Hang On / What’s The World / Sandman / Government Walls / Bring A Gun / How Much Suffering / Walking The Ghost / Stripmine / Scarecrow / God Only Knows / Johnny Yen / Hymn From A Village / Whoops / Come Home / How Was It For You / Sit Down / Top Of The World
Ambitious Beggars
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Japanese market version of Gold Mother contained the extra track Lazy.
Come Home / Government Walls / God Only Knows / You Can’t Tell How Much Suffering (On A Face That’s Always Smiling) / Crescendo / Lazy / How Was It For You? / Hang On / Walking The Ghost / Gold Mother / Top Of The World
| Release Name: | Gold Mother |
| Artist Name: | |
| Release Date: | 4th June 1990 |
| Format: | Studio Album |
| Catalogue: | PHCR-1023 |
This fourth album by James from 1990 provided their mainstream breakthrough. It features their huge UK #2 hit Come Home.
The Japanese market version of Gold Mother had a different catalogue number and contained the extra track Lazy.
Find out about the main UK release of Gold Mother.
White label promo for original album release
Come Home / Government Walls / God Only Knows / (You Can’t Tell) How Much Suffering (On A Face That’s Always Smiling) / Crescendo / How Was It For You? / Hang On / Walking The Ghost / Gold Mother / Top Of The World
| Release Name: | Gold Mother (white label) |
| Artist Name: | |
| Release Date: | 1st May 1990 |
| Format: | Promo Album |
| Catalogue: | n/a |
White label promo for original album release
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So why aren’t James chartbusters both sides of the Atlantic? The nascent uplifting strains of the new songs are certainly well-crafted enough. And they’re no longer obtuse or obscure, rustic or rural. Maybe due to to their legendary business wrangles stifling the creativity of a band renowned for their non-conformity. More likely it’s a reflection of the times – clueless braindead snoreaminute clogging up the charts with their muzak while true innovators are left to rust and waste away.
Tonight, the Marquee, not the most suitable of venue at times, strains at the seams with business types, Smiths fan-club rejects and jubilant youngsters. They don’t know what to make of our heroes but they gradually warm to the swing of things. Tonight is a big chance to showcase material for an up-coming LP. And what an unqualified success it is.
Gone are many of the traits that used to confer distinctiveness – shallow melodies, determined improvisation, awe-struck gazing through opaque telescreens. Instead, the magic of rhythm weaves its way into the battered subconscious. After their well-documented disdain for anything danceable it is strange and refreshing to see them embrace dancefloor textures.
I don’t have to waffle and wank on to justify James renewed vigour – it’s right there, before your very eyes, never cloying or clinging. ‘Stutter’, ‘Johnny Yen’ and other classics are pulled out of the hat, almost dismissively. Booth is in fine fettle; never straining to reach the right notes nor resorting to condescension or crowd-pleasing activities.
Tonight was an occasion for some political bloodletting. Nothing as vanquished nor outlandish as putting names behind causes or supporting revolutionary terrorist groups, but an intercession between means and ends under Thatcher’s ever-straining leash. “Break down the government walls” was a pleasantly pleasing refrain. It’s not as obvious as it seems – some must make statements in these increasingly restrictive times. The promised land is too far away to wait on your arse for. It’s time for agitation again and James will be our guides.
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Royal Court Liverpool was Mark and Andy’s first gig with James. See the attached press clippings for reviews.
Top Of The World is the tenth and final track on the 1990 James album Gold Mother.
It is the only Gold Mother song that is part-credited to Gavan Whelan. It appeared in shows on the Summer 1989 show as a mid-paced track with lines such as “my girlfriend says she’s pregnant, we should have taken precautions”.
The track opened up many shows on the 1990 World Cup tour in its final slowed-down version and then was discarded until the 1992 acoustic tour. It was resurrected in 1998 and became a regular in the encores on the 1999 Winter tour with Tim, dressed in a glittery silver mirror-ball coat, flying into the audience with the help of ropes attached to the ceiling. The popularity of the track saw a live version released on the b-side of the We’re Going To Miss You single.
It still makes appearances in the setlist often starting or ending a show.
| Song: | Top Of The World |
| Released: | 4th June 1990 |
| Main Associated Album (or Single): | Gold Mother |
| First Heard Live: | Liverpool Royal Court – 16th June 1989 |