One Of The Three - The James Band Archive

Jam J

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Jam J is track three on the 1994 James album Wah Wah and was the first public release from the Wah Wah alternative project as a double a-side single with the more melodic Say Something in March 1994.

Although Say Something was only officially listed as the double a-side for the first week, Jam J was largely ignored by press and radio. A 33 minute version mixed by the Sabres and Paradise described as “Soundscapes to a Space Oddity 1994” (this is the press release!) was also released at the time, although part of that track was later revealed to be from the song Honest Joe.

An alternative version subtitled Additional Jam features on the Laid Wah Wah Super Deluxe boxset.

Details

LyricsListenReleaseAvailable OnGigsGuitar Tabs
The sun is up
The sun is high
The sun is in your eye
Your shades, they mirror everything
They're leaving me quite blind
This game is up
We've had enough
And we can compromise
Take those glasses off your face
I want to see your eyes

Read a book
A funny book
A book about your life
You call yourself a free man
But all you did was time
And time will judge
And time will heal
And time will bare its all
And now you're in your coffin
With a satellite dish installed

Only this other fool surrounds you
Only this other fool surrounds you
You have no one to love

Only this other fool surrounds you
Only this other fool surrounds you
Only this other fool surrounds you
You have no one to love

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Jam J cont

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Jam J – James vs The Sabres Of Paradise

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Song:Jam J
Released:21st March 1994
Main Associated Album (or Single):Wah Wah
First Heard Live:Boston Orpheum – 9th March 1994
Played at:
James - Jam J

Taken from the album Wah Wah

Written and performed by James & Brian Eno

=======================================
Note: Tune the low E string down to D.
=======================================

Main Riff:

Part 1 -

e---------------------------
B---------------------------
G---------------------------
D---------------------------
A--5/7----------------------
D------2--0-0-0-0--2-2-0-2--

Part 2 -

e--------------------------------
B--------------------------------
G--------------------------------
D--------------------------------
A---5/7------------5-5-5/7--5/7--
D--------2--0-0-2----------------

Part 3 -

e------------------------------
B------------------------------
G------------------------------
D------------------------------
A--2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2--0-0-0-0-2--
D--2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2--0-0-0-0-2--

And finally, how it fits together:

Part 1 x2, Part 2 x2, Part 1 x2, Part 3, Part 2.

Eno's Keyboard Riff:

e---14p12-----12-14p12----12h14-------------------------
B---------15-----------15-------15----------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------
D-------------------------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------
Other Riff:

e---12--12------12-12-12--------------------------------
B-----------10-----------10-----------------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------
D-------------------------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------


Song Structure:

The song begins with Larry playing the main riff, which continues until the
"one chord solo." The riff isn't just repeated throughout as tabbed, but
never deviates from the two notes of D and E. Remember, improvise, that's
the spirit of the song! I've tabbed as best I can the opening, to tab the
entire thing out would take far to long.
In the middle of the song Eno's Keyboard Riff rears it's trippy head. In
live versions this sometimes sounds like it's played on guitar. Anyways,
it's tabbed for your playing "pleasure."
Anyway, once this riff cuts out comes the "one chord solo" played by Saul,
possibly. This is just a chord of E5 (which you can play as <022xxx> (in
standard tuning, <222xxx in drop D), but I prefer <079900> or <079907>
(again, that's standard tuning lads) because of the fuller sound) played
many times over. This occurs twice, and between them Larry plays the "Other
Riff." Again, improvising around the basic riff which I've tabbed.
Oh, and incase you're wondering, the song never deviates from a single chord
of E. (Well, maybe there's a hint of an E E E D progression about it, but
who cares?)

Lyrics:

The sun is up

The sun is high

The sun is in your eye

Your shades, they mirror everything

They're leaving me quite blind

This game is up

We've had enough

And we can compromise

Take those glasses off your face

I want to see your eyes



Read a book

A funny book

A book about your life

You call yourself a free man

But all you did was time

And time will judge

And time will heal

And time will bare its all

And now you're in your coffin

With a satellite dish installed



Only this other fool surrounds you

Only this other fool surrounds you

You have no one to love



Only this other fool surrounds you

Only this other fool surrounds you

Only this other fool surrounds you

You have no one to love



Transcribed by Alex Carter 2001.

alex@shandy3000.fsnet.co.uk

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