One Of The Three - The James Band Archive

Category Archives: Discography

This Is For

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An unreleased song that was demoed for Gold Mother

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LyricsReleaseGigs
Unavailable
Song:This Is For
Released:Unreleased
First Heard:Demoed for Gold Mother
    Can't find any records of performances.

Digging For Clues

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An unreleased song that was demoed for Gold Mother

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Unavailable
Song:Digging For Clues
Released:Unreleased
First Heard:Demoed for Gold Mother
    Can't find any records of performances.

Love Song In Blue

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An unreleased song that was demoed for both Gold Mother and Seven, but never made it to a release

Details

LyricsReleaseGigs
Unavailable
Song:Love Song In Blue
Released:Unreleased
First Heard:Demoed for Gold Mother
    Can't find any records of performances.

Sky Is Falling

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Sky Is Falling is a b-side from the 1989 James single Sit Down.

It was only ever released in its demo version, originally recorded for the infamous Manchester North of England compilation at the beginning of 1989 as well as a French Les Irrockuptibles compilation Un Printemps 89 and later on the first Rough Trade issue of the Sit Down single. It made very very rare appearances on the set list at gigs on the 1988 autumn tour.

Details

LyricsReleaseAvailable OnGigsGuitar Tabs
Tear down the forests, replace them with sky-highs
Pumping out sewage into the seas
Suck up the oil slicks, hollow out mountains
This planet's so sick, it's ready to heave
Don't look up, the sky's falling
Don't look up, the sky's falling
Don't look up, the sky's falling
Falling on me
Fall, fall, falling on me

JCB fingers, tearing at her lifeline
Greedy metal fingers, tearing at her heart
JCB fingers, tearing at her lifeline
Metal fingers, tearing at her heart

Rig-a-dig-a-dig-a-dig-a-dig-a-ding-ding
Rig-a-dig-a-dig-a-dig-a-dig-a-ding-ding
Dig-a-rig-a-rig-a-dig-a-dig-a-ding-ding
Rig-a-dig-a-dig-a-dig-a-dig-a-ding-ding

Rig-a-dig-a-dig-a-dig-a-dig-a-ding-ding
Rig-a-dig-a-dig-a-dig-a-dig-a-ding-ding
Dig-a-rig-a-rig-a-dig-a-dig-a-ding-ding
Rig-a-dig-a-dig-a-dig-a-dig-a-ding-ding

My Mother Nature has taken a turn for the worse
She's violated, and man is the name of her curse
The winds are screaming, the sky is bleeding red tears
Don't look up, the sky is falling
Don't look up, the sky is falling
Don't look up, the sky is falling
Falling on me
Falling on me

The oceans are cesspools of chemical compounds,
Plastic containers, industrial waste
Melt down the ice caps, wear out the o-zone
Everybody's losing this in-human race
Don't look up, the sky's falling
Don't look up, the sky's falling
Don't look up, the sky's falling
Falling on me
Fall, fall, falling on me

Rig-a-dig-a-dig-a-dig-a-dig-a-ding-ding
Rig-a-dig-a-dig-a-dig-a-dig-a-ding-ding
Dig-a-rig-a-rig-a-dig-a-dig-a-ding-ding
Rig-a-dig-a-dig-a-dig-a-dig-a-ding-ding

Rig-a-dig-a-dig-a-dig-a-dig-a-ding-ding
Rig-a-dig-a-dig-a-dig-a-dig-a-ding-ding
Dig-a-rig-a-rig-a-dig-a-dig-a-ding-ding
Rig-a-dig-a-dig-a-dig-a-dig-a-ding-ding

Falling on me
Falling on me
Song:Sky Is Falling
Released:19th June 1989
Main Associated Album (or Single):Sit Down (1989)
First Heard Live:Stirling University – 16th October 1988
Played at:
Unavailable

Brother On A Wheel (aka Alive)

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A song written before Gavan left the band in the autumn of 1988. Only one known performance of the song – in Aberdeen in October.

Was commonly known as Alive until it was referenced as a demo that Saul was asked to play along to when he first joined the band under the title Brother On A Wheel.

Details

LyricsReleaseGigs
Unavailable
Song:Brother On A Wheel (aka Alive)
Released:Unreleased
First Heard:Newcastle Riverside, 12th October 1988
Played at:

Sit Down

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Sit Down is a James single released in 1989 and 1991. The second release hit number 2 in the UK charts for four weeks. It appears on the reissued version of Gold Mother from May 1991.

It is undoubtedly James’ most famous track, originally released on Rough Trade in 1989, reaching no 85 and seeing James being told by Geoff Travis, MD of the soon to be bankrupt label, that they were not a viable commercial proposition beyond an audience of 20,000. The opening piano intro to the 12″ version was Mark’s first recording with James.

It had been written at the time when the band were unable to release any material due to their Sire contract, from whom they held the song back, only airing it at shows in Autumn 1988 and on a Radio 1 Andy Kershaw session.

Larry and Tim talked extensively about the song’s creation to The Guardian in 2014.

The song’s lyrics are a thank you from Tim to two women who had profoundly influenced him – the author Doris Lessing and singer Patti Smith.

Two years later, Sit Down spent four weeks at no 2, kept off top spot by Chesney Hawkes “The One And Only”.

After the success of the Best Of, Sit Down was remixed by Apollo 440 and rereleased in November 1998, reaching number 7 (their biggest hit since the 1991 release).

Three acoustic versions of the song have been released – a Hilversum Meter Dutch radio session from 1991 on a radio station CD, a GLR session from 1998 on the Sit Down 98 single and a live version from 1992 on the 2016 Greenpeace Palace Concert Record Store Day release.

Live versions appear on the Come Home live video and DVD as well as the Getting Away With It Live CD and DVD.

There is an awful out-of-tune cover by Voice of the Beehive on their Perfect Place single and Carter USM apparently played it at some shows in 1992 although no known recordings of this exist.

Details

LyricsListenReleaseAvailable OnGigsGuitar Tabs
I sing myself to sleep
A song from the darkest hour
Secrets I can't keep
Inside of the day
Swing from high to deep
Extremes of sweet and sour
Hope that God exists
I hope I pray

Drawn by the undertow
My life is out of control
I believe this wave will bear my weight
So let it flow

Oh sit down, oh sit down, oh sit down
Sit down next to me
Sit down, down, down, down, down
In sympathy

Now I'm relieved to hear
That you've been to some far out places
It's hard to carry on
When you feel all alone
Now I've swung back down again
It's worse than it was before
If I hadn't seen such riches
I could live with being poor

Oh sit down, oh sit down, oh sit down
Sit down next to me
Sit down, down, down, down, down
In sympathy

Those who feel the breath of sadness
Sit down next to me
Those who find they're touched by madness
Sit down next to me
Those who find themselves ridiculous
Sit down next to me

In love, in fear, in hate, in tears
In love, in fear, in hate, in tears
In love, in fear, in hate, in tears
In love, in fear, in hate
Down
Down

Oh sit down, oh sit down, oh sit down
Sit down next to me
Sit down, down, down, down, down
In sympathy

Oh sit down, oh sit down, oh sit down
Sit down next to me
Sit down, down, down, down, down
In sympathy
Down

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Apollo 440 Remix

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Live At G-Mex

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Oh Zidane Zidane

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Orchestral Version

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Song:Sit Down
Released:19th June 1989
Main Associated Album (or Single):Gold Mother
First Heard Live:Warrington Legends – 5th October 1988
Played at:
Chords:

E, A, B

Manchester North Of England

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A 1988 Compilation (non James) Album featuring James.

Summary

An infamous Manchester compilation featuring Inspiral Carpets, Johnny Dangerously and Dub Sex and the James song Sky Is Falling. It was released on both a cased cassette and white label vinyl

Track List

Sky Is Falling

Details

ReleaseAboutSongsGallery
Release Name: Manchester North Of England
Artist Name:
Release Date: 1st October 1988
Format: Compilation (non James) Album
Catalogue: BC001

An infamous Manchester compilation featuring Inspiral Carpets, Johnny Dangerously and Dub Sex and the James song Sky Is Falling. It was released on both a cased cassette and white label vinyl

Songs related to this release:

Strip-mine

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Strip-mine, a 1988 Studio Album by James.

Summary

Strip-mine was the second album from James, released 37 years ago in September 1988.

Track List

What For / Charlie Dance / Fairground / Are You Ready / Medieval / Not There / Ya Ho / Riders / Vulture / Stripmining / Refrain

Details

ReleaseAboutSongsListenVideosGalleryArticlesGigs
Release Name: Strip-mine
Artist Name: James
Release Date: 26th September 1988
Format: Studio Album
Catalogue: LP – JIMLP2, CAS – JIMC2, CD – JIMCD2

Following the chart failure of Stutter, James went into the studios in early 1987 to record the follow-up album. Using many of the tracks left over from the Stutter sessions and earlier live performances, the result of the sessions at Rockfield Studios was an album, but one that neither the band or the record company were happy with. Sire were reluctant to do much with the album and initially refused the band’s request for funds to remix it. James stagnated for a year, until they enlisted the help of Simply Red’s manager Eliot Rashman, who persuaded Sire that James could still be an internationally successful band given the right promotion.

A release of Ya Ho was scheduled for September 1987 but was postponed at the last moment. Steve Power was enlisted to remix the album, albeit with limited funds. At this stage, the band were left to rehearse and write new material, only able to afford to play the odd gig as they had little to promote and even less cash to pay for it.

What For was released in March 1988 and failed to chart, partly due to insufficient promotion by Sire who viewed the single as “too indie.” They finally relented to release Strip-Mine in September 1988 but gave it no push at all at a time where James resurrection was beginning in the live arena, selling out 1,500-2,000 capacity venues in Manchester and London despite never having had a whiff of chart success.

The version of Strip-Mine that finally saw the light of day was not too radically different from the original, Stutter having been replaced by Are You Ready and a revised track listing being the major differences. By the time it hit the shops some of the songs were five years old and the band had stacks of new material ready to unleash including a little number called Sit Down. The album reached number 90, a credible performance in the circumstances but then sank without trace.

Songs related to this release:

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Videos related to songs on this release:
Gigs at the time of this release:

Refrain

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Refrain is track eleven on the 1988 James album Strip-Mine.

With the exception of the instrumental parts of Wah Wah, Refrain is the only instrumental to appear on a James album to date, although when Stripmining was played live, it was often added into the end. On early versions of Strip-mine the song was not next to Stripmining in the running order.

Details

LyricsListenReleaseAvailable OnGigsGuitar Tabs
Instrumental

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Song:Refrain
Released:26th September 1988
Main Associated Album (or Single):Strip-mine
First Heard Live:Aberdeen The Venue – 14th October 1988
Played at:
James - Refrain

Taken from the album Strip Mine

Written and performed by James

Main Riff:

e--0h3-3-3-3--0h3/5-5-5-5--0-3/10-10-10-10--10-8-7-5-3--
B-------------------------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------
D-------------------------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------

Banjo Riff:

e----------3------- e----------3--------------------------
B------3-----3---3- B------5-----5---5-------7---8-7---7--
G----4---4-----4--- x2 G----5---5-----5-------7---7-----7----
D--5--------------- D--5-----------------7----------------
A------------------ A-------------------------------------
E------------------ E-------------------------------------

"Song" Structure:

This is an instrumental piece consisting of two (well, two and a half) guitar riffs.
The song fades in with Larry playing the Main Riff playing repeatedly throughout the song.
On occasions Larry varies this riff by not sliding up to the 10th and instead just
improvising on the 3rd and 5th. About halfway through an instrument that sounds like
a banjo comes in playing the riff tabbed above repeatedly. After two minutes of this,
the song fades out.
The chords throughout are G C D.




Transcribed by Alex Carter 2001.

alex@shandy3000.fsnet.co.uk

Left Out Of Her Will

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Left Out Of Her Will is a b-side of the 1988 James single Ya Ho. It also features on the studio disc of the 2012 The Gathering Sound boxset.

Details

LyricsListenReleaseAvailable OnGigsGuitar Tabs
This place is your home
There's no room for me
I'll never live up
To how you want me to be

Don't know where I'm going
But anywhere's better than here
You can't call this living
All your life is lived in fear
I thank you for your protection
I thank you for your care
Now I'll go my own way
Out of this family lair

Break away from home
I'll break away the mould
Break away from home
I'll break away the mould

How can you leave us
Now we are so old
We gave you everything
Pay back for what you owe

I owe you nothing
Never was your possession
If that's what you banked upon
I was a misconception
I'm not some investment
There'll be no dividend
Love is not possessive
Love is its only end

Break away from home
I'll break away from home
Break away from home
I'll break break the mould

You'll never tear away
From the family
Carry us with you
Our roots are deep

This place is your home
There's no room for me
I'll never live up
To how you want me to be
How you want me to be
How you want me to be
How you want me to be

Break away from home
I'll break away from home
Break away from home
I'll break away from home
Break away from home

Break away from home

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Song:Left Out Of Her Will
Released:1st September 1988
Main Associated Album (or Single):Ya Ho
First Heard Live:Bath Moles Club – 16th November 1988
Played at:
Unavailable

Ya Ho

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Ya Ho, a 1988 Single by James.

Summary

Although originally scheduled for release in 1987 and having an earlier catalogue number than What For, Ya Ho wasn’t released until September 1988 to coincide with the Strip-Mine album.

Track List

7″:  Ya Ho (7″ version) / Mosquito
12″: Ya Ho (12″ version) / Mosquito / Left Out Of Her Will / New Nature

Details

ReleaseAboutSongsListenVideosGallery
Release Name: Ya Ho
Artist Name:
Release Date: 1st September 1988
Format: Studio Single
Catalogue: 7" NEG 26- Ya Ho; 12" NEG 26T - Ya Ho

Originally scheduled for release in September 1987, hence the earlier catalogue number than What For released in March 1988 and the 1987 copyright on the sleeve, Ya Ho was released to coincide with Sire’s eventual agreement to release the Strip-Mine album.

The version of the track on the single is different to that released on the album. It is the original mix of the song produced by Hugh Jones before Steve Power was drafted in to remix the album to make it sound more commercial.

The three b-sides, recorded and produced by the band themselves at Sheffield’s Fon Studios revealed an almost country-like element to the band’s music not previously seen before.

With neither band or record company interested in promoting the single for widely different reasons, the single received no promotion and no video was made. James had found a get-out clause in their contract and were about to secure the funds to record the live album One Man Clapping and they had just written a song called Sit Down.

No-one was credited the single’s artwork on the sleeve.

Songs related to this release:

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