PAUL HEATON has enjoyed a 30 year career as leader of The Housemartins, The Beautiful South, and as a solo artist. Showing no signs of stopping, he is going back on tour this autumn, re-united with Beautiful South co-vocalist Jacqui Abbott.
Heaton and Abbot recently released a new album What Have We Become and this week announced an Irish tour which takes in Seapoint, Salthill, on Thursday October 30. Tickets go on sale on Friday from Ticketmaster outlets at 9am as well as from www.roisindubh.net
To whet your appetite we present some of Heaton’s finest songs from across his varied and prolific musical odyssey.
‘Happy Hour’ - The Housmartins
No Heaton list is complete without this infectious 1986 classic, chronicling a less then satisfying “night out with the boys”.
‘Old Red Eyes Is Back’ - The Beautiful South
Heaton’s post-Housemartins band The Beautiful South always delivered great singles. This, although not one of their biggest hits, remains one of their finest songs. (As with ‘Happy Hour’ we also can enjoy some of Heaton’s endearingly dodgy dancing )
‘Rotterdam (or Anywhere )’ - The Beautiful South
Jacqui Abbott takes the lead vocals on this classic 1996 single, which reached the British Top 5 that September.
‘Mermaids and Slaves’ - Paul Heaton
An off-beat, fast paced, love song from Heaton’s wonderful 2007 solo album The Cross Eyed Rambler.
Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott - ‘DIY’
We conclude with a song from Heaton and Abbott’s new album What Have We Become. The video was directed by comedian Johnny Vegas.