Tag Archives: 1993
Strobe Magazine Interview
Sometimes US CD promo
Summary
US five-track promo CD
Track List
Sometimes (edit) / Sometimes (album version) / America / Building A Charge / Laid (live)
Details
Release Name: | Sometimes US CD promo |
Artist Name: | James |
Release Date: | November 1993 |
Format: | Promo Single |
Catalogue: | CDP1089 |
Related Release(s): |
Only listed as two songs on the CD sleeve but the promo contains five tracks
- America :1993
- Building A Charge :1993
- Laid :1993
- Sometimes (Lester Piggott) :1993
Laid (Australia)
Summary
Two-track Australian single featuring Wah Wah Kits as b-side as per UK 7″.
Track List
Laid / Wah Wah Kits
Details
Release Name: | Laid (Import, Australia) |
Artist Name: | James |
Release Date: | November 1993 |
Format: | Studio Single |
Catalogue: | 862 926-2 |
Related Release(s): |
Two-track Australian single featuring Wah Wah Kits as b-side as per UK 7″.
- Laid :1993
- Wah Wah Kits :1993
Laid North American Tour Dates – Press Release
Laid
Summary
Laid was the second single from the album of the same name, and the one that broke the band in America. It reached 25 in the UK Singles Chart.
Track List
7″ JIM 14 – Laid / Wah Wah Kits
CAS JIMMC 14 – Laid / Wah Wah Kits
CD JIM 14CD – Laid / Wah Wah Kits / The Lake / Seconds Away
CD JIM 14CX – Laid (Live at Radio 1) / Say Something (Live at Radio 1) / Five-O (Live at Radio 1) / Sometimes (Live At Radio 1)
Details
Release Name: | Laid |
Artist Name: | James |
Release Date: | November 1993 |
Format: | Studio Single |
Catalogue: | 7" JIM 14; CAS JIMMC 14; CD JIM 14CD; CD JIM 14CX |
Related Release(s): | Laid (Album) |
Laid was an obvious choice as the second single off the album, a classic two and a half minute pop song with no pretensions. The lyrics had to be changed from “she only comes when she’s on top” to “she only sings when she’s on top” to appease radio stations and ensure daytime airplay.
The single was released in two CD versions. The first featured the album version of Laid, a beautiful peaceful track called The Lake and two tracks Wah Wah Kits and Seconds Away which would have not been out of place on the Wah Wah album.
The second CD saw four tracks from the Laid album recorded at BBC’s Maida Vale studios, one track live into each show on the day of the album’s release.
The video for the single was probably James most striking to date. The band dressed up in dresses and performed various domestic chores wearing facial masks whilst Tim sat singing the song, chained to the table.
Despite another Radio 1 A-listing, the single surprisingly only managed to reach number 25. It was however to help James make a crucial breakthrough into the American market early in 1994.
Artwork was provided by Larry’s wife Jane Gott.
Reviews
NME
From the album of the same name, ‘Laid’ is a breezy little pop song that seems quite happy to go through life in the knowledge that it’s the bastard child of Hothouse Flowers’ “Don’t Go” and “Wimoweh” but with explicit lyrics (“she only comes when she’s on top” that should see off any chances of serious daytime airplay. B-side ‘Wah Wah Kits’ revels in its resemblance to Dr Phibes’ ‘Hazy Lazy Hologram’, while the two extra tracks on the CD, ‘The Lake’ and ‘Seconds Away’, are respectively a brooding piece of dislocated melancholia and a throwaway demo. Enjoyable, in a confusing sort of way.
Melody Maker
Not much proof here of the much-heralded creatively-revamped James.
“Laid” is smalltown folk music. Driven by a wheezy old Hammond organ, a drumbeat that sounds like the bloke upstairs nailing down his floorboards and a guitar that might as well be a banjo for all the expression it brings. “Laid” is 1990 naff. It’s not even spuriously uplifting. Tim Booth’s cryptic Indian type whoops aren’t a call to arms or joyous chant but more a sort of cryptic holler, as if he’s Geronimo trying to invoke Chief Sitting Bull in a séance.
There are tracks here, however, such as “Wah Wah Kits” that do indicate a newer, freshly adorned James, perhaps abetted by Brian Eno.
So maybe pigs are flying and they have turned half-decent.
- Five-O :1993
- Laid :1993
- Say Something :1993
- Seconds Away :1993
- The Lake :1993
- Wah Wah Kits :1993
Seconds Away
Seconds Away is a b-side of the 1993 James single Laid. It is a mainly instrumental jam.
Details
We’re only seconds away
(indecipherable)
Song: | Seconds Away |
Released: | 1st November 1993 |
Main Associated Album (or Single): | Laid |
First Heard Live: |
- Laid :Studio, Single, 1993
- Laid / Wah Wah Super Deluxe Edition :Compilation, Box Set, 2015
- Can't find any records of performances.
The Lake
The Lake is a b-side from the 1993 James single Laid. It also features on the 2001 B-Sides Ultra compilation and the Japanese version of the Laid album.
It was one of Tim’s favourite songs, but was vetoed by the band for inclusion on Laid because of its lyrical content. It was included in the setlists on the 2011 orchestral tour.
Details
But I thought I heard the sound
The sound that lovers make
As they drop down from the window
Quiet as cats, across the courtyard
Moving from shadow to shadow
Past the guards to the forest
So quiet in her still reflection
Drawing them down, drawing them down to the lake
To the centre of her attention
Steal the moon tonight
Before the morning
Steal the moon tonight
I just love a good mystery
And on the West Bank a boat is being pulled
Across the sands they move so softly
Slip into water
Oars dip, don't break the moon's reflection
And drift like a cloud
To the centre
Beneath her cool attention
Still water
Still water
Steal the moon tonight
Before the morning
Steal the moon tonight
I want to drown in your moon dream
I've seen you rising from shore to shore
I want to drown in your moon dream
I've seen you rising
Steal the moon tonight
Shine
Shine
Shine
Song: | The Lake |
Released: | 1st November 1993 |
Main Associated Album (or Single): | Laid |
First Heard Live: | Cardiff Millennium Centre – 23rd October 2011 |
- Laid – Japanese promo tape :Promo, Album, 1993
- Laid (Japan) :Studio, Album, 1993
- Laid :Studio, Single, 1993
- Destiny Calling :Studio, Single, 1998
- Destiny Calling (Germany) :Studio, Single, 1998
- B-Sides Ultra (CDR promo) :Promo, Album, 2001
- B-Sides Ultra :Compilation, Album, 2001
- B-Sides Ultra (Thailand) :Studio, Album, 2001
- Laid / Wah Wah Super Deluxe Edition :Compilation, Box Set, 2015
- Be Opened By The Wonderful :Studio, Album, 2023
- Nottingham Royal Centre – 25th October 2023
- Bath Forum – 24th October 2023
- Latitude Festival – 23rd July 2023
- Athens The Odeon Of Herodes Atticus – 10th July 2023
- Leicester De Montfort Hall – 4th July 2023
- London Royal Albert Hall – 17th May 2023
- Blackpool Opera House – 12th May 2023
- Manchester Apollo – 9th May 2023
- Liverpool Philharmonic Hall – 7th May 2023
- Birmingham Symphony Hall – 5th May 2023
- Sheffield City Hall – 4th May 2023
- Newcastle City Hall – 2nd May 2023
- Glasgow SEC Armadillo – 1st May 2023
- Edinburgh Usher Hall – 29th April 2023
- York Barbican – 28th April 2023
- Cardiff St David’s Hall – 26th April 2023
- Brighton The Dome – 25th April 2023
- Portmeirion Town Hall, Festival No 6 – 5th September 2015
- London Royal Albert Hall – 4th November 2011
- Gateshead Sage – 2nd November 2011
- Manchester Bridgewater Hall – 1st November 2011
- Manchester Bridgewater Hall – 31st October 2011
- Liverpool Philharmonic – 29th October 2011
- Liverpool Philharmonic – 28th October 2011
- Nottingham Royal Centre – 27th October 2011
- Glasgow Royal Concert Hall – 25th October 2011
- Birmingham Symphony Hall – 24th October 2011
- Cardiff Millennium Centre – 23rd October 2011
Wah Wah Kits
Wah Wah Kits is a b-side from the 1993 James single Laid.
Details
You just live to fly again
Your age shows
Dead flies on the bumper tonight
Sore skin, your knuckles gone white
Your name is the neighbourhood scum
Say your name, it's the neighbourhood scum
My baby, born forty eight
Robbed a car and fled the state
Your name is the neighbourhood scum
Hit the stars on the way tonight
Smashed the car when you jumped the lights
Your name is the neighbourhood scum
Say your name, it's the neighbourhood scum
Stole a bus and now you've gone too far
All these stops are to pick up a car
Your rage shows
All these troubles are getting me down
Any more and I'd better leave town
Your name is the neighbourhood scum
Say your name, it's the neighbourhood scum
Song: | Wah Wah Kits |
Released: | 1st November 1993 |
Main Associated Album (or Single): | Laid |
First Heard Live: |
- Laid :Studio, Single, 1993
- Laid (Australia) :Studio, Single, 1993
- Laid / Wah Wah Super Deluxe Edition :Compilation, Box Set, 2015
- Can't find any records of performances.
Taken from the single Laid
Written and performed by James
Backing Riff:
G F C G
e-------------------------------------------------------
B----3------3------3----3/5-5--51-1--1/3-3-------------
G--0---0--0---0--0---0----------------------------------
D-------------------------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------
Song Structure:
As far as I can tell, that Backing Riff (or something along those lines) is the only guitar part and is repeated throughout the entire song.
Lyrics/Chords:
G
Spaceheads, you're all the same
You just live to fly again
F C G
Your ra-age shows
Dead flies on the bumper tonight
So scared, your knuckles gone white
F C G
Your na-ame is the neighbourhood scum
F C G
Say your na-ame, it's the neighbourhood scum
My baby, born forty eight
Robbed a car and fled the state
F C G
Your na-ame is the neighbourhood scum
Hit the stars on the way tonight
Smashed the car when you jumped the lights
F C G
Your na-ame is the neighbourhood scum
F C G
Say your na-ame, it's the neighbourhood scum
Stole a bus and now you've gone too far
All these stops are to pick up a car
F C G
Your ra-age shows
All these troubles are getting me down
Any more and I'd better leave town
F C G
Your na-ame is the neighbourhood scum
F C G
Say your na-ame, it's the neighbourhood scum
Transcribed by Alex Carter 2001.
alex@shandy3000.fsnet.co.uk
Laid (VHS)
Summary
One-track VHS promo
Track List
Laid (radio version)
Details
Release Name: | Laid (VHS) |
Artist Name: | James |
Release Date: | 1st November 1993 |
Format: | Promo VHS |
Catalogue: | |
Related Release(s): |
One-track VHS promo
- Laid :1993
October 1993
After a full-scale US tour is cancelled due to marketing disagreements, James play two low-key shows in California.