IT was fitting that Paul Carrack walked on stage moments after the late great Sam Cooke’s voice had faded away over the sound system.

For one day, this richly talented tunesmith will be mentioned in the same breath whenever the conversation turns to the world’s finest soul singers.

An overblown statement? Not a bit of it… make no mistake, this man is Britain’s one and only true representative of a style that owes just as much to Macclesfield as Muscle Shoals.

In many respects, this concert was very 1970s, the band sporting two drummers, a sax player heavily influenced by King Curtis, and a funky instrumental approach that would have had Tom Scott of the LA Express nodding his approval.

Material wise, Carrack dipped his plectrum finger into a whole bran tub of goodies, as you would expect from someone who’s gigged with such luminaries as the Eagles, Elton John and Roger Waters.

The songs are anthems to excellence. The Living Years, Mike and the Mechanics’ tale of family reconciliation sits easily with Long Ago, a wistful glance over an adult’s shoulder to a long-lost childhood.

Meanwhile, Squeeze’s Tempted and opener Better than Nothing reminded us all that Carrack can turn a tune as easily we lesser mortals flip a fried egg.

Of course, everyone knows he’s saving How Long for the inevitable encore, a cliff-hanger of a wait that naturally proves more than worthwhile.

It’s no wonder Paul Carrack hails from the steel town of Sheffield - he certainly showed his mettle at Malvern.