Paul Weller - Weller Eager To Collaborate With Mercury Rival Bailey Rae

PAUL WELLER is keen to put awards rivalry to one side and collaborate with his fellow Mercury Prize nominee CORINNE BAILEY RAE.

The Jam rocker's new record Wake Up the Nation will go head-to-head with Bailey Rae's The Sea at the prestigious ceremony in September (10).

And Weller is thrilled to be pitted against the singer/songwriter at the prize-giving - because they've been trying to record together for so long.

He tells Britain's Daily Star, "We've been trying to get together for a while, maybe something live, but we've both been on the road for so long.

"At some point we'll do it. I'd like to feature on a record with her because I love her voice. I've started writing new material, so who knows?"

And the Put Your Records On hitmaker is just as eager to team up with Weller. She adds, "He's the kind of artist I looked up to. He can straddle soul, rock, pop, jazz and nobody questions what he does."