James (band)
Encyclopedia
James are a British rock
band from Manchester
, England
. They formed in 1982 and were active throughout the 1980s, but most successful during the 1990s. Their hit singles include "Come Home", "Sit Down
", and "She's a Star
" as well as their American College Radio
hit "Laid
". Following the departure of lead singer Tim Booth
in 2001, the band became inactive but re-formed in January 2007, returning for a new album and international tour.
Up to 2010, the band had sold more than 25 million albums worldwide.
convinced his friend Jim Glennie
to buy a bass guitar and form a band with him. Their line-up solidified with the acquisition of Gavan Whelan on drums. They played a string of gigs under the names Venereal and The Diseases and, later, Volume Distortion, before settling on the name of Model Team International, then shortened to Model Team.
They performed mostly improvised material derived from jam session
s, supporting The Fall at an early gig. Vocalists and other musicians drifted rapidly in and out of their line-up, until the band encountered Tim Booth
at a student disco. Gilbertson invited him to the band's scout hut in Withington
to join the band as a dancer.
After a brief period under the name Tribal Outlook, the band renamed themselves James in August 1982. A gig at The Haçienda
caught the attention of Tony Wilson
of Factory Records
. He offered James an album deal with Factory, but the band, by now a settled live act, were worried about tarnishing their material in the studio and settled instead for a three-track EP. Their debut release, the Jimone
EP, was recorded at Strawberry Studios
, Stockport
, in August 1983 and released on Factory Records in September. It was named single of the week by major music papers in the UK, and led to a tour supporting The Smiths
.
Although they were now being touted as the 'next big thing', several complex issues slowed their progress. Gilbertson's drug problems presented the band with no choice but to ask him to leave. Booth and Glennie had joined a sect named Lifewave that imposed many restrictions on their lifestyle and threatened the band's stability. The band's second EP, James II
, was released over a year after the first and accompanied by a feature on the cover of the NME
, Gilbertson having been replaced by the band's guitar tutor Larry Gott
. The first two EPs would later be collected as Village Fire
. Reviews were once again positive, and Factory were eager for James to record an album with it, but the band believed Factory were purely image-based and left the label, striking a deal with Sire Records
.
Their third release, the Sit Down EP
(no relation to the song of that name) came out in February 1986, and was followed by their debut album, Stutter
in July of that year. The album reached number 68 in the UK Albums Chart
. Low on money and lacking coverage and promotion, the band recorded their second album, Strip-mine
, attempting a more conventional song structure in an attempt to please Sire. The album almost went unreleased, but after undergoing a slight remix to sound more radio-friendly, Sire released the album in September 1988, over a year after it had been initially completed. However the album only reached number 90. After finding a clause for ending their contract, the band left Sire. Desperate for money, the band members were driven to the extreme of participating as human guinea pigs in medical experiments at the Manchester Royal Infirmary
, earning them a place on a TV documentary about the desperation of fallen rock stars.
James had by this point earned themselves a reputation as a solid live act and had built a solid fanbase. Sales of James t-shirts were particularly successful in Manchester even before they reached the Top 40. James financed the production of a live album
with a bank loan, One Man Clapping
, and the help of Rough Trade Records
. The album went to number 1 in the indie charts, reinvigorating media interest in the band.
In November 1988, drummer Whelan became involved in an on-stage fight with Booth and was asked to leave the band. He was replaced by David Baynton-Power
a few months later. During the following year James greatly expanded their lineup and sound palette by hiring three new members — guitarist-violinist-percussionist Saul Davies (whom Gott recruited from an amateur blues night), keyboard player Mark Hunter and onetime Diagram Brothers/Pale Fountains
trumpeter/percussionist Andy Diagram
(the latter a noted avant-garde musician). This new seven-piece line-up went into the studio to record the third James album.
New singles "Sit Down
" and "Come Home" became strong hits in the independent charts, and the latter featured on the compilation album
Happy Daze
. The album Gold Mother was intended to be released on Rough Trade but the owner of the label, Geoff Travis
, believed James could only reach an audience of 20,000 to 30,000. The band believed they had more potential than this and bought the rights to the album from Rough Trade. A successful winter tour in 1989 attracted a deal with Fontana Records
, and the band ended a difficult decade on an optimistic note.
was released in June 1990, just as the 'Madchester
' movement, with its wave of popular Manchester-based indie bands, focused public attention on James and won them mainstream recognition. Singles "How Was It for You", the remixed "Come Home" and "Lose Control" all made the Top 40, and the band's newfound success was re-affirmed when they played two sell-out dates at the Manchester G-Mex
at the end of the year. In March 1991, when the popularity of "Sit Down
" led to a re-recorded version being released as a single, reaching number 2 in the UK Singles Chart
. Gold Mother was re-released to include "Sit Down" and previous single "Lose Control", and the album sold ten times more copies than Travis originally predicted. The song became one of the biggest-selling singles of the year.
The band members spent the rest of the year recording their next album, Seven
, which was released in February 1992. It reached number 2 in the UK Albums Chart (its lead single, "Sound
", had followed "Sit Down" into the top 10 a few months earlier) and earned the band some recognition in the US
as they embarked on their first Stateside tour. The band's activities culminated in a sell-out show to 30,000 people at the Alton Towers
theme park in July, broadcast live on BBC Radio 1
, following which Andy Diagram left the group.
James were subsequently invited on an acoustic tour of the US supporting Neil Young
at a series of natural outdoor venues in the autumn. They returned to England refreshed and ready to record their new album with Brian Eno
, whom they had originally approached to produce Stutter but who had been unavailable at the time. Eno set about bringing out the ambience
in James' music, and took them through a recording process that the band later described as a "journey of self-discovery". The process resulted in not one but two albums: the 'song' album, Laid, and the experimental Wah Wah
, which showcased the band's improvised jams recorded on the spot, then mixed
by Eno. Booth's vocals were then added to the results.
Laid was released in September 1993 to positive reviews. As well as being a success in the UK, the album also broke the band in the US, shipping over 600,000 copies and charting at number 72 in the Billboard 200
, propelled by the immense popularity of its risqué title track on US student radio
. The band spent most of 1994 touring the States. Wah Wah was eventually released in September 1994 to a lukewarm reception.
The recording of the follow-up album faced difficulties from the start. Two key members of the James organisation resigned — guitarist and key composer Larry Gott (who left the group in order to spend more time with his family) and manager Martine McDonagh (who had had a sometimes fraught romantic relationship with Booth, resulting in a son called Ben). Booth announced that he also wished to take a break in order to record an album with Angelo Badalamenti
. At around the same time, there was the discovery of a £250,000 tax bill owed by the band.
Determined to continue despite the setbacks, the band set up studio in Baynton-Power's house. Former Sharkboy guitarist Adrian Oxaal
was drafted in to replace Gott on guitar, while Booth returned periodically from the States to add his vocals. 1996 saw the release of Booth's album with Badalamenti (Booth and the Bad Angel
). The new James album, Whiplash
, followed in February 1997. The album proved a successful comeback, reaching the UK top 10 as did the single "She's a Star
".
The band toured to promote the album, recruiting new member Michael Kulas
while in the States, on rhythm guitar. Booth suffered a neck injury while dancing on stage in the US, resulting in a series of tour dates being cancelled as he underwent emergency surgery, and the band being offered a place instead on the Lollapalooza
tour. In March 1998, a greatest hits album, The Best Of
, was released, compiling all the band's hits since their signing to Fontana. The album reached number 1 in the UK Albums Chart, and sell-out tours throughout the year followed.
The band then returned to the studio to begin work on their next album, Millionaires
, which was released in October 1999. The album did not reach the phenomenal sales level predicted, but still entered the chart at number 2, and sold over 150,000 copies.
Shortly after its release, James reached the end of their contract, and Tim Booth announced he was leaving the band to concentrate on other projects of his own. They played a farewell tour of the UK at the end of the year. Their final hometown gig, at the Manchester Evening News arena on December 7, was recorded for a live CD and DVD, Getting Away With It... Live
. Past members Larry Gott and Andy Diagram rejoined them for the tour, and Brian Eno also joined them onstage at London's Wembley Arena during the tour. The albums Gold Mother, Laid, and Whiplash (each containing bonus tracks) were re-released by Mercury Records the following year, as well as a B-sides compilation entitled B-Sides Ultra
.
A planned compilation of material from the band's Factory and Sire years was announced in 2001, but the album, Strange Dancing, was never released. The first two James albums, Stutter
and Strip-mine
, were re-pressed in June 2007, but without any additional rarities.
Booth continued as a solo artist in 2004 with the release of his solo album Bone, co-written and produced by Lee Muddy Baker
.
A new compilation album
, The Collection
was released in late 2004, and Seven — The Live Concert (a DVD version of a previously released video) in 2005.
In January 2007, music magazine Filter
cited an announcement on singer Tim Booth's personal website, saying that "Tim will be rejoining James in early 2007 for a series of live shows to be announced very soon". At the same time, James' old website was replaced by a new domain holder at www.wearejames.com. The site confirmed the line-up as that which recorded the album Laid
: Booth, Gott, Glennie, Davies, Hunter and Baynton-Power. Booth confirmed in interviews that he became convinced to rejoin the band after meeting up with Glennie and Gott the previous November for a jamming session, out of which new songs were born.
The initial five dates of the tour were expanded to seven on the day tickets went on sale (26 January) due to high demand; the whole tour had sold out by close of business. The tour took place during late April 2007, and was followed later in the year by more live shows, including festival appearances at T in the Park
and V Festival
. The band also appeared at Summercase
, Barcelona's top music concert in Spain during July 2007. Andy Diagram
also rejoined the band as trumpet player during the festival tour. April saw the release of a new compilation album, Fresh as a Daisy — The Singles, accompanied by a DVD compilation of all the band's promo videos.
The new album Hey Ma
was released on 7 April 2008, peaking at number 10 on the UK album charts, and a three-week tour to promote the album commenced on 10 April 2008. An arena tour of the UK called "We Are Sound" followed in December, on which two new songs ("Porcupine" and "Look Away") were previewed as tasters for a new studio album. A live album with a selection of songs recorded during the 2008 spring tour was exclusively sold at the merchandise stalls of the "We Are Sound" tour. Live in 2008
was limited to 5000 copies.
was released on the 19 April, although its follow-up, The Morning After
, was released later than expected, on 2 August 2010. Following the release of The Night Before, the band embarked on a UK tour, the Mirrorball Tour, premièring songs from the album. Another UK tour took place in December. Both this tour and the US release of both mini-albums together as a 2CD set called The Morning After The Night Before. A 19-date North American tour began in September to promote the combined album as well as showcase the songs before the UK tour.
At the beginning of 2011, Tim Booth
announced that he was working on some new solo material, although James remained active, participating in the Lollapalooza
festival in Chile
.
The band appeared at Hard Rock Calling 2011
on June 24 in Hyde Park
, London. They were joined by Kaiser Chiefs
and headline act The Killers.
The band joined again for a UK wide tour in 2011 with The Orchestra of The Swan and the Manchester Consort choir, playing some never heard before live tracks including the B'side 'The lake' .
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band from Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. They formed in 1982 and were active throughout the 1980s, but most successful during the 1990s. Their hit singles include "Come Home", "Sit Down
Sit Down
"Sit Down" is one of the most famous songs by James, released in 1989 by Rough Trade Records. In its seven-minute original form, the song only reached number 77 in the UK Singles Chart...
", and "She's a Star
She's a Star
"She's a Star" is a song by British alternative rock band James. It was released in 1997 as the first single from their album Whiplash.Reaching number 9 in the UK singles chart, it became the group's third top 10 single, and first since 1991....
" as well as their American College Radio
Campus radio
Campus radio is a type of radio station that is run by the students of a college, university or other educational institution. Programming may be exclusively by students, or may include programmers from the wider community in which the radio station is based...
hit "Laid
Laid (song)
"Laid" is the title song from Manchester alternative rock band James' 1993 album Laid. Emotionally evocative and featuring the risqué lyrics "This bed is on fire with passionate love, the neighbours complain about the noises above, but she only comes when she's on top", it quickly gained popularity...
". Following the departure of lead singer Tim Booth
Tim Booth
Timothy John Booth is an English singer, dancer, and actor best known as the lead singer from the band James.-1980s:Booth was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England and attended Shrewsbury School...
in 2001, the band became inactive but re-formed in January 2007, returning for a new album and international tour.
Up to 2010, the band had sold more than 25 million albums worldwide.
The 1980s
James were formed in 1982 in Whalley Range, Manchester, when Paul GilbertsonPaul Gilbertson
Paul Gilbertson was the first guitarist of the British band James. He formed the original band and began its chaotic songwriting method of jamming. He advocated improvisation during live performances and during group recording sessions. Gilbertson was replaced in the band by Larry Gott...
convinced his friend Jim Glennie
Jim Glennie
Jim Glennie is the bassist for and namesake of English rock band, James. Glennie is the band's longest-serving member, having been there from the first line-up, through to the present....
to buy a bass guitar and form a band with him. Their line-up solidified with the acquisition of Gavan Whelan on drums. They played a string of gigs under the names Venereal and The Diseases and, later, Volume Distortion, before settling on the name of Model Team International, then shortened to Model Team.
They performed mostly improvised material derived from jam session
Jam session
Jam sessions are often used by musicians to develop new material, find suitable arrangements, or simply as a social gathering and communal practice session. Jam sessions may be based upon existing songs or forms, may be loosely based on an agreed chord progression or chart suggested by one...
s, supporting The Fall at an early gig. Vocalists and other musicians drifted rapidly in and out of their line-up, until the band encountered Tim Booth
Tim Booth
Timothy John Booth is an English singer, dancer, and actor best known as the lead singer from the band James.-1980s:Booth was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England and attended Shrewsbury School...
at a student disco. Gilbertson invited him to the band's scout hut in Withington
Withington
Withington is a suburban area of the City of Manchester, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies south of Manchester city centre, about south of Fallowfield, north-east of Didsbury, and east of Chorlton-cum-Hardy, near the centre-to-south edges of the Greater Manchester Urban Area; in the...
to join the band as a dancer.
After a brief period under the name Tribal Outlook, the band renamed themselves James in August 1982. A gig at The Haçienda
The Haçienda
Fac 51 Haçienda was a nightclub and music venue in Manchester, England. It became most famous during the "Madchester" years of the late 1980s and early 1990s, during the 1990s it was labelled the most famous club in the world by Newsweek magazine...
caught the attention of Tony Wilson
Tony Wilson
Anthony Howard Wilson, commonly known as Tony Wilson , was an English record label owner, radio presenter, TV show host, nightclub manager, impresario and journalist for Granada Television and the BBC....
of Factory Records
Factory Records
Factory Records was a Manchester based British independent record label, started in 1978 by Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus, which featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Joy Division, New Order, A Certain Ratio, The Durutti Column, Happy Mondays, Northside and James and...
. He offered James an album deal with Factory, but the band, by now a settled live act, were worried about tarnishing their material in the studio and settled instead for a three-track EP. Their debut release, the Jimone
Jimone
Jimone was the first EP by Mancunian band James, released in November 1983 by Factory Records. It contained three tracks that also later appeared on the band's Village Fire EP...
EP, was recorded at Strawberry Studios
Strawberry Studios
-Formation:The facility was originally called Inner City Studios and located above a music store in the town centre. In early 1968 it was bought by Peter Tattersall, a former road manager for Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas. Tattersall invited Eric Stewart – then lead guitarist and singer of...
, Stockport
Stockport
Stockport is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on elevated ground southeast of Manchester city centre, at the point where the rivers Goyt and Tame join and create the River Mersey. Stockport is the largest settlement in the metropolitan borough of the same name...
, in August 1983 and released on Factory Records in September. It was named single of the week by major music papers in the UK, and led to a tour supporting The Smiths
The Smiths
The Smiths were an English alternative rock band, formed in Manchester in 1982. Based on the song writing partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr , the band also included Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce...
.
Although they were now being touted as the 'next big thing', several complex issues slowed their progress. Gilbertson's drug problems presented the band with no choice but to ask him to leave. Booth and Glennie had joined a sect named Lifewave that imposed many restrictions on their lifestyle and threatened the band's stability. The band's second EP, James II
James II (EP)
James II was the second EP by Mancunian band James, released in March 1985 by Factory Records. It contained two tracks later to be released as part of Village Fire.-Personnel:*Tim Booth - Vocals*Jim Glennie - Bass guitar*Larry Gott - Lead guitar...
, was released over a year after the first and accompanied by a feature on the cover of the NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
, Gilbertson having been replaced by the band's guitar tutor Larry Gott
Larry Gott
Larry Gott is an English musician, primarily of the Mancunian band, James. He is also a designer.-Music:...
. The first two EPs would later be collected as Village Fire
Village Fire
Village Fire was the third EP by Mancunian band James, released in 1985 by Factory Records. It contained all five tracks from their previously released singles Jimone and James II.- Track listing :From Jimone:# "What's the World" – 1:55...
. Reviews were once again positive, and Factory were eager for James to record an album with it, but the band believed Factory were purely image-based and left the label, striking a deal with Sire Records
Sire Records
Sire Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:The label was founded in 1966 as Sire Productions by Seymour Stein and Richard Gottehrer, each investing ten thousand dollars into the new company. Its early releases as a...
.
Their third release, the Sit Down EP
Chain Mail
"Chain Mail" is a single by Mancunian band James, released in March 1986 by Sire Records, the first after the band defected from Factory Records. The record was released in two different versions, as 7" single and 12" EP, with different artworks by John Carroll and, confusingly, under different...
(no relation to the song of that name) came out in February 1986, and was followed by their debut album, Stutter
Stutter (album)
Stutter was the debut album from English band James, released in June 1986. The album was produced by Lenny Kaye, although the band had originally hoped to work with Brian Eno. After a bidding war between a number of labels, the album was released on Blanco y Negro, part of Sire. Artwork was...
in July of that year. The album reached number 68 in the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
. Low on money and lacking coverage and promotion, the band recorded their second album, Strip-mine
Strip-mine
Strip-mine was the second album from English band James, released in September 1988. The album was produced by Hugh Jones, except "Riders" and "Refrain" which were produced by Steve Power and Steve Lovell...
, attempting a more conventional song structure in an attempt to please Sire. The album almost went unreleased, but after undergoing a slight remix to sound more radio-friendly, Sire released the album in September 1988, over a year after it had been initially completed. However the album only reached number 90. After finding a clause for ending their contract, the band left Sire. Desperate for money, the band members were driven to the extreme of participating as human guinea pigs in medical experiments at the Manchester Royal Infirmary
Manchester Royal Infirmary
The Manchester Royal Infirmary is a hospital in Manchester, England which was founded by Charles White in 1752 as a cottage hospital capable of caring for twelve patients. Manchester Royal Infirmary is part of a larger NHS Trust incorporating several hospitals called Central Manchester University...
, earning them a place on a TV documentary about the desperation of fallen rock stars.
James had by this point earned themselves a reputation as a solid live act and had built a solid fanbase. Sales of James t-shirts were particularly successful in Manchester even before they reached the Top 40. James financed the production of a live album
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
with a bank loan, One Man Clapping
One Man Clapping
One Man Clapping was the third album from English band James, a live album released in March 1989. The album was recorded at the Moles Club, Bath, UK on the 14 and 15 November 1988. The album was issued on their own One Man imprint of Rough Trade Records, after parting company with Blanco y...
, and the help of Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...
. The album went to number 1 in the indie charts, reinvigorating media interest in the band.
In November 1988, drummer Whelan became involved in an on-stage fight with Booth and was asked to leave the band. He was replaced by David Baynton-Power
David Baynton-Power
Dave Baynton-Power is a musician, best known as drummer of the long-existing English rock band James...
a few months later. During the following year James greatly expanded their lineup and sound palette by hiring three new members — guitarist-violinist-percussionist Saul Davies (whom Gott recruited from an amateur blues night), keyboard player Mark Hunter and onetime Diagram Brothers/Pale Fountains
The Pale Fountains
The Pale Fountains were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1980, and composed of Mick Head , Chris McCaffery , Thomas Whelan and former Dislocation Dance trumpeter Andy Diagram .-Career:...
trumpeter/percussionist Andy Diagram
Andy Diagram
Andy Diagram is a British musician and trumpet player. He has worked with the instrument in a variety bands and contexts ranging from pop and rock to experimental jazz, art rock and dance music...
(the latter a noted avant-garde musician). This new seven-piece line-up went into the studio to record the third James album.
New singles "Sit Down
Sit Down
"Sit Down" is one of the most famous songs by James, released in 1989 by Rough Trade Records. In its seven-minute original form, the song only reached number 77 in the UK Singles Chart...
" and "Come Home" became strong hits in the independent charts, and the latter featured on the compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
Happy Daze
Happy Daze (Madchester album)
Happy Daze is a compilation album of songs linked to the Madchester music genre distributed by Island Records in 1990.-Influence:The Madchester sound had been developing during the later 1980s, from its nascent jangy sounds originally showcased on the NME's classic C86 cassette...
. The album Gold Mother was intended to be released on Rough Trade but the owner of the label, Geoff Travis
Geoff Travis
Geoff Travis is the founder of both Rough Trade Records and the Rough Trade chain of record shops. A former drama teacher and owner of a punk record shop, Travis founded the Rough Trade label in 1978.-Biography:...
, believed James could only reach an audience of 20,000 to 30,000. The band believed they had more potential than this and bought the rights to the album from Rough Trade. A successful winter tour in 1989 attracted a deal with Fontana Records
Fontana Records
Fontana Records is a record label which was started in the 1950s as a subsidiary of the Dutch Philips Records; when Philips restructured its music operations it dropped Fontana in favor of Vertigo Records. In the seventies PolyGram acquired the dormant label....
, and the band ended a difficult decade on an optimistic note.
The 1990s
Gold MotherGold Mother
Gold Mother was the third studio album from English band James, originally released June 1990. The album was recorded for Rough Trade Records, but James asked to be released from their contract with them and moved to Fontana...
was released in June 1990, just as the 'Madchester
Madchester
Madchester was a music scene that developed in Manchester, England, towards the end of the 1980s and into the early 1990s. The music that emerged from the scene mixed alternative rock, psychedelic rock and dance music...
' movement, with its wave of popular Manchester-based indie bands, focused public attention on James and won them mainstream recognition. Singles "How Was It for You", the remixed "Come Home" and "Lose Control" all made the Top 40, and the band's newfound success was re-affirmed when they played two sell-out dates at the Manchester G-Mex
G-Mex
Manchester Central, , formerly known as the GMEX centre and Manchester International Conference Centre , is an exhibition and conference centre built in and around the former Manchester Central railway station in Manchester, North West England...
at the end of the year. In March 1991, when the popularity of "Sit Down
Sit Down
"Sit Down" is one of the most famous songs by James, released in 1989 by Rough Trade Records. In its seven-minute original form, the song only reached number 77 in the UK Singles Chart...
" led to a re-recorded version being released as a single, reaching number 2 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. Gold Mother was re-released to include "Sit Down" and previous single "Lose Control", and the album sold ten times more copies than Travis originally predicted. The song became one of the biggest-selling singles of the year.
The band members spent the rest of the year recording their next album, Seven
Seven (James album)
Seven was the fourth album from English band James, released February 1992. Half of the album was produced by Youth, but after being unimpressed with some of the early records the band's studio time ran out, so the band produced the rest of the album itself with the help of Steve Chase.-Track...
, which was released in February 1992. It reached number 2 in the UK Albums Chart (its lead single, "Sound
Sound (James song)
"Sound" was the first single taken from Seven, the fourth studio album by the Manchester band James.Released in November 1991, it reached #9 in the UK Singles Chart, the second of the group's three top 10 hits to date...
", had followed "Sit Down" into the top 10 a few months earlier) and earned the band some recognition in the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as they embarked on their first Stateside tour. The band's activities culminated in a sell-out show to 30,000 people at the Alton Towers
Alton Towers
Alton Towers is a theme park and resort located in Staffordshire, England. It attracts around 2.7 million visitors per year making it the most visited theme park in the United Kingdom. Alton Towers is also the 9th most visited theme park in Europe...
theme park in July, broadcast live on BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
, following which Andy Diagram left the group.
James were subsequently invited on an acoustic tour of the US supporting Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
at a series of natural outdoor venues in the autumn. They returned to England refreshed and ready to record their new album with Brian Eno
Brian Eno
Brian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno , commonly known as Brian Eno or simply as Eno , is an English musician, composer, record producer, singer and visual artist, known as one of the principal innovators of ambient music.Eno studied at Colchester Institute art school in Essex,...
, whom they had originally approached to produce Stutter but who had been unavailable at the time. Eno set about bringing out the ambience
Ambient music
Ambient music is a musical genre that focuses largely on the timbral characteristics of sounds, often organized or performed to evoke an "atmospheric", "visual" or "unobtrusive" quality.- History :...
in James' music, and took them through a recording process that the band later described as a "journey of self-discovery". The process resulted in not one but two albums: the 'song' album, Laid, and the experimental Wah Wah
Wah Wah
Wah Wah, the sixth full-length release by the Manchester indie rock group James, was produced by Brian Eno during the same six-week session as Laid. Although the group had always been keen on improvisation, both as their principal songwriting method and onstage, this was their first album to be...
, which showcased the band's improvised jams recorded on the spot, then mixed
Audio mixing (recorded music)
In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
by Eno. Booth's vocals were then added to the results.
Laid was released in September 1993 to positive reviews. As well as being a success in the UK, the album also broke the band in the US, shipping over 600,000 copies and charting at number 72 in the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, propelled by the immense popularity of its risqué title track on US student radio
Campus radio
Campus radio is a type of radio station that is run by the students of a college, university or other educational institution. Programming may be exclusively by students, or may include programmers from the wider community in which the radio station is based...
. The band spent most of 1994 touring the States. Wah Wah was eventually released in September 1994 to a lukewarm reception.
The recording of the follow-up album faced difficulties from the start. Two key members of the James organisation resigned — guitarist and key composer Larry Gott (who left the group in order to spend more time with his family) and manager Martine McDonagh (who had had a sometimes fraught romantic relationship with Booth, resulting in a son called Ben). Booth announced that he also wished to take a break in order to record an album with Angelo Badalamenti
Angelo Badalamenti
Angelo Badalamenti is an American composer, known for his movie soundtrack work for director David Lynch, notably Blue Velvet, the Twin Peaks saga and Mulholland Drive...
. At around the same time, there was the discovery of a £250,000 tax bill owed by the band.
Determined to continue despite the setbacks, the band set up studio in Baynton-Power's house. Former Sharkboy guitarist Adrian Oxaal
Adrian Oxaal
Adrian Oxaal is an English musician and music educator, best known for being the lead guitarist in James between 1997 and 2002. He has also played with the bands Sharkboy and Goat.-Early years, and work with Goat:...
was drafted in to replace Gott on guitar, while Booth returned periodically from the States to add his vocals. 1996 saw the release of Booth's album with Badalamenti (Booth and the Bad Angel
Booth and the Bad Angel
Booth and the Bad Angel was a music project based around the collaborative efforts of Tim Booth and the American film composer, Angelo Badalamenti...
). The new James album, Whiplash
Whiplash (album)
Whiplash is the seventh studio album by British alternative rock band James. It contained the top ten hit "She's a Star" which re-established the group commercially...
, followed in February 1997. The album proved a successful comeback, reaching the UK top 10 as did the single "She's a Star
She's a Star
"She's a Star" is a song by British alternative rock band James. It was released in 1997 as the first single from their album Whiplash.Reaching number 9 in the UK singles chart, it became the group's third top 10 single, and first since 1991....
".
The band toured to promote the album, recruiting new member Michael Kulas
Michael Kulas
Michael Kulas is a Canadian singer, songwriter and music producer who was a member of the English rock band James between 1997 and 2001.- Personal details :...
while in the States, on rhythm guitar. Booth suffered a neck injury while dancing on stage in the US, resulting in a series of tour dates being cancelled as he underwent emergency surgery, and the band being offered a place instead on the Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza is an annual music festival featuring popular alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and hip hop bands, dance and comedy performances, and craft booths. It has also provided a platform for non-profit and political groups. The music festival hosts more than 160,000 people over a...
tour. In March 1998, a greatest hits album, The Best Of
The Best Of (James album)
The Best Of is the first of four compilation albums by British band James .-Track listing:# "Come Home "# "Sit Down"# "She's a Star"# "Laid"# "Waltzing Along "# "Say Something"...
, was released, compiling all the band's hits since their signing to Fontana. The album reached number 1 in the UK Albums Chart, and sell-out tours throughout the year followed.
The band then returned to the studio to begin work on their next album, Millionaires
Millionaires (album)
Millionaires is the eighth studio album by British alternative rock band James.- Reception :In a review of the album in 1999, Q Magazine stated: - Track listing :# "Crash"# "Just Like Fred Astaire"# "I Know What I'm Here For"...
, which was released in October 1999. The album did not reach the phenomenal sales level predicted, but still entered the chart at number 2, and sold over 150,000 copies.
The 2000s
After the disappointing performance of Millionaires the band chose to start anew in their approach to their next album, working with Eno once again. They spent most of 2000 recording the album; writing the songs, then performing them live before actually recording them. They embarked on a small-scale tour in the autumn of that year on which their setlists consisted almost entirely of new material. The album, Pleased To Meet You, was released in July 2001. The album's artwork featured a composite image of the faces of all the band members to create a new person. The album reached only number 11, the lowest position for a James studio album since their signing to Fontana.Shortly after its release, James reached the end of their contract, and Tim Booth announced he was leaving the band to concentrate on other projects of his own. They played a farewell tour of the UK at the end of the year. Their final hometown gig, at the Manchester Evening News arena on December 7, was recorded for a live CD and DVD, Getting Away With It... Live
Getting Away With It... Live
Getting Away With It... Live is the thirteenth release and the third live album from the Manchester Indie group James. It was recorded at the Manchester gig of their 2001 winter tour, which was dubbed as James' final tour until their reunion in 2007, at the Manchester Evening News Arena on 7...
. Past members Larry Gott and Andy Diagram rejoined them for the tour, and Brian Eno also joined them onstage at London's Wembley Arena during the tour. The albums Gold Mother, Laid, and Whiplash (each containing bonus tracks) were re-released by Mercury Records the following year, as well as a B-sides compilation entitled B-Sides Ultra
B-Sides Ultra
B-Sides Ultra is the twelfth release and the second of four compilation albums from Manchester Indie group, James. B-Sides Ultra contains a collection of B-sides from their studio albums and singles released between 1990 and 1999. The B-sides were selected following a vote from fans on the band's...
.
A planned compilation of material from the band's Factory and Sire years was announced in 2001, but the album, Strange Dancing, was never released. The first two James albums, Stutter
Stutter (album)
Stutter was the debut album from English band James, released in June 1986. The album was produced by Lenny Kaye, although the band had originally hoped to work with Brian Eno. After a bidding war between a number of labels, the album was released on Blanco y Negro, part of Sire. Artwork was...
and Strip-mine
Strip-mine
Strip-mine was the second album from English band James, released in September 1988. The album was produced by Hugh Jones, except "Riders" and "Refrain" which were produced by Steve Power and Steve Lovell...
, were re-pressed in June 2007, but without any additional rarities.
Booth continued as a solo artist in 2004 with the release of his solo album Bone, co-written and produced by Lee Muddy Baker
Lee Muddy Baker
Lee "Muddy" Baker is a UK-based singer-songwriter, producer, performer, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist.-Early years:...
.
A new compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
, The Collection
The Collection (James album)
The Collection is the third of four compilation albums by the British alternative rock band James. Released in 2004, almost three years after the band separated in December 2001, it contains an unusual mix of hit singles, key album tracks, B-sides and some rarer tracks, making the release useful...
was released in late 2004, and Seven — The Live Concert (a DVD version of a previously released video) in 2005.
In January 2007, music magazine Filter
Filter (magazine)
FILTER, the publication that promises us that "Good music will prevail," is a seasonal American music and off-beat entertainment magazine. It features commentary and photos of up-and-coming musicians and filmmakers ranging from actors to writer-directors...
cited an announcement on singer Tim Booth's personal website, saying that "Tim will be rejoining James in early 2007 for a series of live shows to be announced very soon". At the same time, James' old website was replaced by a new domain holder at www.wearejames.com. The site confirmed the line-up as that which recorded the album Laid
Laid
Laid is the sixth studio album by British alternative rock band James. It was released on October 5, 1993. It was the first of several collaborations between the group and Brian Eno, who produced all but one of the album's tracks – in Stuart Maconie's authorised biography of the group, Folklore,...
: Booth, Gott, Glennie, Davies, Hunter and Baynton-Power. Booth confirmed in interviews that he became convinced to rejoin the band after meeting up with Glennie and Gott the previous November for a jamming session, out of which new songs were born.
The initial five dates of the tour were expanded to seven on the day tickets went on sale (26 January) due to high demand; the whole tour had sold out by close of business. The tour took place during late April 2007, and was followed later in the year by more live shows, including festival appearances at T in the Park
T in the Park
T in the Park is a major British music festival that has been held annually since 1994. It is named after its main sponsor, the brewing company Tennents. It was originally held at Strathclyde Park, Lanarkshire but since 1997 has been held at a disused airfield in Balado, Kinross-shire...
and V Festival
V Festival
The V Festival is an annual music festival held in England during the penultimate weekend in August. The event is held at two parks simultaneously which share the same bill; artists perform at one location on Saturday and then swap on Sunday. The sites are located at Hylands Park in Chelmsford and...
. The band also appeared at Summercase
Summercase
Summercase was a two-day music festival held simultaneously in Barcelona and Madrid. The schedules were the same but reverted. The line up mainly consists of indie rock, electronic music and indie pop. Hence, the festival tries to blend indie pop, rock music and dance music into one...
, Barcelona's top music concert in Spain during July 2007. Andy Diagram
Andy Diagram
Andy Diagram is a British musician and trumpet player. He has worked with the instrument in a variety bands and contexts ranging from pop and rock to experimental jazz, art rock and dance music...
also rejoined the band as trumpet player during the festival tour. April saw the release of a new compilation album, Fresh as a Daisy — The Singles, accompanied by a DVD compilation of all the band's promo videos.
The new album Hey Ma
Hey Ma
Hey Ma is the tenth studio album by British alternative rock band James. It was released on April 7, 2008.- Recording and production :...
was released on 7 April 2008, peaking at number 10 on the UK album charts, and a three-week tour to promote the album commenced on 10 April 2008. An arena tour of the UK called "We Are Sound" followed in December, on which two new songs ("Porcupine" and "Look Away") were previewed as tasters for a new studio album. A live album with a selection of songs recorded during the 2008 spring tour was exclusively sold at the merchandise stalls of the "We Are Sound" tour. Live in 2008
Live in 2008
Live in 2008 is a self-released live album by James, containing fourteen songs recorded during their 2008 spring tour.The album was limited to 5000 copies, and was exclusively sold at the merchandise stalls at the "We Are Sound" 2008 UK tour. Very few copies have been 'sold on' by loyal fans which...
was limited to 5000 copies.
The 2010s
The band announced plans to release two mini-albums by April 2010. The Night BeforeThe Night Before (James album)
The Night Before is the first of two mini-albums by British alternative rock band James, released in April 2010. It featured seven tracks, plus one of two bonus tracks , and was available on CD and as an MP3 download. Some of the songs, such as "Porcupine", had been previewed by the band at...
was released on the 19 April, although its follow-up, The Morning After
The Morning After (James album)
The Morning After is the second of two mini-albums by British alternative rock band James, released in September 2010. It features eight tracks and is available on CD and as an MP3 download...
, was released later than expected, on 2 August 2010. Following the release of The Night Before, the band embarked on a UK tour, the Mirrorball Tour, premièring songs from the album. Another UK tour took place in December. Both this tour and the US release of both mini-albums together as a 2CD set called The Morning After The Night Before. A 19-date North American tour began in September to promote the combined album as well as showcase the songs before the UK tour.
At the beginning of 2011, Tim Booth
Tim Booth
Timothy John Booth is an English singer, dancer, and actor best known as the lead singer from the band James.-1980s:Booth was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England and attended Shrewsbury School...
announced that he was working on some new solo material, although James remained active, participating in the Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza is an annual music festival featuring popular alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and hip hop bands, dance and comedy performances, and craft booths. It has also provided a platform for non-profit and political groups. The music festival hosts more than 160,000 people over a...
festival in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
.
The band appeared at Hard Rock Calling 2011
Hard Rock Calling
Hard Rock Calling is an annual music festival held in Hyde Park, London, which first took place on Saturday July 1 and Sunday July 2, 2006. The music played is primarily rock music, and various performers, including Bon Jovi, The Who, Aerosmith, Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen have played at the...
on June 24 in Hyde Park
Hyde Park, London
Hyde Park is one of the largest parks in central London, United Kingdom, and one of the Royal Parks of London, famous for its Speakers' Corner.The park is divided in two by the Serpentine...
, London. They were joined by Kaiser Chiefs
Kaiser Chiefs
Kaiser Chiefs are an English indie rock band from Leeds who formed in 1996. They were named after the South African football club Kaizer Chiefs....
and headline act The Killers.
The band joined again for a UK wide tour in 2011 with The Orchestra of The Swan and the Manchester Consort choir, playing some never heard before live tracks including the B'side 'The lake' .
Discography
Studio albums- StutterStutter (album)Stutter was the debut album from English band James, released in June 1986. The album was produced by Lenny Kaye, although the band had originally hoped to work with Brian Eno. After a bidding war between a number of labels, the album was released on Blanco y Negro, part of Sire. Artwork was...
(1986) - Strip-mineStrip-mineStrip-mine was the second album from English band James, released in September 1988. The album was produced by Hugh Jones, except "Riders" and "Refrain" which were produced by Steve Power and Steve Lovell...
(1988) - Gold MotherGold MotherGold Mother was the third studio album from English band James, originally released June 1990. The album was recorded for Rough Trade Records, but James asked to be released from their contract with them and moved to Fontana...
(1990), issued in the USUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
as James - SevenSeven (James album)Seven was the fourth album from English band James, released February 1992. Half of the album was produced by Youth, but after being unimpressed with some of the early records the band's studio time ran out, so the band produced the rest of the album itself with the help of Steve Chase.-Track...
(1992) - Laid (1993)
- Wah WahWah WahWah Wah, the sixth full-length release by the Manchester indie rock group James, was produced by Brian Eno during the same six-week session as Laid. Although the group had always been keen on improvisation, both as their principal songwriting method and onstage, this was their first album to be...
(1994) - WhiplashWhiplash (album)Whiplash is the seventh studio album by British alternative rock band James. It contained the top ten hit "She's a Star" which re-established the group commercially...
(1997) - The Best Of (1998)
- MillionairesMillionaires (album)Millionaires is the eighth studio album by British alternative rock band James.- Reception :In a review of the album in 1999, Q Magazine stated: - Track listing :# "Crash"# "Just Like Fred Astaire"# "I Know What I'm Here For"...
(1999) - Ultra B sides (2001)
- Pleased to Meet You (2001)
- The CollectionThe Collection (James album)The Collection is the third of four compilation albums by the British alternative rock band James. Released in 2004, almost three years after the band separated in December 2001, it contains an unusual mix of hit singles, key album tracks, B-sides and some rarer tracks, making the release useful...
(2004) - Fresh As A Daisy - The SinglesFresh as a Daisy - The SinglesFresh as a Daisy – The Singles is a compilation album by Mancunian rock band James issued on Mercury on April 30, 2007.The album was released in two editions; a single CD containing most of the singles the group recorded for Mercury and a 2 disc edition listed on the cover sticker as "The Complete...
(2007) - Live 2008 (April 2008 UK tour)
- Hey MaHey MaHey Ma is the tenth studio album by British alternative rock band James. It was released on April 7, 2008.- Recording and production :...
(2008) - The Night BeforeThe Night Before (James album)The Night Before is the first of two mini-albums by British alternative rock band James, released in April 2010. It featured seven tracks, plus one of two bonus tracks , and was available on CD and as an MP3 download. Some of the songs, such as "Porcupine", had been previewed by the band at...
(2010) - The Morning AfterThe Morning After (James album)The Morning After is the second of two mini-albums by British alternative rock band James, released in September 2010. It features eight tracks and is available on CD and as an MP3 download...
(2010)