A SINGER-SONGWRITER from Lymm has released his first solo album after performing sell-out shows for the past decade.

 

Paul Thompson performs original comic songs alongside material by artists such as Victoria Wood, and his musical hero Jake Thackray - a singer-songwriter best known for his comical songs in the 1960s.

 

Now, Paul has released his album Playing with Nadine, which includes eighteen original songs, as well as eight never released before Thackray songs.

 

“These lost Thackray songs range from the amusing to the poignant and darkly cynical,” he said.

 

“They are all instantly recognisable as his work, and some of them are right up there with his very best writing.”

 

The performer, who also volunteers at Talking Newspapers providing audio recordings for the blind, unearthed Thackray’s songs while undertaking research for his biography: Beware of the Bull – The Enigmatic Genius of Jake Thackray.

 

The long-lost songs are not the only Thackray connection in Paul’s album, as he also plays on a guitar his hero once owned, called Nadine.

 

“Jake Thackray was a comic, poetic genius. He has inspired me ever since I saw him in his heyday, singing on TV on That’s Life!,” Paul said.

 

“His influence shows in my songs on this album,” he continued.

 

Paul’s mostly satirical songs cover a wide range of subjects including Donald Trump, marriage and the shipping forecast – but he has also written some more serious songs, including one inspired by a war memoir.

 

The singer-songwriter will be appearing on Radio Warrington’s Culture Show on Thursday, March 21 where the entire programme will be dedicated to the newly released album.

 

“Radio Warrington is a fantastic community radio station and the Culture Show’s presenters, Andy Green and Brian Spooner, do a great job,” he said.

 

“I’m delighted and honoured that they’re supporting the launch of the album in this way.”

 

Paul will also be celebrating the launch of his album with a concert at the Spread Eagle in Lymm on Saturday, April 27 where all proceeds will be going to Lymm Methodist Church’s redevelopment project – tickets are available here.