One Of The Three - The James Band Archive

Author Archives: Dan Starr

Slane Castle, Ireland – 10th July 1993

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Setlist

Unknown

Support

n/a - Festival

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Festival headlined by the Neil Young, and also featuring James, Pearl Jam, Van Morrison, Saw Doctors, 4 Non Blondes, The Blue Angels.

March 1993

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James play a one-off gig at Bath Moles Club as an attempt to record a live album and roadtest the new songs.

Tomorrow

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Tomorrow is track twenty two on the 1994 James album Wah Wah. It was re-recorded and appeared as track one on the 1997 Whiplash album.

It was claimed to be jammed by the band at Radio 1 Maida Vale’s studios in between tracks they played into Radio 1 programmes throughout the day and was played as an exclusive into the Evening Session show although it had actually been played live before then.

It was released as the second single off the Whiplash album and the b-sides included three remixes of the track. Other versions include a Radio 1 session version on the Tomorrow cd single, the Getting Away With It live cd and dvd and the Live In 2008 album.

Details

LyricsListenReleaseAvailable OnGigsGuitar Tabs
I see you falling
How long to go before you hit the ground
You keep on screaming
Don't you see me here
Am I a ghost to you

Now your grip's too strong
Can't catch love with a net or a gun
Gotta keep faith that your path will change
Gotta keep faith that your luck will change tomorrow
Tomorrow

Why are you phoning
What am I to do when you're miles away
You're always calling from the darkest moods and we're both scared

Now your grip's too strong
Can't catch love with a net or a gun
Gotta keep faith that your path will change
Gotta keep faith that your love will change

Now your grip's too strong
Can't catch love with a net or a gun
Gotta keep faith that your path will change
Gotta keep faith that your love will change tomorrow

I'm just out of your range
Tomorrow
All your suffering's in vain
Tomorrow

Now your grip's too strong
Can't catch love with a net or a gun
Gotta keep faith that your path will change
Gotta keep faith that your love will change tomorrow

I got out of your range
Tomorrow
All your suffering seems vain
Change tomorrow
Some forgiveness now
Tomorrow
Love's no sacred cow

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Wah Wah version

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BBC Session 1993

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Archive Mix

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Droppin’ Cake Mix

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Full On Vibe Mix

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Live In Extraordinary Times

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Orchestral Version

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Live At The Acropolis

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Song:Tomorrow
Released:12th September 1994
Main Associated Album (or Single):Wah Wah
First Heard Live:Bath Moles Club – 21st March 1993
Played at:
CHORDS

C, G, Am, F

Skindiving / Falsetto

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Skindiving is track thirteeen from the 1993 James album Laid.

A 1-3-4 Remix version of the song appeared on a Volume No 8 CD magazine in 1994. There is also an instrumental demo version of the track called Falsetto on the deluxe and super deluxe versions of the Laid album released in 2015.

Tim explained that this track which includes a beautiful falsetto, which Tim joked he needed helium injections to achieve, is about someone sinking deeper and deeper into a mood, being quite scary and quite peaceful at the same time.

Details

LyricsListenReleaseAvailable OnGigsGuitar Tabs
Put your hands inside this dream
Unzip the skin, release the steam
Going down, I'm growing wings
Hope I can fly before I hit the ground
I can hear your thoughts arise
From these depths to creamy skies
Drifting down the water's cool
Let the weeds cover you

The surface storms show nothing here
The surface storms, the water's clear
The water's clear

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Falsetto (Skindiving Instrumental)

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Song:Skindiving / Falsetto
Released:27th September 1993
Main Associated Album (or Single):Laid
First Heard Live:Bath Moles Club – 21st March 1993
Played at:
James - Skindiving

Taken from the album Laid

Written and performed by James

Main Riff:

e--1/5--6--6/8-----8/10--85----------------------------
B-------------------------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------
D-------------------------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------

Riff 2:

e-------------------------------------------------------
B--3/6-6-3--1/3-----------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------
D-------------------------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------

Backing Riff:

e-------------------------------------------------------
B-------------------------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------
D----3-3----3---3---------------------------------------
A--5------5---5---5-------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------

Brixton '93 Riff:

e--15---1312-------------------------------------------
B--------------13/15------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------
D-------------------------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------

Song Structure:

Hey, this is your standard Larry-slidy-jobby, sir. The Main Riff runs throughout the song in some form or another, and the Backing Riff does too, although this is probably played by Jim on his bass. Riff 2 crops up just before a guitar comes in playing a D5 power chord. At about that time on the version on the Brixton '93 bootleg Larry plays the Brixton '93 Riff. Saul also joins in on his violin too, if you care. And the song never deviates from a chord of Dm either, in a typical James swagger.

Lyrics/Chord:

Dm
Put your hands inside this dream

Unzip the skin, release the steam

Going down, I'm growing wings

Hope I can fly before I hit the ground

I can hear your thoughts arise

From these depths to creamy skies

Drifting down the water's cool

Let the weeds cover you



The surface storms show nothing here

The surface storms, the water's clear

The water's clear




Transcribed by Alex Carter 2001.

alex@shandy3000.fsnet.co.uk

Sometimes (Lester Piggott)

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Sometimes is track two on the 1993 James Laid album and was released as the first single from the album.

The amusing sub-title is a reference to the racing beat of the song and carries on the band’s obsession with the tax-dodging jockey which first surfaced at the end of the original Sit Down.

Tim often tells the story of Brian Eno being in tears the first time they played it live in the studio and how he told them it was one of the highlights of his musical life.

The Top Of The Pops performance live from Pittsburgh saw all five members apart from Tim miming playing guitars whilst a mystery female dancer span around the room.

There are a number of live versions of the song released – a Radio 1 session version of the track recorded on the day of album release appeared on one of the Laid cd singles and the 2001 album reissue, a version recorded at Woodstock 94 appeared on the festival’s soundtrack cd and video and there are live versions on the 2002 Getting Away With It Live cd and dvd, the Live In 2008 cd and the Living In Extraordinary Times CD, vinyl and DVD.

Details

LyricsListenReleaseAvailable OnGigsGuitar Tabs
There's a storm outside, and the gap between crack and thunder
Crack and thunder, is closing in, is closing in
The rain floods gutters, and makes a great sound on concrete
On a flat roof, there's a boy leaning against the wall of rain
Aerial held high, calling ""come on thunder, come on thunder""
Sometimes, when I look deep in your eyes, I swear I can see your soul
Sometimes, when I look deep in your eyes, I swear I can see your soul
It's a monsoon, and the rain lifts lids off cars
Spinning buses like toys, stripping them to chrome
Across the bay, the waves are turning into something else
Picking up fishing boats and spewing them on the shore

The boy is hit, lit up against the sky, like a sign, like a neon sign
And then he crumples, drops into the gutter, cut strings, legs twitching
The flood, swells his clothes, and delivers him on, delivers him on

Sometimes, when I look deep in your eyes
I swear I can see your soul
Sometimes, when I look deep in your eyes
I swear I can see your soul

There's four new colours in the rainbow
An old man's taking Polaroids
But all he captures is endless rain, endless rain
He says listen, takes my head and puts my ear to his
And I swear I can hear the sea

Sometimes, when I look in your eyes I can see your soul
(I can reach your soul)
(I can touch your soul)
(I can hear your soul)
Sometimes

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BBC Session 1993

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Live In Extraordinary Times

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Orchestral Version

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Live At The Acropolis

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Song:Sometimes (Lester Piggott)
Released:30th August 1993
Main Associated Album (or Single):Laid
First Heard Live:Bath Moles Club – 21st March 1993
Played at:
James - Sometimes

Taken from the album Laid

Written and performed by James

=====================================================================
Note: Capo at the 2nd fret. All notes/chords given relative to capo.
=====================================================================

Solo:

e-------------------------------------------------------
B-------------------------------------------------------
G------------------------------------------------------- x2
D-0-0-0--0-0-0-0----------------------------------------
A-----------------3--2-2-2-2--3-2-0-2-0-----------------
E---------------------------------------3--3~-----------

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

e------------------ e--------------------3~-----
B--3--0-0-----0-0-- B--------------------3~-----
G----------0------- x2 G---0----------------0~-----
D------------------ D------2-2--0--------0~-----
A------------------ A-------------3-2----2~-----
E------------------ E-----------------3--3~-----

(~ = vibrato)

Song Structure:

Two acoustic guitars in this song, and I think both play the same chords. The verse is just a single, quickly strummed, chord of G, the chorus G Em C. In live versions they sometimes play G Em C progression in the verse at certain points, or maybe only one guitar does and the others stick to G. Now there are 3 guitarists it's just complete madness! But whatever you do, keep up the pace!
To play the solo above play it as written, i.e. first bit twice, second bit once, third bit twice and fourth bit once. This particular solo was played by Adrian at the MTV 5 Night Stand gig, and is different to the once on the record which just repeats the first bit three times. If you listen very carefully you can just make it out in the background. Oh, and the chord for the solo is G.

Lyrics/Chords:

G
There's a storm outside, and the gap between crack and thunder

Crack and thunder, is closing in, is closing in

The rain floods gutters, and makes a great sound on concrete

On a flat roof, there's a boy leaning against the wall of rain

Aerial held high, calling "come on thunder, come on thunder"

Em
Sometimes,

C
When I look deep in your eyes,

G
I swear I can see your soul

Em
Sometimes,

C
When I look deep in your eyes,

G
I swear I can see your soul


It's a monsoon, and the rain lifts lids off cars

Spinning buses like toys, stripping them to chrome

Across the bay, the waves are turning into something else

Picking up fishing boats and spewing them on the shore



The boy is hit, lit up against the sky, like a sign, like a neon sign

And then he crumples, drops into the gutter, cut strings, legs twitching

The flood, swells his clothes, and delivers him on, delivers him on



Sometimes,

When I look deep in your eyes

I swear I can see your soul

Sometimes,

When I look deep in your eyes

I swear I can see your soul

----------------------------------------------------
[Solo goes here, incase you can't here where it is] ----------------------------------------------------

There's four new colours in the rainbow

An old man's taking polaroids

But all he captures is endless rain, endless rain

He says listen, takes my head and puts my ear to his

And I swear I can hear the sea



Sometimes,

When I look in your eyes

I can see your soul

[Repeat to fade]


Transcribed by Alex Carter 2001.

alex@shandy3000.fsnet.co.uk

Laid

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Laid is track eleven and the title track of the band’s 1993 album. It was released as a single in the UK in November 1993 and became the song that broke James in America.

Originally viewed by the band as a throwaway song and a possible b-side, Brian Eno soon convinced them of the potential of this track. Whilst only reaching a disappointing 22 in the UK charts, it made serious inroads for the band in the US where it lead to performances on prime-time TV shows such as Letterman, Conan O’Brien and Jay Leno. The song also appeared in the trailers for the American Pie series of films and has been covered by the likes of Catfish And The Bottlemen, Better Than Ezra and Matt Nathanson.

The song’s lyrics are inspired by Tim’s observations of relationships around him and the actions of the people involved in them.

How To Play It

Details

LyricsListenReleaseAvailable OnGigsGuitar Tabs
This bed is on fire
With passionate love
The neighbours complain about the noises above
But she only comes when she's on top

My therapist said not to see you no more
She said you're like a disease without any cure
She said I'm so obsessed that I'm becoming a bore, oh no
Ah, you think you're so pretty

Caught your hand inside the till
Slammed your fingers in the door
Fought with kitchen knives and skewers
Dressed me up in women's clothes
Messed around with gender roles
Lined my eyes and call me pretty

Moved out of the house, so you moved next door
I locked you out, you cut a hole in the wall
I found you sleeping next to me, I thought I was alone
You're driving me crazy, when are you coming home

Raid
Raid
Raid

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BBC Session 1993

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Acoustic – live Atlanta 1994

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Live In Extraordinary Times

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Live At GLR (1998)

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Orchestral Version

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Live At The Acropolis

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Song:Laid
Released:27th September 1993
Main Associated Album (or Single):Laid
First Heard Live:Bath Moles Club - 21st March 1993
Played at:
CHORDS

C, G (repeatedly) F, G

Fanzine: A Sound Investment – Issue 2

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A Sound Investment was a James fanzine produced by California based Chris Zych and Lori Chin.

Download this fanzine as a PDF.

A Sound Investment is © copyright 1993 Chin, Turner, Zych Ltd.

December 1992

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James play six dates in Japan with The Soup Dragons. Returning to the UK, James play five acoustic shows in Leeds, Glasgow, Bristol, Manchester and London, the latter being recorded for a Radio 1 In Concert broadcast.

Itinerary: 1992 Acoustic Tour

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This is the band itinerary from 1992 James Acoustic Tour.

A Certain Damage Volume 44 (Disc 2)

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A 1992 Compilation (non James) Album featuring James.

Summary

A live acoustic version of Promised Land – “Like it or not, the elections are upon us – only a few days away – and even the British are following the political events in this country with greater scrutiny than usual. Take for example this live acoustic “Election Special” version of this timely political track from an older James album, recorded live in San Diego at the Summer Pops Bowl on September 23 of this year. We may pull the curtains closed after entering the voting booth next week, but all the world will be watching us”

Track List

Promised Land (live acoustic)

Details

ReleaseAboutSongsGallery
Release Name: A Certain Damage Volume 44
Artist Name:
Release Date: 1st October 1992
Format: Compilation (non James) Album
Catalogue: CD-044 Disc 2

A live acoustic version of Promised Land – “Like it or not, the elections are upon us – only a few days away – and even the British are following the political events in this country with greater scrutiny than usual. Take for example this live acoustic “Election Special” version of this timely political track from an older James album, recorded live in San Diego at the Summer Pops Bowl on September 23 of this year. We may pull the curtains closed after entering the voting booth next week, but all the world will be watching us”

Songs related to this release: