Marc Almond and Jools Holland have teamed up for a new album.
The Soft Cell singer and the boogie woogie piano player – famous for his live music TV series ‘Later… With Jools Holland’ and work with Squeeze – have recorded ‘A Lovely Life To Live’ after deciding to finally get in the studio together after performing with one another on and off for the past 12 years.
The record is comprised of 14 tracks, some of which are new compositions penned by the pair such as ‘I Lost My City’, ‘Workhouse Blues’ and ‘London You Were My Lover’ – all inspired by their love of London – whilst others are big band covers featuring Jools’ Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, including Edith Piaf’s ‘Hymne A L’amour’, Irving Berlin’s ‘How Deep Is The Ocean’ and a reworking of Marc’s most famous hit with Soft Cell ‘Tainted Love’.
Revealing the inspiration behind the LP, Jools, 60, said: "Over the last few years, Marc has toured with my orchestra giving amazing performances. I’m so delighted that we’ve now been given the opportunity to capture this on record. It brings out, I hope, what is the best of both of us."
And Marc, 60, added: "If this record were to be a movie, it’d be a black and white movie of the late 50s or 60s set in London and starring Dirk Bogarde (with maybe a brief visit to Paris where we’d meet Deneuve and Delon in a smoky bar)!
"Jools and I have a performing history that stretches back many years now and at last we can bring our joint love of Bogarde, London, vintage cars, afternoon tea and the blues to a record. With Jools and the Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, it’s always a lovely life."
‘A Lovely Life To Live’ is released on November 23 on CD and digital formats.
The two musicians are also heading out on a tour of the UK and Ireland from October 20 in support of the album, performing in venues including London’s Royal Albert Hall and Dublin’s 3Arena.
Go to Ticketmaster.co.uk, Joolsholland.com and Marcalmond.co.uk for more information and tickets.
‘A Lovely Life To Live’ tracklist:
1) Gipsy Rover
2) A Lovely Life To Live
3) It’s My Life Baby
4) I Lost My City
5) Workhouse Blues
6) London You Were My Lover
7) Hymne À L’Amour
8) Dirk Bogarde And Me (Take Tea)
9) On My Soul
10) Big Black Mercedes 600
11) How Deep Is The Ocean
12) Tainted Love
13) I’ll Take Care Of You
14) When The Saints Go Marching In