Tag Archives: song-top-of-the-world
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
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
Edinburgh Usher Hall – 29th April 2023
Setlist
Magic Bus / Dust Motes / The Shining / She's A Star / The Lake / Someone's Got It In For Me / We're Going To Miss You / Hymn From A Village / Moving On / Ten Below / Tomorrow / Sit Down / Beautiful Beaches / Say Something / Love Make A Fool / Alaskan Pipeline / Hello / Riders / Seven / Sometimes / All The Colours Of You / Many Faces / Nothing But Love / Medieval / Top Of The WorldSupport
N/AMore Information & Reviews
Review: EvenTheStars.co.uk
“The Lake is simply stunning, a woman behind us comments that she’d watch a gig of that song being played over and over and over again and nothing else. The poignancy of the original, hidden away on a b-side of the Laid single, still underpins it but the stings, brass and the gospel vocals elevate it to a different plain completely. It’s a million miles from the 90s hit machine side of the band that grants them the commercial power to do this type of thing in 2023, but it’s the true essence of this band and one that is quite often easily overlooked by fools.”
Read the full review at EvenTheStars.co.uk
York Barbican – 28th April 2023
Setlist
Magic Bus / Dust Motes / The Shining / She's A Star / We're Going To Miss You / Hymn From A Village / Laid / Moving On / Ten Below / Tomorrow / Sit Down / Beautiful Beaches / Say Something / Love Make A Fool / Alaskan Pipeline / Riders / The Lake / Hello / All The Colours Of You / Many Faces / Sometimes / Nothing But Love / Medieval / Top Of The WorldSupport
N/AMore Information & Reviews
Review: EvenTheStars.co.uk
“It’s testament to the bloodymindedness of the band that they hadn’t played She’s A Star, the lead single from the orchestral album Be Opened By The Wonderful, until tonight. This version is stripped back to let the orchestra take over whilst Tim sings the build into the final chorus stood facing Chloe. As it finishes he tells us they only chose the set within the last hour before they go on stage, which Saul says is a sign that they’re not over. Jim adds that you’d think after forty years they’d know what they’re doing by now to which Saul jokes that this is a celebration of their inadequacy. In many ways this is absolutely perfect.”
Read the full review at EvenTheStars.co.uk
Cardiff St David’s Hall – 26th April 2023
Setlist
Magic Bus / Dust Motes / The Shining / Lookaway / We're Going To Miss You / Hymn From A Village / Laid / Moving On / Say Something / Ten Below / Someone's Got It In For Me / Sit Down / Beautiful Beaches / Tomorrow / Love Make A Fool / Alaskan Pipeline / Top Of The World / The Lake / Sometimes / All The Colours Of You / Many Faces / Hello / Medieval / Nothing But LoveSupport
N/AMore Information & Reviews
Review: EvenTheStars.co.uk
“Tim acknowledges the audience’s listening capability and promises that the famous Welsh singing voices will be needed later on. The magic of these orchestral shows isn’t in the big hits, although some of the singalongs are memorable moments, but the way in which Joe Duddell has sought out songs that have sat gathering dust in the band’s repertoire a million miles away from a setlist and bringing them back to life. The Shining is one such example, it positively explodes in the chorus with the orchestra and the lift the choir gives it. Some of these songs feel like they’ve found their true home and live to their full potential with Joe’s arrangements and the energy that comes with so many people on stage. Lookaway, a song that felt it all the hallmarks of one of those big James songs but had an ingredient missing in the recorded version, has found the secret blend.”
Read the full review at EvenTheStars.co.uk
Edinburgh Big Top Royal Highland Centre – 11th June 2022
Setlist
Johnny Yen / Born Of Frustration / She's A Star / Say Something / Come Home / Five-O / Lose Control / Top Of The World / How Was It For You / Destiny Calling / Runaground / Sit Down / Waltzing Along / Ring The Bells / Laid / Out To Get You / Sound / Tomorrow / SometimesSupport
Shed Seven, The K'sMore Information & Reviews
The show was advertised as James recreating their classic 1998 Barrowlands setlist (albeit in a different order).
Lancaster Highest Point Festival – 2nd September 2021
Setlist
Isabella / Walk Like You / Born Of Frustration / Come Home / Wherever It Takes Us / Zero / She's A Star / Beautiful Beaches / Sit Down / Getting Away With It (All Messed Up) / Sometimes / Sound / Stutter / Top Of The WorldSupport
The Lightning Seeds, Get Cape Wear Cape FlyMore Information & Reviews
Review: EvenTheStars.co.uk
There’s something really magical happening with the band at the moment. Debbie and Chloe together have reinvigorated them and created new sparks off which the rest of them feed, particularly Tim, who has lost the ability to come down and do that off the audience. It opens new avenues for the songs with two more agitators on stage and this is a band that are at their very best when responding to each other. Add to that the joy and relief of actually being able to do what they love the most and do the best and it genuinely feels like a new phase of the band’s evolution is opening up before as they approach forty – where life begins if the old saying holds true.
Read the full review at EvenTheStars.co.uk
Review: Laura Dean @ God is in the TV
Next came what was potentially the stand out track of the night – ‘Wherever It Takes Us’ from All The Colours Of You. Despite its unpredictable melody and spoken word verses, the track is almost biblical, with every band member singing the chorus in a choir-like manner. The thought-provoking ‘Zero’ followed, with frontman, Tim Booth encouraging the crowd to scream along with him, letting out the frustrations of the last eighteen months. The last track to be played from All The Colours Of You was the bass-driven and infectiously catchy, ‘Beautiful Beaches’, which had the whole crowd dancing along. If any of the crowd hadn’t listened to the new album, we’re fairly certain that they went home to because each of the four tracks included in the setlist soared, perfectly demonstrating how despite being a band of such longevity, James are a band continually experimenting with their sound and challenging themselves..
Read the full review at godisinthetvzine.co.uk
Lisbon Rock In Rio Festival – 7th September 2019
Setlist
Sit Down / Tomorrow / Leviathan / What's It All About? / Stutter / She's A Star / Out To Get You / Heads / Sometimes / Attention / Many Faces / Laid / Getting Away With It (All Messed Up) / Come Home / Sound / Top Of The WorldSupport
n/a - FestivalMore Information & Reviews
Knebworth Cool Britannia – 31st August 2019
Setlist
Sound / Heads / What's It All About? / Getting Away With It (All Messed Up) / Hank / Stutter / She's A Star / Top Of The World / Leviathan / Attention / Sit Down / Laid / Many Faces / Come Home / SometimesSupport
n/a - FestivalMore Information & Reviews
None
Edinburgh Princes Street Gardens – 15th August 2019
Setlist
She’s A Star / What’s It All About / Leviathan / Sit Down / Ring The Bells / Walk Like You / Interrogation / Hank / Nothing But Love / Many Faces / Getting Away With It (All Messed Up) / Laid / Come Home / Attention / Sound / Top Of The WorldSupport
n/a - FestivalMore Information & Reviews
Review: Chris Mackinnon at Edinburgh Evening News
They’re not fans of the outdoor gig sound limiters, tonight lamenting that they have to alternate slow, quiet songs with their more raucous outings and also advising the crowd that they’re not allowed to sing along. Best of luck with that.
Read the full review at scotsman.com
Review: EvenTheStars.co.uk
Then the problems start. Jim’s bass is knackered and no amount of trying to fix it seems to work initially. Jim tells a few jokes to try and amuse us, the audience sing “Getting away with it” whilst they decide what to do. Saul suggests “an acoustic version of something and you’re not allowed to sing, let’s see what happens” as they strike up into Sit Down. It’s not immediately clear it is their best known song until Tim starts to sing and then everyone is joined in unison and one voice, with two fingers cocked to the decibel counters, apart from when the lyrics are changed to the original Rough Trade version mid-way through.
Read the full review at EvenTheStars.co.uk