PAUL Carrack whose solo tour comes to Bournemouth and Basingstoke in the New Year could find himself at No 1 this Christmas after teaming up with a hospice choir.

The former Mike and the Mechanics lead singer has got together with a newly-formed choir of 300 patients, families, staff and volunteers from 18 hospices to re-record his 1991 hit 'The Living Years' which is released on Friday.

The aim is to raise awareness of the Hospice Movement and their bid to top the charts this Christmas is being backed by Strictly Come Dancing's head judge, Len Goodman as well as the famous choirmaster and former Bournemouth Grammar School pupil Gareth Malone.

The multi-generational London Hospices Choir recorded their new take on the classic track at the world famous Abbey Road Studios.

They shot the moving music video with patients at Clapham’s Royal Trinity Hospice, under the direction of top Hollywood film director Annabel Jankel.

Lead vocalis Paul Carrack said, “The Living Years has been an important song for me for many years, but this is the version that means the most. Recording it with this incredibly special group of people for such a worthwhile cause has created some kind of magic. It’s a powerful and inspiring track, and I hope that everyone gets behind it this Christmas.”

Choir member Lillian John, 94, a patient at St Joseph’s Hospice, Hackney, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer more than nine years ago said, “I have been given a new lease of life being part of the London Hospices Choir. St Joseph’s Hospice has been like a family to me, and now I feel like I am part of a huge extended family with 300 people all wanting to give something back to these wonderful places.”

Former MP Derek Wyatt, Chair of Trustees at Royal Trinity Hospice, who brought the choir together in honour of their 125th anniversary, said, “We hope that this song will encourage families to take time to have those important conversations as they come together for Christmas. Everyone who buys the song will also be helping London’s hospices to offer the best possible care at a time when every day is precious.”

Music producer James Hawkins said, “The idea of recording ‘The Living Years’ with this wonderful choir came to me as I was walking around the pond at Royal Trinity Hospice. The song’s message was reflected so strongly as I watched generations come together at a place of such serenity and life to share important conversations.

It couldn’t be a better message for everyone to hear this Christmas.”

All profits from the sale of the single will be divided between the 18 hospices involved, helping them to support those reaching the end of their lives, and their families.

Paul Carrack is one of the greatest blue-eyed soul voices, a distinguished frontman and an ever in-demand musician’s musician. Paul shot to fame in 1974 as the writer and lead vocalist on Ace's classic 'How Long'. As a keyboard player he has added a touch of soul to an impressive roster of superstars including Elton John, Ringo Starr and Eric Clapton. His songs have been covered by numerous artistes such as The Eagles, Tom Jones and Diana Ross but it is as a singer that Paul truly excels. As lead vocalist on the original 1991 worldwide hit 'The Living Years’ he was nominated for a coveted Grammy award for Best Vocal Performance. Since leaving Mike and the Mechanics in 2000 Paul's solo career goes from strength to strength. In 2016 Paul released 'Soul Shadows' which maintained his recurring status as a staple of the BBC Radio 2 playlist. Prolific is not too strong a word.

Despite being one of our hardest working, most successful, respected and popular solo artists, Paul remain's remarkably modest about his abilities: “What I have always had to rely on is my musical instinct rather than any technical or theoretical ability. It’s the fact that I empathise with a lot of different kind of music. Often I could get away with doing what was required because I’d play with some empathy.”

While contributing vocals to Mike and the Mechanics during the years 1985 to 2004, Carrack sang hits ‘Silent Running’ and ‘Over My Shoulder’ (which he co-wrote), in addition to ‘The Living Years’. But people often assumed Mike Rutherford was singing.

“I wasn’t always recognised as singing No 1 songs for them. When I started the solo trip in earnest I was almost starting from scratch; even though I’d sung a lot of big hits for several bands, people didn’t know it was me. In a way it suited me because I never liked the idea of being famous. I would have felt uncomfortable.”

Feeling the need to establish his own identity, Carrack devoted himself to his solo work. “Through constantly touring, writing and producing new stuff I've worked very hard to establish myself as an independent solo artist.”

Carrack has an impressive critically-acclaimed body of solo work, with 17 albums spanning the decades from 1980 to 2016.

Now 65, how has he achieved such a long career? “Longevity is more a state of mind”, he contemplates. “I have always been prepared to take the rough with the smooth. In 1990 I performed live in Los Angeles when the band was up for four Grammys including Best Vocal for ‘The Living Years’. The front row was Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel and Mike McDonald. I flew home and the next night I was playing with Nick Lowe at The Half Moon pub in Putney.”

Paul Carrack's 24-date tour visits the BIC, Bournemouth on February 25 and The Anvil, Basingstoke on March 12.

‘The Living Years’ by The London Hospices Choir and Paul Carrack is released on Friday.