One Of The Three - The James Band Archive

Author Archives: Dan Starr

June 2007

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James perform at festivals throughout the summer in Latvia, Portugal, Turkey, Greece Spain and Ireland as well as the T In The Park, Belladrum and V Festivals in the UK.

Not So Strong

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Not So Strong was released as a free download from wearejames.com in August 2009.

It was previewed at a gig at Hoxton’s Bar and Grill in June 2007 and was a firm favourite in the festival set-lists that summer. It didn’t however make the final cut for Hey Ma.

Details

LyricsReleaseAvailable OnGigsGuitar Tabs
Took a hit with the left
Round four, eight left
He follows up before the break
Bell rings, it's too late
Got a cut on a lid
Left eye, a nick
Use an iron to stem the blood
Ice will do the rest
You went down, a slip
Round six, six left
Get up, get up, get up
I'm not so strong
I'm not so strong as I look
If you can open your heart
To a blow or a kiss
Meet them as one and the same
There's a sense of relief when you know you've been beat
All your defence melts away
I'm not so strong
I'm not so strong as I look
When you're hit by a glove
You might never get up from
All you can do is pray
That the contact is sweet
Oblivion deep
Broken's a place you could stay
Now I'm lost in a fight
Where I know I'll get ploughed
Finessing my jaw to his right
It's not the defeat
That shows up the weak
It's how you respond
When you're down
I am vulnerable, I am insecure
And behind that lies one more illusion
I'm invincible, indestructible
And behind that lies one more illusion
I'm not so strong
I'm not so strong as I look
You went down with a right
Round ten, two left
Holding on, give him your weight
Referee cries break
You got hit, went down
Taste fear, get up
Stay inside to the sound of the bell
Only two rounds left
Right hook, lost heart
Went down, stayed down
Song:Not So Strong
Released:21st August 2009
Main Associated Album (or Single):
First Heard Live:London Hoxton Bar And Grill – 25th June 2007
    No record of release.
Played at:
Unavailable

Fresh As A Daisy – The Singles

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Fresh As A Daisy – The Singles, a 2007 Compilation Album by James.

Summary

A singles compilation album released to coincide with the band’s comeback tour 18 years ago.

Track List

Single disc version:

Ring The Bells / Sometimes / How Was It For You / Come Home / Destiny Calling / Laid / Born Of Frustration / Chameleon / I Know What I’m Here For / Seven / Just Like Fred Astaire / Waltzing Along / Say Something / Who Are You? / Lose Control / Sound / Getting Away With It (All Messed Up) / Tomorrow / She’s A Star / Sit Down

Two disc version:
What’s The World / Folklore / Fire So Close / If Things Were Perfect / Hymn From A Village / Chain Mail / So Many Ways / What For / Ya Ho / Johnny Yen / Sit Down / Come Home / How Was It For You? / Lose Control / Sound / Born Of Frustration / Ring The Bells / Seven / Sometimes / Laid / Jam J / Say Something / She’s A Star / Tomorrow / Waltzing Along / Destiny Calling / Runaground / I Know What I’m Here For / Just Like Fred Astaire / We’re Going To Miss You / Getting Away With It (All Messed Up) / Who Are You? / Chameleon

Details

ReleaseAboutSongsListenVideosGalleryArticlesGigs
Release Name: Fresh As A Daisy – The Singles
Artist Name: James
Release Date: 30th April 2007
Format: Compilation Album
Catalogue: 173184-6 (double)

BBC Manchester Review: Fresh As A Daisy – The Singles is a new Best Of compilation released in April 2007 to coincide with the reformation of James and their first live shows for five and a half years. The album comes into two CD formats. The single disc version, aimed at supermarkets and casual buyers, features 20 of the band’s biggest hits including two new songs Who Are You? and Chameleon. The two disc version features all James singles in chronological order, plus all the tracks from the two debut singles Jimone and James II. Four tracks – What’s The World, Fire So Close, If Things Were Perfect and Chain Mail – are released on cd in studio version form for the very first time. There is also a companion DVD version.

Songs related to this release:

Open in Spotify

Videos related to songs on this release:
Gigs at the time of this release:

Who Are You

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Who Are You, a 2007 Single by James.

Summary

Released to promote James’ return and the Fresh As A Daisy – The Singles compilation album.

Track List

Who Are You

Details

ReleaseAboutSongsListenVideosGallery
Release Name: Who Are You
Artist Name:
Release Date: 30th April 2007
Format: Studio Single
Catalogue: WHORUCJ1

Who Are You was released to promote James’ return and the Fresh As A Daisy – The Singles compilation album. It was one of two new tracks released on the album.

Songs related to this release:

Not found on Spotify.

    No content found.

Fresh As A Daisy – The Videos

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Fresh As A Daisy - The Videos, a 2007 Studio DVD by James.

Summary

Companion video release for Fresh As A Daisy – The Singles. Contains promotional videos of all major single releases to date and performances from BBC TV.

Track List

Laid / She’s A Star / Come Home / I Know What I’m Here For / Born Of Frustration / Waltzing Along / Just Like Fred Astaire / Say Something / Seven / Lose Control / Tomorrow / What For / Runaground / We’re Going To Miss You / Ring The Bells / Getting Away With It (All Messed Up) / So Many Ways / Sound / How Was It For You? / Destiny Calling / Sometimes / Sit Down

Extra features: Say Something (Original Version) / Sit Down ’98 / Live performances on The Old Grey Whistle Test, Top Of The Pops and Later… With Jools Holland / Full Interactive UK Discography

Details

ReleaseAboutSongsGigsArticlesGalleryAboutSongsGigsArticlesGallery

Release Name: Fresh As A Daisy - The Videos
Artist Name: James
Release Date: 30th April 2007
UK Chart: n/a
Format: Studio DVD
Label: Fontana
Catalogue: DVD - 984 836-2(6)
Produced: Various
Engineered: Various
Mixed: Various
Additional Musicians:
Recorded: Various

Fresh As A Daisy – The Singles DVD was released on April 30, 2007 to coincide with the CD release on the same day. The DVD features 24 videos from singles ranging from So Many Ways through to Getting Away With It (All Messed Up) plus extras from The Old Grey Whistle Test in 1985, Top Of The Pops performances between 1991 and 1994 and Later With Jools performances in 1998 and 1999.

Songs related to this release:
    No content found.

Fresh As A Daisy – The Singles DVD was released on April 30, 2007 to coincide with the CD release on the same day. The DVD features 24 videos from singles ranging from So Many Ways through to Getting Away With It (All Messed Up) plus extras from The Old Grey Whistle Test in 1985, Top Of The Pops performances between 1991 and 1994 and Later With Jools performances in 1998 and 1999.

Songs related to this release:
    No content found.

April 2007

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The Best Of compilation Fresh As A Daisy – The Singles – is released. James perform a triumphant sold-out tour of the UK taking in shows in Glasgow, Newcastle, Birmingham, London and Manchester. James perform two secret gigs – in Manchester HMV’s basement store and at the Club Academy where they first met.

Upside

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Upside is track seven on the 2008 James album Hey Ma and also appears on the Live In 2008 album.

It was first played at the Nambucca tour rehearsal in April 2007 and played at many shows after as the first post-Fresh As A Daisy fruits of James’ reunion. It early gigs it was often referred to as Upside Downside and quickly became a fan favourite.

Tim said the song is about working away from a loved one and missing them.

Details

LyricsListenReleaseAvailable OnGigsGuitar Tabs
Send seasonal greetings from nowhere
I'm working and playing away
Remember the moment of leaving
Yesterday, yesterday

Roll through these towns
Over seas, over mountains
Lucky to work
When work is scarce
Father must feed
Must provide
He must fountain
Left my heart within your care

Upside: love you
Downside: miss you
I'm here you are there.
Upside: working
Downside: hurting
Hear my echo
Dancing bear

Connected to you by a mobile
What I can't do, I can say
Away from you I'm feeling empty
I am raining, I am grey

Upside: love you
Downside: miss you
I'm here you are there.
Upside: working
Downside: hurting
Hear my echo
Dancing bear

My work's about words
And sounds you can taste
Violins and trumpets
Chocolate cakes
Here are some words
Words you can taste
Here are some words
Kissing your face

Upside: love you
Downside: miss you
I'm here you are there.
Upside: working
Downside: hurting
Hear my echo
Dancing bear

Open in Spotify

Song:Upside
Released:7th April 2008
Main Associated Album (or Single):Hey Ma
First Heard Live:London Nambucca – 12th April 2007
Played at:
Unavailable

Who Are You?

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Who Are You? is the lead single from the 2007 James compilation Fresh As A Daisy.

It was one of the two new tracks on the compilation released in conjunction with James’ 2007 reconciliation.

First played live at the reunion show at Hoxton Bar And Grill on March 16, 2007, it was previewed on radio on April 2.

Details

LyricsReleaseAvailable OnGigsGuitar Tabs
How many lives to set you free?
Cat's got nine, eight more than me
Near to death when I was 23
All I felt was peace
Am I a man, or am I machine?
Punch me in, my clock is ticking
On my knees I count my rosary
Wiping my slate clean

Tell me, who are you?
Tell me, who are you?
Tell me, who are you?
Tell me, who are you?

Mother, sing me a lullaby
Stroke my head and tell me not to cry
Tell me everything will be alright
Tell me who am I

I'm a sinner, I believe
Self-control is killing me
Too much choice, I crave simplicity
Too much structure, spontaneity
In my hive, I'm just another bee
Trying to be myself

Tell me, who are you?
Tell me, who are you?
Tell me, who are you?
Tell me, who are you?

Warning, coming down
Warning, coming down
Coming down on me
Song:Who Are You?
Released:30th April 2007
Main Associated Album (or Single):Fresh As A Daisy – The Singles
First Heard Live:London Hoxton Bar And Grill – 16th March 2007
Played at:
Unavailable

Chameleon

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Chameleon is one of the two new tracks on the Fresh As A Daisy – The Singles compilation released in conjunction with James’ 2007 reformation.

It was first played live at the reunion show at Hoxton Bar And Grill on March 16, 2007.

Details

LyricsReleaseAvailable OnGigsGuitar Tabs
Here we go again
Here we go again
Ladies and gentlemen
The show is just beginning
The actors have arrived
The show is improvised
Who are you? and when
Do you begin and end

We win
When we snakeskin
When we dolphin

Cha cha chameleon

We win
Stand in your shoes
Get a sea view

Cha cha chameleon

No, we're not alone
No, we're not alone
We cannot control
How the dice rolls

No, we're not alone
No, we're not alone
Separate in pain
Connected when we we're whole

We win
When we snakeskin
When we dolphin

Cha cha chameleon

Breaking those locks
Slipping those locks
Get me off this cross
Victim abused
Shadow has to mock
Referee stop
Beat me with a paradox
Win when I lose
Brother don't box me in
My spacesuit's wearing in
Two eyeholes, one bag of skin
Must be dreaming
God is in the ad hoc
Spin me like a top
Free me from the clock
Tick tock
Believe what I choose

Here we go again
Here we go again
Ladies and gentlemen
The show is just beginning

We win
When we snakeskin
When we dolphin

Cha cha chameleon
Song:Chameleon
Released:30th April 2007
Main Associated Album (or Single):Fresh As A Daisy – The Singles
First Heard Live:London Hoxton Bar And Grill – 16th March 2007
Played at:
Unavailable

XFM: James Announce Comeback Shows

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The rumours have turned out to be true as Xfm can confirm that Manchester legends James have announced a full UK tour including a London headline show at Brixton Academy.

While James never actually spilt, following the departure of lead singer Tim Booth in 2001, the Manchester outfit famous for singles like and ‘Come Home’, ‘How Was It For You?’, ‘Star’, ‘Born Of Frustration’ (of course) ‘Sit Down’ went into seemingly permanent shutdown.

Now the band have regrouped and will be playing a five date UK tour in April kicking off at the Glasgow Academy, taking in a headline show at Brixton Academy and culminating in a hometown show at the Manchester MEN Arena.

Speaking to Xfm, Booth explained that he isn’t really sure how the reunion happened, saying, “I don’t really know. If you had asked me in the summer would James get back together I would have said absolutely not, not a chance. It was kind of a load of synchronistic events that took place over about a month.

“And finally I ended up in Manchester and Larry [Gott] the guitarist who left in about ’93, had been ringing me up saying let’s meet. He’d been one of the initial founders with me and Jimmy [Glennie] and somehow I found myself in a room with with instruments and microphones and we just started jamming.

“We jammed for a few days and found that it was really fantastic, so we said ‘Alright let’s see how this goes’. We didn’t tell anyone, we didn’t even tell our manager. But it went so well musically that we felt we had to see how far it could go. And then the rest of it sprung from there really.“

Source: XFM, 1 July 2007