As previously reported, the Pizza Express Restaurant chain have just launched a record label (see https://www.soulandjazzandfunk.com/news/pizzaexpress-launches-record-label/ ) – hardly surprising since several of the chain’s outlets regularly host live music. Amongst the first batch of releases is a live set from everyone’s favourite blue—eyed soul band, MAMAS GUN.
The album is simply called ‘Mamas Gun At Pizza Express Live – In London’ and we believe that the band’s set was recorded at a performance in April 2002 at the Pizza Express in Holborn – not their more famous Soho venue which the PR blurb that comes with the album suggests. On a few of the songs the band give shout outs to Holborn – not that that’s important. What is important is the music and across the 13 tracks the Gunners show that they can really cut it live – reproducing their lovely, harmonic soul sound and building a real rapport with the audience (as on ‘Let’s Find A Way’)
The song’s in the set are drawn from three of the band’s best albums… ‘Routes To Riches’, ‘Golden Days’ and ‘Cure The Jones’ which was their then current long player. Amongst the highlights are the lovely ballad ‘Pots Of Gold’ (originally on the 2010 album, ‘Routes To Riches’), the song that first caught the UK soul crowd’s attention and announced the arrival of top, blue-eyed stylist, Andy Platts and ‘You Make My Life A Better Place’, the closing number. But all 13 songs will delight the band’s fans offering, as they do, fresh perspectives on the familiar.
The album will be available in early April with vinyl due, August.
