Jimmy Nail entertained a packed crowd at Guildford's Civic Hall last Saturday as part of his nationwide tour.
Performing songs from his back catalogue as well as many tracks from his new album, "10 Great Songs & An OK voice", he was on top form and did not disappoint.
Nail's new recording is somewhat of a departure in that it features a spread of cover versions.
Having written most of his own material over the past fifteen years, he was delighted by the opportunity to draw up a list of favourite tunes by other artists and to record them for his new label, Papillon Records.
The problem was that the list started off as 300 songs and needed to be trimmed down to around 15.
This task achieved, the album was put together and some of the most suitable for live performance are exciting audiences throughout the spring tour.
The show opens with a rocking version of Cat Stevens, Lady D'Arbanville and later on includes superb renditions of Bacharach and David's, The Look of Love, originally recorded by Dusty Springfield and Lindisfarne's Clear White Light.
As well as numbers from "10 Great Songs", Nail delights with some of his biggest hits.
Crocodile Shoes gets a rousing cheer, while Big River (that moody, bruiser of a Geordie ballad) is so thick with emotion it almost whisks the crowd off up the Tyne.
A highpoint of the set has to be the acoustic session. Nail's extraordinary four piece band (including the talented Melvin Duffy on pedal steel guitar) huddle at the front of the stage with limited instruments for a trio of exciting songs.
These climax with an enjoyable rendition of Night of a Thousand Stars, which he originally recorded for the movie version of Evita.
An excellent evening's entertainment.
Ian Bresman