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Sit Down reached the 77, the highest UK Single Chart position to date for James.
7″ RT225 – Sit Down / Sky Is Falling
12″ RTT225 – Sit Down (extended) / Goin Away / Sound Investment / Sky Is Falling
CD RTT225CD – Sit Down (extended) / Goin Away / Sound Investment / Sky Is Falling
| Release Name: | Sit Down |
| Artist Name: | |
| Release Date: | 19th June 1989 |
| Format: | Studio Single |
| Catalogue: | 7" RT225; 12" RTT225; CD RTT225CD |
Following the split from Sire, James released the number one indie album One Man Clapping with the assistance of Geoff Travis from Rough Trade. In the spring of 1989, James signed to Rough Trade and entered the studio to record Sit Down, a track written in the days of Sire which they had held back until they had escaped to a new label.
With James now a seven-piece band, the single was released in June 1989 to coincide with a short UK tour. It was released on 7″, 12″ and a small 3″ CD single with original issues of the 7″ including a free postcard. The 12″ and CD formats included an eight-minute version of Sit Down ending in a reprise of the song with a sound engineer chanting Lester Piggott over the outro. B-sides to the single included Sky Is Falling, a demo that was James contribution to BOP Records legendary Manchester North of England album, Goin Away, a two-minute track that had opened up many James shows that year and Sound Investment, a meditation on the complexity of relationships.
A video directed by Ed Barton accompanied the single. Set against a white background and Tim sporting a fetching kaftan, the video features the band performing the song, Tim hugging a sheep (which apparently urinated him at one stage) and various shady-looking individuals sitting down next to Tim. The video received a Musicians Union ban for two weeks as it featured Jim impersonating a drummer, apparently taking someone else’s job.
Artwork for the single was provided by Manchester’s Central Station Design, responsible for most Factory Records sleeves.
The single received almost universal acclaim in the music press, but Radio 1 appeared not to pick the single up so crucial airplay was lost. The single entered the charts at number 77 and went no higher, but that was better than James had achieved before. The song had however left an indelible mark on the James audience.
James kick off a long-term recording relationship with Rough Trade Records with the single Sit Down released on June 19th. Sit Down looks set to build on the success of the indie chart-topping One Man Clapping live album; the b-side Sky Is Falling shows the band have lost none of their out-spoken concern for environmental issues.
The full track listing for the twelve inch version is as follows:
Keyboardist Mark Hunter is welcomed aboard the line-up for a national tour – dates as follows:
White label promo sent to DJs without band name
Sit Down (12″ version) / Goin Away / Sound Investment / Sky Is Falling
| Release Name: | Sit Down - Rough Trade white label promo - no catalogue number |
| Artist Name: | |
| Release Date: | 1st June 1989 |
| Format: | Promo Single |
| Catalogue: | n/a |
White label promo sent to DJs without band name
James are a bit of a shock. For a start, Tim Booth no longer has any hair. This, in tandem with his floppy shirt / straitjacket, gives him the look of the domeheaded weirdo who gets hooked up to the mains in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest.
“If you want old songs buy the albums,” is his first directive. “This is a new band.”
It sure is, with violinist Saul Davies making all the difference. The songs on the new live album One Man Clapping are transformed by catchy little curlicues of slightly malevolent folk whimsy into songs from underneath floorboards. A new song called Look Strong confounds the band’s cosy image, Johnny Yen and Undertaker both carry knives and Riders is a blur.
Larry Gott, suddenly freed by the arrival of the violinist, who doubles on acoustic guitar, turns out to be an exhilirating slide guitar player on Whoops. And when he and Booth convene for a moving Why So Close, he cuts such a carnivorous figure that his lead singer actually applauds him after the song’s over.
“Baldie,” shouts one 85 percent short-hair
“I may be bald,” replies Booth, “but my hair will return. Your brain may not.”
The encore is Stutter. It is awash with Anglicisms – chirpy vocals, folky rhythms, Maypole structures – but pastoral and harmless it isn’t. It’s staggering.
The old James were pretty bloody incredible. The new one… well, they’re hair-raising.
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Saul and Dave’s first gig with the band. Roadie Jeff Skellern stood in for Jim who had gone back to Manchester to await the birth of his son Jake.
Goin Away is a b-side of the 1989 original release of Sit Down.
| Song: | Goin Away |
| Released: | 19th June 1989 |
| Main Associated Album (or Single): | Sit Down (1989) |
| First Heard Live: | Newcastle Riverside – 14th March 1989 |