Sarstedt is best known for Where Do You Go To My Lovely, which he wrote, and reached number one in 14 countries. It features on the rather lacklustre Ab Fab film soundtrack, which we reviewed, but, curious as to where he was now, we found that this had been re-released earlier in the year and bought it. It’s excellent.

The album was recorded in 1997 with his childhood friend Brian Hodgson (The Rutles) and Altogether Now features Albert Lee.

We like everything about this album. They’re quality folk/pop tunes, the players (described as “the workers” in the sleeve notes) have links with many a classic hit tune or band over their careers and are top musicians, and it’s got a British self-deprecating feel to it. We like the fact that Sarstedt looks like the Fast Show’s Swiss Toni, too.

It’s Sarstedt’s voice that leads the way, smooth and poignant, a bit like the Canadian singer Gordon Lightfoot. Where Do You Go To My Lovely is not here but there’s a similar waltz sound on Biarritz, while Altogether Now is a rocking country tune with Lee’s trademark licks. The title track has a bluesy feel, and warms up nicely. As a whole, the album reminds us of Gordon Haskell’s gentle Harry’s Bar.

The album is out Angel Air, which seems to release back catalogues of classic tracks. Folk fans should buy this now — Sarstedt is in poor health and living in a nursing home. In 2011 he was diagnosed with dementia and in 2015 was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy. He was too ill to contribute to the sleeve notes, a tragic end for someone who writes such pleasing songs.