Be Opened By The Wonderful is a perfect capture of the evolution of a project that might well have had a different tracklisting and arrangements had it been recorded after the recent tour which saw over a dozen more songs performed. It eschews the easy path of an orchestral Best Of, giving Joe the freedom to select the songs that he feels work best with the addition of orchestration and a choir and allowing his ear and love of the band to combine to create magic. James are at their best when they work with kindred spirits who understand the unique and complex DNA that make up a band that has shape-shifted through four decades refusing to stand still and compromise.
Category Archives: Era
Love Make A Fool
Summary
Love Make A Fool is the second track to be released from the orchestral album Be Opened By The Wonderful.
The video was made by a fan called Brian Tomlinson.
Track List
Details
Release Name: | Love Make A Fool |
Artist Name: | James |
Release Date: | 25th April 2023 |
Format: | Video Single |
Directed: |
- Love Make A Fool :2023
- Love Make A Fool :Studio, Single, 2023
- Be Opened By The Wonderful :Studio, Album, 2023
- Love Make A Fool :2023
- Love Make A Fool :Studio, Single, 2023
- Be Opened By The Wonderful :Studio, Album, 2023
EvenTheStars.co.uk – TRACK OF THE DAY: James - She's A Star (Orchestral)
James have announced details of their “Be Opened By The Wonderful – 40 Years Orchestrated” album and revealed the first track to be taken from it, a version of their 1997 Top 10 single She’s A Star. The album was recorded at Blueprint Studios in January 2023 with the ORCA22 Orchestra lead by Andra Vornicu and the Manchester Inspirational Voices choir, directed by Wayne Ellington. The album was orchestrated and conducted by Joe Duddell, who performed those duties with the band on their 2011 orchestral tour.
Tim Booth says of the album which celebrates forty years since the release of James’ first single Jimone on Factory Records – “Life begins at 40. For our midlife euphoria we recorded a double orchestral album of some of our deepest cuts. If you already have a golden ticket, you’ll be catching this on tour and at Latitude festival. Bring your wings and come ready to fly.”
Joe Duddell commented “Having attended the first 6 years of Latitude Festival, I’m excited to be involved in James’ special Main Stage Show this year in a UK Festival exclusive. James have always been a great band at Festivals, mixing their extensive well loved back catalogue with newer songs which immediately sounds as they too have been around forever.”
She’s A Star (Orchestral Version)
Summary
She’s A Star was the first track to be released from the orchestral album Be Opened By The Wonderful.
Track List
Details
Release Name: | She's A Star (Orchestral Version) |
Artist Name: | James |
Release Date: | 23rd March 2023 |
Format: | Video Single |
Directed: |
- She’s A Star :1997
- Whiplash (early advance promo) :Promo, Album, 1996
- She’s A Star CD promo :Promo, Single, 1996
- She’s A Star 12″ promo :Promo, Single, 1997
- She’s A Star 7″ jukebox single :Promo, Single, 1997
- Now And Then :Promo, EP, 1997
- Whiplash (promo) :Promo, Album, 1997
- Whiplash Canadian promo CD :Promo, Album, 1997
- She’s A Star :Studio, Single, 1997
- She’s A Star VHS :Promo, VHS, 1997
- Whiplash (Japan) :Studio, Album, 1997
- Whiplash (Vinyl Master) :Promo, Album, 1997
- Whiplash :Studio, Album, 1997
- James BBC In Concert IC0713 (1997) :Promo, EP, 1997
- I Wish I Was In England :Promo, Album, 1997
- Tomorrow (Canada) :Studio, Album, 1997
- James: Live at Whitfield St :Live, Album, 1998
- The Best Of James (promo) :Promo, Album, 1998
- Best Of Promo CD JIM BEST 01 :Compilation, Album, 1998
- Destiny Calling :Studio, Single, 1998
- The Best Of / Unhinged :Compilation, Album, 1998
- The Best Of (USA) :Studio, Album, 1998
- I Know What I’m Here For Mexican CD promo :Promo, EP, 1999
- Whiplash (reissue CDR) :Promo, Album, 2001
- Getting Away With It… Live (UK promo) :Promo, Album, 2002
- Getting Away With It … Live :Live, DVD/VHS, 2002
- Getting Away With It… Live :Live, Album, 2002
- The Collection :Compilation, Album, 2004
- The Best of James (Canada) :Compilation, Album, 2006
- Fresh As A Daisy (Reference CD) :Promo, Album, 2007
- Fresh As A Daisy – The Videos :Studio, DVD, 2007
- Fresh As A Daisy – The Singles :Compilation, Album, 2007
- Live In Extraordinary Times CD/DVD :Live, Album, 2020
- She’s A Star (Orchestral Version) :Studio, Single, 2023
- Be Opened By The Wonderful :Studio, Album, 2023
- She’s A Star :1997
- Whiplash (early advance promo) :Promo, Album, 1996
- She’s A Star CD promo :Promo, Single, 1996
- She’s A Star 12″ promo :Promo, Single, 1997
- She’s A Star 7″ jukebox single :Promo, Single, 1997
- Now And Then :Promo, EP, 1997
- Whiplash (promo) :Promo, Album, 1997
- Whiplash Canadian promo CD :Promo, Album, 1997
- She’s A Star :Studio, Single, 1997
- She’s A Star VHS :Promo, VHS, 1997
- Whiplash (Japan) :Studio, Album, 1997
- Whiplash (Vinyl Master) :Promo, Album, 1997
- Whiplash :Studio, Album, 1997
- James BBC In Concert IC0713 (1997) :Promo, EP, 1997
- I Wish I Was In England :Promo, Album, 1997
- Tomorrow (Canada) :Studio, Album, 1997
- James: Live at Whitfield St :Live, Album, 1998
- The Best Of James (promo) :Promo, Album, 1998
- Best Of Promo CD JIM BEST 01 :Compilation, Album, 1998
- Destiny Calling :Studio, Single, 1998
- The Best Of / Unhinged :Compilation, Album, 1998
- The Best Of (USA) :Studio, Album, 1998
- I Know What I’m Here For Mexican CD promo :Promo, EP, 1999
- Whiplash (reissue CDR) :Promo, Album, 2001
- Getting Away With It… Live (UK promo) :Promo, Album, 2002
- Getting Away With It … Live :Live, DVD/VHS, 2002
- Getting Away With It… Live :Live, Album, 2002
- The Collection :Compilation, Album, 2004
- The Best of James (Canada) :Compilation, Album, 2006
- Fresh As A Daisy (Reference CD) :Promo, Album, 2007
- Fresh As A Daisy – The Videos :Studio, DVD, 2007
- Fresh As A Daisy – The Singles :Compilation, Album, 2007
- Live In Extraordinary Times CD/DVD :Live, Album, 2020
- She’s A Star (Orchestral Version) :Studio, Single, 2023
- Be Opened By The Wonderful :Studio, Album, 2023
Wolverhampton KK Steel Mill – 23rd November 2021
Setlist
Zero / Isabella / Sound / She's A Star / Gold Mother / Curse Curse / Wherever It Takes Us / Miss America / I Wanna Go Home / Born Of Frustration / Hymn From A Village / Beautiful Beaches / Maria / All The Colours Of You / Many Faces / Tomorrow / Getting Away With It (All Messed Up) / Come Home / Sometimes / Sit DownSupport
Bryony WilliamsMore Information & Reviews
James warmed up for their Winter Arena tour with a two-hour career-spanning set at Wolverhampton’s KK’s Steel Mill. They covering ground from 1985’s second single to 2021’s sixteenth album with curveballs aplenty from across their catalogue. Bryony Williams opened up the evening as support.
Review: EvenTheStars.co.uk
There’s time for one last new one before the onslaught of hits that finish the show. All The Colours Of You has really come to life live, its references to lockdown feeling particularly appropriate as we (hopefully) come out the other side whilst its references to the political and social upheaval that coincided with it have a real resonance still. To emphasise they add the refrain to Many Faces on to the end and the audience sing back the important message – “there’s only one human race, many faces, everybody belongs here” to Tim as he stands atop his monitor and it’s the band’s turn to watch their audience.
“We needed that, we all need that” he tells us before they launch into Tomorrow, which has Tim singing right in Saul’s face and Getting Away With It (All Messed Up), their unofficial theme tune, to bring the main set to an end. The crowd are rewarded for their patience and attention and respond in kind, letting loose.
Read the full review at EvenTheStars.co.uk
Warrington Neighbourhood Weekender Festival – 4th September 2021
Setlist
Isabella / Born Of Frustration / Come Home / Walk Like You / Wherever It Takes Us / Zero / Stutter / Out To Get You / Sit Down / Beautiful Beaches / Getting Away With It (All Messed Up) / Sound / Tomorrow / Sometimes / LaidSupport
N/A (Festival)More Information & Reviews
None
Oxford O2 Academy – 17th August 2021
Setlist
Wherever It Takes Us / Beautiful Beaches / Isabella / Waltzing Along / Born Of Frustration / All The Colours Of You / Five-O / Just Like Fred Astaire / Recover / Moving On / Zero / She's A Star / Nothing But Love / Come Home / Sometimes / Sit Down / Getting Myself Into / SoundSupport
TorrinMore Information & Reviews
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this was James’s first live gig in nearly two years, and acted as a warm-up gig for the delayed summer festival season.
Review: EvenTheStars.co.uk
They finish on a darker than normal, broody, moody Sound, notable for an extended outro that builds in pace, some trumpet sounds you wouldn’t believe were trumpet if you weren’t witnessing Andy channeling them through his box of distortion tricks as the song winds on its dozen-minute plus sonic journey. It’s a song that’s come to represent how James take their hits, reinvent and twist them and use them as the melting pot for new ideas that keeps them excited about what they’re doing as a means of ensuring their audience do too.
Tonight was a reminder of the power of live music. We laughed, we cried a few times, we felt the power of the drum feel like it was beating in our chest, we caught a glance with a stranger lost in the same emotion as us, we stood on someone’s foot (sorry, it was a few times), closed our eyes and completely lost ourselves in what was coming from the stage. There is no greater feeling than watching the greatest band in your world and we should never forget that and let anyone take it away from us.
Read the full review at EvenTheStars.co.uk
Virgin Radio Chris Evans – 25th June 2021
Setlist
Cold Little Heart (Michael Kiwanuka Cover) / Beautiful Beaches / Sometimes / Getting Away With It (All Messed Up)Support
N/A (Session)More Information & Reviews
Four track live session to support the All The Colours Of You album release. The video replay of the session is below.
3 Songs & Out – All The Colours Of You - 'do whatever you need to do to listen to this album'
Confession time, James have always been a band I love but the last few years I’ve not enjoyed their output quite as much, it’s not quite matched up to songs like ‘Born Of Frustration’. Don’t get me wrong, they have always made interesting, quality records, it’s just been a while since one of them hooked me quite as quickly or totally as this album. I almost felt taken back to my days of sitting on various disgusting night club floors while belting out ‘Sit Down’ (by no means their best song). I’m now wondering if I’ve been fair to some of their more recent albums and am planning to go back and listen to them again.
Enough about me though, you want to know if this album is any good, does it keep up the high standards set at the beginning? The answer is emphatically yes. This is no longer the Indie Rock James of their early career, there are a variety of different genres and soundscapes on offer, with there being no weak link. Standouts for me are ‘XYST’, ‘Isabella’, and ‘Getting Myself Into’ but there genuinely isn’t a song on here I didn’t enjoy, it’s been a while since I’ve been able to say that.
This is an album that doesn’t just impact you on an emotional level, it also makes you want to dance, to sway to it, to sing along. This is a band on top of their game, they have also been a quality live act, this album should sound excellent when we finally get back to gigs. Go buy, download or do whatever you need to do to listen to this album, it’s worth the effort. Personally I think I will invest in a vinyl copy.
5/5 (100%)
Yorkshire Times – Interview With Saul Davies, Guitarist With James
Extracts from interview with Saul Davies:
The tour in the Autumn is with Happy Mondays, are you all friends with each other?
No, not really – there is not a great connection between our bands. We are very different kinds of people culturally and all the rest of it. I joined James in 1989 and the year before that James took the Mondays on the road with them as a support band and I think there were great differences then and I think there still are now. We represent different musical traditions and different lifestyles. I think there is huge respect from both camps to each other, I hope there is – there certainly is from James to the Mondays. I think they are an amazing band who have had some incredible moments but we would not live our life like they have lived theirs.Has the song Sit Down been a blessing or a curse to the band?
Totally a blessing. Globally, Laid is our biggest song by far, so for example in the States it is Laid, not Sit Down. You learn where you are and where you are going to that people and they have their favourites. You are known for different things in different places, I have no problem at all that Sit Down proceeds us. It is only difficult if you do not know what to do with it and I think we worked out many years ago what to do with it – which is not to play it all the time and never ever, don’t ever, give it for synchronisation into a film.Do you listen to any new artists?
There has never been so much new music as there is now, the trick is getting through it all to find the stuff that connects with you. I have done a bit of work with a Manchester band called Rosellas, they have some fantastic songs. They have only been going a couple of years but they have a lot of potential. They have that Manchester swagger about them – just a real confidence and a cheekiness but underlying it all [and] the songs are fantastic. I discovered them through a friend of mine and I’m involved in a charity called Everybody Belongs Here and at the end of January this year we did an on-line concert with some of the biggest artists in the world and we called it Music Feeds. We raised a million pounds for food charities. Sam Smith was there, Liam Gallagher, Newton Faulkner and it was also an opportunity to showcase some new artists and Rosellas were involved in that. I was fortunate to be able to go to The Met in Bury and record Rosellas there for the event. It was remarkable really and an amazing day for me.There is another band too called Sound of the Sirens, two girls from Exeter who have a very English sound – they have been going for a little while now but I have been working with them too. Yes there is a lot of new music around you just have to be brave about trying to find it.
mxdwn.com – Album Review: All the Colours of You is “made of stars.”
British band James’ 16th studio album comes barreling out as a creature created by the tumultuous last couple of years. All The Colours of You discusses the topics that formulated 2020 and 2021—from the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdowns, protests and the murder of George Floyd. The songs go from anthemic to a sweaty club beat, all wrapped up in a blissfully light rock tone throughout.
“Beautiful Beaches” is the change in tone the album needed, something to loosen up the sadness of “Recover.” The track sounds like a warm summer day, a perfect day for the beach. It’s light and airy, with the beat of a coming of age soundtrack, kicking in with a little bit of sadness with the electronic sounds that begin and end the song. The drum beats towards the end are sprightly, making sure to not bring down the energy that the song created.
A funky electronic club-type beat introduces itself with the song “Wherever It Takes Us.” The beat bops up and down, perfectly melting with the rock sound. The vocals are close up and in your face as if Tim Booth (lead singer of James) is telling a very specific and intricate story right to the listener. The song plays out almost like a spoken word poem, with wondrous imagery and a grandiose chorus “we’re all in wherever it takes us.” Towards the middle of the song, a woman’s voice appears, weaving and winding its way through the song, smooth and sultry—perhaps this is the “she” referenced throughout the song. Either way, one thing is clear: she’s “made of stars.”
All The Colours of You captures a lot of real moments from 2020, and along with that, it also captures a majestic “multiverse” of songs that will float its listeners out to space. A delicious mixture of electronic creativity and the sadness that comes with realism, James have created an album that’s relatable, healing and that will offer up a place to escape.
All the Colours of You is “made of stars.”
Leeds Living – All The Colours Of You, the 16th Studio album from “Madchesters” one and only James.
The work this band has produced over the years and their contribution to live music is truly a force to be reckoned with. You may hold close James for many different reasons; for me it’s being the soundtrack to the American Pie era, which makes it all the more exciting to see they’re still part of popular culture and creating narratives on today’s history.
A personal favourite from All The Colours Of You is the closing track XYST. The dramatic drum beats, perfectly matched with the band’s beautiful harmonies singing “You’re one of us”, create such an eerie sound, and closing with a lion’s roar there’s a real punk element to it and I just love it. James co-founder and bass player Jim Glennie simply calls the music “massive”. Tracks on this album are among the most arena-ready in James’ 38-year history.