Pigbag - Papa’s Got A Brand New Pigbag

It's true - I was in the pub last night with my mates and they started calling me a really annoying so and so.

...I nearly choked on my vuvuzela.

Charging on to the pitch, just in time for the World Cup, is the reissue of Pigbag’s classic ‘Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbag’, a song that shot to #3 on the UK charts in 1981 and has since become a signature at football matches and television shows alike. This classic mix of punk-funk-jazzy-worldbeat-stomp has been updated with two new dancefloor friendly mixes.

Pigbag were formed in Cheltenham in late 1980s by fashion student Chris Hamlin. Born from creative jam sessions in punk's aftermath, the young group gathered steam after convincing Simon Underwood to join the fun following his departure from The Pop Group. He recruited the guitar playing of James Johnstone, Chris Lee on trumpet and multi-instrumentalist Roger Freeman, an old friend from his home town of Birmingham. After a few initial jam sessions they decided to expand the line-up and rehearse more frequently. Dick O’Dell and the Y Records team gave Pigbag their first gig, supporting The Slits in Bristol where they played their famous 20 minute set of the now legendary ‘Papa’s Got a Brand New Pig Bag’. So the journey began for Pigbag, notching up a top 20 album and two top 40 singles.

‘Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag’ is considered a classic pop hit of the era. It has been used extensively as soundtrack music and at sporting events, particularly by Middlesbrough Football Club and Queens Park Rangers, and is still a popular dance record in clubs. On top of all that Madness has occasionally performed a cover in their live sets and it was included in the soundtrack to Alan Bennet’s 2006 film ‘The History Boys’.

London's iconic Fire Records has been making quite a habit of re- introducing some of the most vital music from the past of late and this is no exception. Pigbag return with the definitive collection of their output: ‘Pigbag Volume One’ and ‘Pigbag Volume Two’, encompassing both of their full length releases ‘Dr. Heckle & Mr. Jive’ and ‘Lend An Ear’ along with a collection of their pulsing singles and b-sides and a clutch of amazing live performances. This isn't the only bit of excitement as the band is currently rehearsing for live dates in the near future.

firerecords.com | pigbag.co.uk