Pigbag was a good example of the restlessness of the late-'70s/early-'80s post-punks. Rather than conform to a defined sound, the group blended elements of funk and jazz into their "anything goes" attitude.
The group formed in 1980 by Chris Hamlyn (clarinet, percussion), Roger Freeman (percussion, trombone), Chris Lee (trumpet), and James Johnstone (saxophone, guitar). For the first months after their formation, the group did little more than jam together. They opted to add more of a rock element by gaining a regular drummer, Chip Carpenter, and a bassist, Mark Smith — the new members had played with Johnstone previously in Hardware. Former Pop Group bassist Simon Underwood also signed on, bringing sax player Ollie Moore along for the ride.
In 1981 they released their first single, "Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbag", on Dick O'Dell's Y Records, taking inspiration for the title (if not the music) from James Brown's "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag". Killer soul dancefloor. The instrumental release quickly became an underground dance hit, created a unique fusion of funk, disco, and post-punk that drew on the diverse, groove-orientated music of Can, Fela Kuti, Miles Davis, and James Brown, selling many thousands of copies and appearing high in the Independent Charts.
Pigbag - Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbag [12" Y Records]
Recorded at Berry St Studio, March 1981Produced By Dick O'Dell, Dave Hunt & Pigbag
The group formed in 1980 by Chris Hamlyn (clarinet, percussion), Roger Freeman (percussion, trombone), Chris Lee (trumpet), and James Johnstone (saxophone, guitar). For the first months after their formation, the group did little more than jam together. They opted to add more of a rock element by gaining a regular drummer, Chip Carpenter, and a bassist, Mark Smith — the new members had played with Johnstone previously in Hardware. Former Pop Group bassist Simon Underwood also signed on, bringing sax player Ollie Moore along for the ride.
In 1981 they released their first single, "Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbag", on Dick O'Dell's Y Records, taking inspiration for the title (if not the music) from James Brown's "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag". Killer soul dancefloor. The instrumental release quickly became an underground dance hit, created a unique fusion of funk, disco, and post-punk that drew on the diverse, groove-orientated music of Can, Fela Kuti, Miles Davis, and James Brown, selling many thousands of copies and appearing high in the Independent Charts.
Pigbag - Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbag [12" Y Records]
Recorded at Berry St Studio, March 1981Produced By Dick O'Dell, Dave Hunt & Pigbag
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