Destiny Calling

In order to promote the forthcoming Best Of album, James recorded two new tracks for release as singles. Destiny Calling was viewed as the more chart-friendly of the two by the record company so was chosen as the first single. Another Radio 1 A-listing and a TFI Friday performance ensued as part of the session and interview blitz that was beginning for the Best Of.

The single appeared on 3CD singles. The first featured three live tracks recorded by the BBC at the band’s Reading Festival performance in August 1997, Jam J and Honest Joe brought stunningly to life compared to their studio version. The second CD promised James rarities although the three songs chosen – Goalies Ball, Assassin and The Lake – were all still readily available cheaply on the second hand market. Rather than unpopular remixes, the third CD had a multimedia section featuring the full video of She’s A Star, snippets of some of the other single videos, a biography and band photographs.  Artwork for the single resurrected the band’s famous daisy logo and was designed by Peacock.

The video, as the lyrics of the single, mocked the commercialism of the music business. James images were placed on plates and perfumes amongst other things in a Shopping Channel mock-up. Graham, the voiceover man from ITV’s Blind Date, guest-starred in the video.

A poster campaign asking “Is This Your Destiny Calling?” preceded the single’s release. To push the single’s sales in view of the impending Best Of, all CD formats were priced at £1.99. The first week chart placing of 17 and the subsequent success of the Best Of suggested that some people had waited for the album or were put off by the lack of new material.  A Top of the Pops appearance followed, but this failed to give the single any second week push.

• Assassin :1994
• Destiny Calling :1998
• Goalie’s Ball :1992
• Honest Joe / Jam Q :1994
• Jam J :1994
• She’s A Star :1997
• Sound :1991
• The Lake :1993

Open in Spotify

• Destiny Calling
• Honest Joe
• She’s A Star
• She’s A Star (Orchestral Version)
• Sound