Jimmy James (song)
Encyclopedia
"Jimmy James" is the first song and third single from Beastie Boys
' third album Check Your Head
. The song has been described as a tribute to Jimi Hendrix
by Beastie Boys member MCA, and contains samples from several Hendrix songs including "Foxy Lady
", "Happy Birthday", and "Still Raining, Still Dreaming". The song also samples the drum beat
from "I'm Chief Kamanawanalea (We're the Royal Macadamia Nuts)" by The Turtles
, as well as a line from Mantronix's
1985
single, "Fresh Is the Word" ("...for all the Blacks, Puerto Ricans, and the White People too").
done by Yauch (this version of the song appears on the "Jimmy James" EP
as the "Original Original version"). Later on, lyrics were written and the other two Beastie Boys, Mike "Mike D" Diamond and Adam "King Adrock" Horovitz, asked to lend their vocals to the song along with Yauch.
However, Hendrix's family, who own the rights to most of his catalogue, denied the group clearance to use the samples (the group, however, were somehow able to keep the "Happy Birthday" and "Foxy Lady" samples in the song, though). Determined to keep the song on Check Your Head, the group re-recorded "Jimmy James" using samples similar to the Hendrix ones. This version ended up being released as the first track on the album.
A few months after Check Your Head was released, Hendrix's family finally relented and gave the Beastie Boys clearance to use the samples. As a result, the "Original version" of "Jimmy James" was released as the third single from Check Your Head, and a music video was made for it which premiered in August 1992.
The original version has since been issued on their compilation albium The Sounds of Science. The beginning of the album version of the track is a sample from the live version of "Surrender
" by Cheap Trick
from their live album Cheap Trick at Budokan.
and VH1
credit the "Jimmy James" music video to Nathaniel Hörnblowér, Adam Yauch's director alter ego
. However, on the Beastie Boys' Sabotage VHS
tape released in 1994, the "Jimmy James" music video is listed as being co-directed by Yauch (as Nathaniel Hörnblowér) and Lisa Ann Cabasa
, an actress, and Yauch's girlfriend at the time the video was made. Cabasa directed the dance sequences in the music video and also appeared in the video as one of the silhouetted female dancers.
on the television series NewsRadio
came from this song.
Beastie Boys
Beastie Boys are an American hip hop trio from New York City. The group consists of Mike D who plays the drums, MCA who plays the bass, and Ad-Rock who plays the guitar....
' third album Check Your Head
Check Your Head
Check Your Head is the third studio album by the Beastie Boys, released on April 21, 1992.Three years elapsed between the release of Paul's Boutique and their recording of this album. Check Your Head was recorded at the G-Son Studios in Atwater Village, California in 1991...
. The song has been described as a tribute to Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
by Beastie Boys member MCA, and contains samples from several Hendrix songs including "Foxy Lady
Foxy Lady
"Foxy Lady" is a song by The Jimi Hendrix Experience from their 1967 album Are You Experienced. It can also be found on a number of Hendrix's greatest hits compilations, including Smash Hits and Experience Hendrix: The Best of Jimi Hendrix...
", "Happy Birthday", and "Still Raining, Still Dreaming". The song also samples the drum beat
Drum beat
A drum beat or drum pattern is a rhythmic pattern, or repeated rhythm establishing the meter and groove through the pulse and subdivision, played on drum kits and other percussion instruments...
from "I'm Chief Kamanawanalea (We're the Royal Macadamia Nuts)" by The Turtles
The Turtles
The Turtles are an American rock group led by vocalists Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman. The band became notable for several Top 40 hits beginning with its cover version of Bob Dylan's "It Ain't Me Babe" in 1965...
, as well as a line from Mantronix's
Mantronix
Mantronix was an influential 1980s hip hop and electro funk music group founded by DJ Kurtis Mantronik , and rapper MC Tee...
1985
1985 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1985.-January–March:*January 1 - The newest music video channel, VH-1, debuts on American cable. It is aimed at an older demographic than its sister station, MTV...
single, "Fresh Is the Word" ("...for all the Blacks, Puerto Ricans, and the White People too").
Song information
"Jimmy James" originally started out as an instrumental track with scratchingScratching
Scratching is a DJ or turntablist technique used to produce distinctive sounds by moving a vinyl record back and forth on a turntable while optionally manipulating the crossfader on a DJ mixer. While scratching is most commonly associated with hip hop music, since the late 1980s, it has been used...
done by Yauch (this version of the song appears on the "Jimmy James" EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
as the "Original Original version"). Later on, lyrics were written and the other two Beastie Boys, Mike "Mike D" Diamond and Adam "King Adrock" Horovitz, asked to lend their vocals to the song along with Yauch.
However, Hendrix's family, who own the rights to most of his catalogue, denied the group clearance to use the samples (the group, however, were somehow able to keep the "Happy Birthday" and "Foxy Lady" samples in the song, though). Determined to keep the song on Check Your Head, the group re-recorded "Jimmy James" using samples similar to the Hendrix ones. This version ended up being released as the first track on the album.
A few months after Check Your Head was released, Hendrix's family finally relented and gave the Beastie Boys clearance to use the samples. As a result, the "Original version" of "Jimmy James" was released as the third single from Check Your Head, and a music video was made for it which premiered in August 1992.
The original version has since been issued on their compilation albium The Sounds of Science. The beginning of the album version of the track is a sample from the live version of "Surrender
Surrender (Cheap Trick song)
"Surrender" is a single by Cheap Trick released in June 1978 from the album Heaven Tonight. It was the first Cheap Trick single to enter the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 62...
" by Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick is an American rock band from Rockford, Illinois, formed in 1973. The band consists of members Robin Zander , Rick Nielsen , Tom Petersson , and Bun E...
from their live album Cheap Trick at Budokan.
Music video
MTVMTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
and VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
credit the "Jimmy James" music video to Nathaniel Hörnblowér, Adam Yauch's director alter ego
Alter ego
An alter ego is a second self, which is believe to be distinct from a person's normal or original personality. The term was coined in the early nineteenth century when dissociative identity disorder was first described by psychologists...
. However, on the Beastie Boys' Sabotage VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
tape released in 1994, the "Jimmy James" music video is listed as being co-directed by Yauch (as Nathaniel Hörnblowér) and Lisa Ann Cabasa
Lisa Ann Cabasa
Lisa Ann Cabasa is an actress best known for her role as Tinga on the series Dark Angel.-External links:...
, an actress, and Yauch's girlfriend at the time the video was made. Cabasa directed the dance sequences in the music video and also appeared in the video as one of the silhouetted female dancers.
In popular culture
The name of the character Jimmy James played by Stephen RootStephen Root
Stephen Root is an American actor. He is best known for his comedic work on the TV sitcom NewsRadio, in the film Office Space and as the voice of Bill Dauterive and Buck Strickland in the animated series King of the Hill...
on the television series NewsRadio
NewsRadio
NewsRadio is an American television situation comedy that aired on NBC from 1995 to 1999. The series was created by executive producer Paul Simms, and was filmed in front of a studio audience at CBS Studio Center and Sunset Gower Studios...
came from this song.
Samples
- "Rockin' It" by Fearless FourFearless FourThe Fearless Four was an old school rap crew from Harlem, New York, best known for their 1982 single "Rockin' It", which was based on the Kraftwerk track "The Man-Machine" and was featured in the 1983 documentary Style Wars. Originally The Fearless Four was a two-member group called the...
- "Fresh Is the Word" by MantronixMantronixMantronix was an influential 1980s hip hop and electro funk music group founded by DJ Kurtis Mantronik , and rapper MC Tee...
- "Beat Bop" by Rammelzee vs. K-Rob
- "I'm Chief Kamanawanalea (We're the Royal Macadamia Nuts)" by The TurtlesThe TurtlesThe Turtles are an American rock group led by vocalists Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman. The band became notable for several Top 40 hits beginning with its cover version of Bob Dylan's "It Ain't Me Babe" in 1965...
- "Third Stone from the SunThird Stone from the Sun"Third Stone From the Sun" is a song written and originally recorded by Jimi Hendrix and released as "3rd Stone From The Sun" on the 1967 Are You Experienced album by Jimi Hendrix Experience...
", "Foxy LadyFoxy Lady"Foxy Lady" is a song by The Jimi Hendrix Experience from their 1967 album Are You Experienced. It can also be found on a number of Hendrix's greatest hits compilations, including Smash Hits and Experience Hendrix: The Best of Jimi Hendrix...
", "Happy Birthday", "EXP", "Are You Experienced?Are You Experienced? (song)"Are You Experienced?" is a song written by Jimi Hendrix and recorded by The Jimi Hendrix Experience for their 1967 debut album Are You Experienced. The song was recorded on April 3, 1967 at Olympic Sound Studios in London, England; the songs "May This Be Love" and "Highway Chile" were recorded on...
", "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)Voodoo Child (Slight Return)"Voodoo Child " is the closing track on Electric Ladyland, the third and final album by the Jimi Hendrix Experience. The song is known for its wah-wah-heavy guitar work. It is #101 on Rolling Stone's list of 500 greatest songs of all time....
", and "Still Raining, Still Dreaming" by Jimi HendrixJimi HendrixJames Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter... - "SurrenderSurrender (Cheap Trick song)"Surrender" is a single by Cheap Trick released in June 1978 from the album Heaven Tonight. It was the first Cheap Trick single to enter the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 62...
" by Cheap TrickCheap TrickCheap Trick is an American rock band from Rockford, Illinois, formed in 1973. The band consists of members Robin Zander , Rick Nielsen , Tom Petersson , and Bun E...
(Live version from Cheap Trick at Budokan; only used in the version featured on Check Your Head)
Charts
In the UK, the song charted as a part of the EP Frozen Metal Head.| Chart (1992) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| 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 ... |
55 |