Sit Down (1989)

Following the split from Sire, James released the number one indie album One Man Clapping with the assistance of Geoff Travis from Rough Trade. In the spring of 1989, James signed to Rough Trade and entered the studio to record Sit Down, a track written in the days of Sire which they had held back until they had escaped to a new label.

With James now a seven-piece band, the single was released in June 1989 to coincide with a short UK tour. It was released on 7″, 12″ and a small 3″ CD single with original issues of the 7″ including a free postcard. The 12″ and CD formats included an eight-minute version of Sit Down ending in a reprise of the song with a sound engineer chanting Lester Piggott over the outro. B-sides to the single included Sky Is Falling, a demo that was James contribution to BOP Records legendary Manchester North of England album, Goin Away, a two-minute track that had opened up many James shows that year and Sound Investment, a meditation on the complexity of relationships.

A video directed by Ed Barton accompanied the single. Set against a white background and Tim sporting a fetching kaftan, the video features the band performing the song, Tim hugging a sheep (which apparently urinated him at one stage) and various shady-looking individuals sitting down next to Tim. The video received a Musicians Union ban for two weeks as it featured Jim impersonating a drummer, apparently taking someone else’s job.

Artwork for the single was provided by Manchester’s Central Station Design, responsible for most Factory Records sleeves.

The single received almost universal acclaim in the music press, but Radio 1 appeared not to pick the single up so crucial airplay was lost. The single entered the charts at number 77 and went no higher, but that was better than James had achieved before.  The song had however left an indelible mark on the James audience.

Press Release

James kick off a long-term recording relationship with Rough Trade Records with the single Sit Down released on June 19th.  Sit Down looks set to build on the success of the indie chart-topping One Man Clapping live album; the b-side Sky Is Falling shows the band have lost none of their out-spoken concern for environmental issues.

The full track listing for the twelve inch version is as follows:

• Side A : Sit Down (Extended Version)
• Side B : Goin Away, Sound Investment and Sky Is Falling

Keyboardist Mark Hunter is welcomed aboard the line-up for a national tour – dates as follows:

• June
  • 16th Liverpool Royal Court
  • 17th Nottingham Trent Polytechnic
  • 19th Bristol Bierkeller
  • 20th Leicester University
  • 27th Manchester Ritz
  • 28th Manchester Ritz
• July
  • 3rd London Marquee
  • 4th London Marquee

• Goin Away :1989
• Sit Down :1989
• Sky Is Falling :1989
• Sound Investment :1989

Open in Spotify

• Sit Down
• Sit Down ’98 Apollo 440 Mix
• Sit Down (Original)
• Sit Down ft. Joe Duddell & String Quartet