Tag Archives: song-sit-down
Halifax Piece Hall – 8th July 2023
Setlist
Getting Away With It (All Messed Up) / All The Colours Of You / Waltzing Along / We're Going To Miss You / I Know What I'm Here For / Medieval / Five-O / Sound / Born Of Frustration / Beautiful Beaches / Sit Down / Sometimes / Laid / Come HomeSupport
Jamie Webster, Tom A SmithMore Information & Reviews
Review: EvenTheStars.co.uk
“Gigs in the rain can be magical and special and tonight’s very much felt like that. The band reacted to the situation when they came back on stage and the audience just let go of any inhibitions determined to have the best time and to make the night unique despite the drenching they got. The Piece Hall gave James and their fans two very different nights and experiences, but ones that will last long in the memory – it’s been thirty-four years since the band last played in this magnificent square, hopefully it won’t be anywhere near as long before their next visit.”
Read the full review at EvenTheStars.co.uk
Halifax Piece Hall – 7th July 2023
Setlist
Johnny Yen / Waltzing Along / All The Colours Of You / Interrogation / Born Of Frustration / Space / Out To Get You / Hymn From A Village / Medieval / Getting Away With It (All Messed Up) / Just Like Fred Astaire / Moving On / Nothing But Love / Sit Down / Sometimes / LaidSupport
Jamie Webster, Tom A SmithMore Information & Reviews
Review: EvenTheStars.co.uk
“Moving On is dedicated to loved ones passed and with Tim and Chloe singing it to each other, the emotional resonance is strong particularly as the sun goes down. There’s then an amusing moment as Tim beckons the choir down to sing the harmonies of Nothing But Love, but Dave starts up Sit Down. Dave blames Saul for the mistake, who takes responsibility, before joking that it was really whoever wrote the setlist’s fault. The choir becomes one of five thousand for the rousing latter-period Nothing But Love, before losing themselves collectively in an uplifting Sit Down, a song that feels reinvigorated this year and a beacon of light in a dark world.”
Read the full review at EvenTheStars.co.uk
Leicester De Montfort Hall – 4th July 2023
Setlist
Magic Bus / We're Going To Miss You / The Shining / The Lake / Dust Motes / Beautiful Beaches / Space / Moving On / Ten Below / Nothing But Love / Born Of Frustation / Tomorrow / Sit Down / Love Make A Fool / Medieval / Someone's Got It In For Me / Alaskan Pipeline / She's A Star / Hello / Riders / Getting Away With It (All Messed Up) / All The Colours Of You / Many Faces / Say Something / SometimesSupport
N/AMore Information & Reviews
Review: EvenTheStars.co.uk
“Saul makes a point of dedicating Getting Away With It (All Messed Up) to the crew who make this whole thing work, and watching it at closer quarters this really wouldn’t be possible without their skill, expertise and ability to adapt quickly to whatever ideas the band throw at them last minute. The audience starts clapping along to which Tim says they have to be really in time otherwise it’ll completely fuck up the timing – Joe conducts the audience clapping and it all stays intact. They then finish the main set with an uplifting All The Colours Of You, where again the song’s inherent dramatic cuts and pastes of its creation in a studio with Jacknife are brought to life with live instruments before it segues into Many Faces, the choir in a line at the front as they improvise their way through repeatedly singing the song’s core message that ‘there’s only one human race, many faces, everybody belongs here.'”
Read the full review at EvenTheStars.co.uk
Liverpool Pier Head – 2nd July 2023
Setlist
Johnny Yen / Come Home / Ring The Bells / Interrogation / Honest Joe / Born Of Frustration / Out To Get You / All Good Boys / Moving On / Hymn From A Village / Sound / Laid / Sit Down / Beautiful Beaches / Getting Away With It (All Messed Up) / SometimesSupport
The Coral, Red Rum Club, The Clause, The Sway, The Cheap Thrills, Girlband, Fiona LeeMore Information & Reviews
None.
Bristol Canons Marsh Amphitheatre- 23rd June 2023
Setlist
Walk Like You / Ring The Bells / Born Of Frustration / What For / Sit Down / Isabella / Interrogation / Johnny Yen / All Good Boys / Just Like Fred Astaire / Out To Get You / She's A Star / Come Home / All The Colours Of You / Beautiful Beaches / Sound / Getting Away With It (All Messed Up) / LaidSupport
Emily Breeze / The KairosMore Information & Reviews
None.
Wolverhampton Civic Hall – 20th June 2023
Setlist
Johnny Yen / Five-O / Waltzing Along / What For / Love Make A Fool / I Know What I'm Here For / Interrogation / Sit Down / Hello / All Good Boys / Say Something / Hymn From A Village / Ring The Bells / Come Home / Beautiful Beaches / Getting Away With It (All Messed Up) / Out To Get You / All The Colours Of You / LaidSupport
The ClauseMore Information & Reviews
Review: EvenTheStars.co.uk
“The band are on good form throughout, Tim spinning Andy round on his chair during Sit Down and changing a line in Waltzing Along to reference Andy’s broken foot. Saul tells us he looks like a sinister accountant before Interrogation. The interactions between the band seem to drive them on, Debbie in particular being a driving force particularly away from her drum kit. Life does, it seem, begin at forty.”
Read the full review at EvenTheStars.co.uk
Be Opened By The Wonderful
Summary
James’ 17th studio album recorded with the Orca 22 orchestra and Manchester Inspirational Voices choir conducted by Joe Duddell at Blueprint Studios in January 2023.
Track List
2CD / Download
Disc 1: Sometimes / Love Make A Fool / We’re Gonna Miss You / Tomorrow / The Lake / She’s A Star / Lookaway / Sit Down / Alaskan Pipeline
Disc 2: Someone’s Got It In For Me / Hey Ma / Hello / Beautiful Beaches / Why So Close / Medieval / Hymn From A Village / Say Something / Top Of The World / Moving On / Laid
Double Vinyl versions (Black / White / Green):
Side A: Sometimes / Love Make A Fool / We’re Gonna Miss You / Tomorrow
Side B: The Lake / She’s A Star / Lookaway / Sit Down / Alaskan Pipeline
Side C: Someone’s Got It In For Me / Hey Ma / Hello / Beautiful Beaches / Why So Close
Side D: Medieval / Say Something / Top Of The World / Moving On / Laid
Details
Release Name: | Be Opened By The Wonderful |
Artist Name: | James |
Release Date: | 9th June 2023 |
Format: | Studio Album |
Catalogue: | |
Related Release(s): |
Be Opened By The Wonderful was recorded at Blueprint Studios in Manchester, orchestrated and conducted by Joe Duddell with the ORCA22 Orchestra lead by Andra Vornicu featuring the Manchester Inspirational Voices choir, directed by Wayne Ellington.
Tim Booth says “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.”
Reviews
EvenTheStars.co.uk – Review: James - Be Opened By The Wonderful
06th June 2023 |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.
EvenTheStars.co.uk – TRACK OF THE DAY: James - She's A Star (Orchestral)
23rd March 2023 |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.”
- Alaskan Pipeline :2001
- Beautiful Beaches :2021
- Hello :1999
- Hey Ma :2008
- Hymn From A Village :1985
- Laid :1993
- Lookaway :2010
- Love Make A Fool :2023
- Medieval :1988
- Moving On :2014
- Say Something :1993
- She’s A Star :1997
- Sit Down :1989
- Someone’s Got It In For Me :1999
- Sometimes (Lester Piggott) :1993
- The Lake :1993
- Tomorrow :1994
- Top Of The World :1990
- We’re Going To Miss You :1999
- Why So Close :1986
- James – Beautiful Beaches
- James – Beautiful Beaches (Conservatory Version)
- Laid (Version 2) (Clean)
- Laid (Version 3) (Explicit)
- Love Make A Fool
- Moving On
- Say Something (US Version)
- Say Something (Version 1)
- She’s A Star
- She’s A Star (Orchestral Version)
- Sit Down
- Sit Down ’98 Apollo 440 Mix
- Sit Down (Original)
- Sometimes
- Tomorrow
- We’re Going To Miss You
- Nottingham Royal Centre – 25th October 2023
- Bath Forum – 24th October 2023
- Jersey Weekender Festival – 3rd September 2023
- CA Vilar De Mouros – 26th August 2023
- London Crystal Palace Bowl – 11th August 2023
- Darlington Arena – 5th August 2023
- Y Not Festival – 29th July 2023
- Dundee Slessor Gardens – 28th July 2023
- Latitude Festival – 23rd July 2023
- County Laois Forest Fest – 21st July 2023
- Thessaloniki Moni Lazariston – 12th July 2023
- Athens The Odeon Of Herodes Atticus – 10th July 2023
- Halifax Piece Hall – 8th July 2023
- Halifax Piece Hall – 7th July 2023
- Leicester De Montfort Hall – 4th July 2023
- Liverpool Pier Head – 2nd July 2023
- Bristol Canons Marsh Amphitheatre- 23rd June 2023
- Wolverhampton Civic Hall – 20th June 2023
- Margam In It Together Festival – 28th May 2023
- London Royal Albert Hall – 17th May 2023
- Blackpool Opera House – 12th May 2023
- Manchester Apollo – 10th 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
Margam In It Together Festival – 28th May 2023
Setlist
Come Home / Waltzing Along / Interrogation / Curse Curse / Beautiful Beaches / Johnny Yen / Ring The Bells / Sit Down / Nothing But Love / Getting Away With It (All Messed Up) / Laid / SoundSupport
N/A FestivalMore Information & Reviews
None
London Royal Albert Hall – 17th May 2023
Setlist
Magic Bus / Beautiful Beaches / The Lake / Dust Motes / The Shining / Seven / We're Going To Miss You / Ten Below / Moving On / Say Something / Born Of Frustration / Nothing But Love / Sit Down / Love Make A Fool / Medieval / Hello / Someone's Got It In For Me / Alaskan Pipeline / She's A Star / Just Like Fred Astaire / Getting Away With It (All Messed Up) / All The Colours Of You / Many Faces / Hymn From A Village / Tomorrow / SometimesSupport
N/AMore Information & Reviews
Review: EvenTheStars.co.uk
“She’s A Star has the crowd back on their feet where they remain for the rest of the show. The orchestra are the stars here on this one and getting a huge ovation at the end from both the audience and everyone else on stage. The song’s uplifting message is accentuated by the strings as they build into the chorus. Just Like Fred Astaire and Getting Away With It (All Messed Up) might not have undergone the same type of transformation as much of the set around them, but their status as later first-edition James classics has been cemented well before now and the crowd are now completely lost in the moment. Tim playfully teasing “Albert Hall, be careful” at the end of the latter.”
Read the full review at EvenTheStars.co.uk
Blackpool Opera House – 12th May 2023
Setlist
Magic Bus / Dream Thrum / Dust Motes / Beautiful Beaches / She's A Star / The Shining / Seven / We're Going To Miss You / Born Of Frustration / Say Something / Nothing But Love / Sit Down / Love Make A Fool / Medieval / Just Like Fred Astaire / Of Monsters And Heroes And Men / Someone's Got It In For Me / Hello / Moving On / The Lake / Getting Away With It (All Messed Up) / Sometimes / Tomorrow / All The Colours Of You / Many Faces / Top Of The WorldSupport
N/AMore Information & Reviews
Review: EvenTheStars.co.uk
“There’s then a really emotional moment as Debbie steps forward to the microphone to tell us that her Dad passed away the night before after a long struggle with cancer. She tells us that there being so much joy in the room will help her celebrate him and that they’re going to play her favourite song. We’re Going To Miss You is another song that feels like this was exactly the moment it was written for, particularly when the instruments drop out and the song’s chorus line is sung by Tim, the choir and half the band a cappella.”
Read the full review at EvenTheStars.co.uk
Manchester Apollo – 10th May 2023
Setlist
Sit Down / Top Of The World / Dust Motes / Lookaway / The Shining / Space / We're Going To Miss You / Ten Below / Seven / Say Something / Nothing But Love / Magic Bus / Love Make A Fool / Medieval / Moving On / Of Monsters And Heroes And Men / Riders / Alaskan Pipeline / She's A Star / All The Colours Of You / Many Faces / Someone's Got It In For Me / Getting Away With It (All Messed Up) / Born Of Frustration / Laid / Sometimes / Hymn From A VillageSupport
N/AMore Information & Reviews
Review: EvenTheStars.co.uk
“The crowd move into the aisles to dance and some head down the front for the final two songs of the main set Getting Away With It (All Messed Up) and Born Of Frustration as James seek to finish the night on a bang. The security are a little unsure of what to do but as there’s no danger of a stage invasion a la 1989 they try and keep the front free without being heavy-handed. People just want to be a bit closer, Tim lets the audience sing the chorus which they do with gusto and the whole Apollo is now on their feet, not to sit down again until they leave. Born Of Frustration’s ecstatic windswept moments are even more so with the choir and orchestra augmenting the band and the audience casting off any remaining inhibitions that might have reigned them in earlier in the evening.”
Read the full review at EvenTheStars.co.uk