The Impossible Dream

The Impossible Dream has come true for Andy Abraham with this album

Not winning X Factor is by no means a bad career move, as G4 have proved. Runner up in the latest sensational series of ITV's X-Factor, Andy Abraham released his debut album, The Impossible Dream. Eventually coming second to Shayne Ward in the show, Andy had, over the run of the show, delivered a series of very assured, solid, soulful performances, garnering support from "the ladies of a certain age". The album sees Andy cover a selection of easy listening and soul standards performed over the course of the show's duration. Andy Abraham was probably the ultimate talent show contestant. A former dustman with a couple of kids (he even dragged them up on stage during one show) still harboring dreams of becoming famous at 40. Well, The Impossible Dream has come true for him with this album, which mainly features cover versions and you get the feeling Andy has no pretensions about writing his own material. He's simply enjoying the ride. Abraham is no spring chicken, but he has durable credentials – a smooth, limber voice with the flavor of Philly era soul and a brilliant back-story.

Original tracks fit in well enough with the covers

Playing to his strengths as a bit of a Nat King Cole style crooner and as a fairly powerful soul singer we have glorious versions of such Cole’s classics When I Fall In Love and Unforgettable as well as time-honored faves The Impossible Dream and Can't Take My Eyes Of You for the former and we get his X Factor showstopper Me And Mrs Jones, When A Man Loves A Woman and Greatest Love Of All to showcase the latter. The honeyed tones are also applied to Stevie Wonder's Lately and others. Andy Abraham has such a talent it's regrettable the majority of this 14-track record is largely comprised of covers. But what covers they are! A handful of original tunes include funky floor-filler Hang Up, a worthy opener. This song is a catchy party number that fits in well enough with the covers. Andy has said he hopes to follow in the footsteps of late greats Luther Vandross, Lou Rawls and Barry White; he certainly has the ability, and this excellent first album should set him on track.

Andy Abraham is no stranger to singing and recording

Let's face it, you can find some useful things in discarded litter. Take Andy Abraham for instance. One day he was tipping rubbish into the lorry compactor, the next he was competing on a nationwide talent show next to the ex-goatherding Chico Slimani. Andy Abraham is a 41-year-old family man. He currently lives in North London with his wife Denise and two kids, 10-year-old Tara and 8-year-old Jacob. Andy gave up his job to put his all into the competition and spent several weeks locked away in the X Factor house, although initially he had reservations about applying which prompted Denise to forge his name on the application form! A true rags to riches story. Singing hasn’t always been his only dream though, as a schoolboy Andy fantasized about being a famous footballer or singer. It looks like at least one of those dreams is about to come true! Andy is no stranger to singing and recording. In 2001, Andy appeared in and came second on the ITV1 talent show This Is My Moment, hosted by former Spice Girl Mel B. He also sang as backing singer for fellow contestant Brenda Edwards a few years ago. Now mums and dads will be singing along to the familiar melodies of Abraham’s The Impossible Dream with delight.