with Paul Young and Genesis’ Mike Rutherford.

In 2000, Paul put down firm solo roots when he set up his own label and has been steadily releasing an album almost every year since then and touring extensively.

“The shows are a balance between the old stuff – I include all the big hits I’ve been involved with, people like to hear them and I enjoy singing them and the response they get - and some new things as well.

“I’ve been working hard for a long time now to establish myself as a solo artist and while, of course, we get people who might originally have known me through the various bands, along the way I’ve built up quite a substantial following of people that are just as interested in the new material and the stuff I’ve done by myself.“

Paul released his latest album, Rain or Shine, the follow-up to 2012’s Good Feeling, in October and he is very, very pleased with it.

“I think it’s the best album I’ve done. Everyone says that about their new album,“ he laughs, “but I really do feel it’s the truth in this instance. My voice is sounding good because of the amount of singing I’ve been doing with all the touring – vocally speaking, I’m in the best nick of my career – and the songs that I wrote came quickly and easily.

“I’m very pleased to be able to say that I’ve made the best album of my career – until the next one!“

Paul Carrack plays Alban Arena, Civic Centre, St Albans on Sunday, March 30 from 7.30pm. Details: 01727 844488, alban-arena.co.uk