JAMES AMICABLY PART COMPANY WITH FONTANA/MERCURY LABEL AFTER FULFILLING CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
James would like to announce their departure from Fontana/Mercury Records, a decision which was agreed upon prior to the release of their final album for the label. Contrary to recent rumours, the band have successfully completed their contractual obligations to the label, and through mutual consent, have amicably parted company after more than a decade.
Following previous independent single and album releases during the Eighties through Factory, Sire and Rough Trade, James were signed to Fontana Records, part of the Polygram Group, in 1990, and were contracted to deliver six albums, in addition to a greatest hits package. It was to be a formidable partnership. After building up a sizeable underground following, their third album, and Fontana debut, ‘Gold Mother’, was released in 1990, and brought James the crossover recognition they deserved, reaching platinum selling status, and containing arguably their greatest anthem on record, ‘Sit Down’.
Their second Fontana album ‘Seven’ reached No.2 in the UK album charts on it’s release in 1992, and featured hit singles ‘Sound’ and ‘Born Of Frustration’. With the legendary Brian Eno producing, their third Fontana album, ‘Laid’, was released in 1993 and received critical acclaim, not just in the UK, but also the States, where it sold in excess of 600,000 copies and the band became a headline act throughout the country. On a more ambient tip, during the recording of ‘Laid’, James had recorded another album with Eno, entitled ‘Wah Wah’, which was released on Fontana in 1994.
During a three year break, after the completion of ‘Wah Wah’, there was a brief interlude where singer Tim Booth recorded an album with movie composer Angelo Badalamenti entitled ‘Booth And The Bad Angel’. James regrouped to record the ‘Whiplash’ album which included ‘She’s A Star’, a track which saw the band back in the U.K. Top Ten. Following on from that album the band recorded two new tracks for a greatest hits package ‘James: The Best Of’. The resulting singles ‘Destiny Calling’ and ‘Runaground’, again saw James in the upper echelons of the charts and on it’s release, ‘James: The Best Of’ sold just under a million copies worldwide. The album was supported by a sell-out UK arena tour.
Their fifth studio album ‘Millionaires’, released on Mercury, is widely regarded as their best album to date. Featuring the hit singles, ‘I Know What I’m Here For’ and ‘Just Like Fred Astaire’, the album received unanimous rave reviews in the UK press.
Their final studio album for the label, ‘ Pleased To Meet You’ has just been released and with another major arena tour lined up for later this year (dates listed below), James are looking forward to the future. Howard Berman, M.D. of Mercury Records, comments, “In an era often obsessed with instant gratification and substantial taste shifts, it’s been very rewarding to have seen James through to the conclusion of their original commitment to this label. I genuinely wish them every success in the future”
James Tour Dates – December 2001:
2nd – Brighton Centre
4th – Newcastle Arena
6th – Birmingham NEC
7th – Manchester Arena
9th – Glasgow SECC
10th – Wembley Arena
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