The rhythm section for Joan Armatrading’s 12th album was firing on all cylinders, with Mel on the kit and Pino Palladino on bass.

Mel Gaynor says:

“I got a call from Joan Armatrading’s management asking if I could do the album. I was a big fan of her work, so it was a pleasure to play with her. There was some slight confusion at the beginning because she wanted me to play like the demos, which had drum machines. I basically told her, ‘I’m not a drum machine, so I don’t play like a drum machine’.”

“It was an unusual session. She got Joe Jackson in, who’s a very talented keyboard player, but I didn’t know that at the time. We did a Latin track with him and it was incredible. I always remember that day with Joe. It was an all-round great session and to top it all I got her to play me a version of Love And Affection, just as a one-to-one.”

“She wanted me to do some live dates but I didn’t have the time.”