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An imperfect collection of a frustratingly uneven band, The Best of James is a tantalizing missed opportunity. James was always full of ambition and big ideas, from their early days as Smiths-like folk-rockers through their flirtation with baggy to their experimental dabbling with Brian Eno. Throughout it all, they hit as often as they missed, landing a handful of British hits and creating several more worthy album tracks. As album artists, however, they only occasionally were successful, as on 1993's terrific Laid. That's the reason why they are the perfect candidates for an 18-track retrospective like The Best Of. Too bad the compilers botched this disc. It's not that the collection overlooks their first two albums for Sire -- those had their moments, but they're not especially missed -- it's that they gather most of the best Fontana material (plus "Hymn From a Village," one of their early singles for Factory, and two new tracks), then throw it all in the air, not caring where each song lands. Since James changed drastically from album to album, this really is a block-headed move; it's difficult to listen to these songs out of chronological order, and the sequencing makes their achievements seem less impressive. That said, The Best Of is nevertheless recommended as a starting point because no other James album accurately conveys their eclecticism or their musical strengths; it's also nice to get all of these songs on one disc. Just be prepared to dig a little deeper -- or at least learn how to program the CD player -- if the collection sparks your interest.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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James, MainArtist - Flood, Remixer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Hunter, Accordion, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - David Baynton-Power, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Saul Davies, Bells, Guitar, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - James Patrick Glennie, Producer, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Timothy Booth, Producer, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - James Lawrence Gott, Producer, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Nick Garside, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Slater, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Andy (Diagram) Perkins, Trumpet, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1990 Mercury Records Limited
James, MainArtist - Dave Bascombe, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Gil Norton, Producer - Mark Hunter, Accordion, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - David Baynton-Power, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Saul Davies, Bells, Guitar, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - James Patrick Glennie, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Timothy Booth, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - James Lawrence Gott, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Gavan Michael Whelan, ComposerLyricist - Martine McDonagh, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Andy (Diagram) Perkins, Trumpet, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1991 Mercury Records Limited
James, MainArtist - Stephen Hague, Producer - Brian Eno, Producer, Co-Producer - Mark Hunter, Accordion, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - David Baynton-Power, Producer, Drums, Percussion, Associate Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Saul Davies, Bells, Guitar, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - James Patrick Glennie, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Timothy Booth, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - James Lawrence Gott, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1997 Mercury Records Limited
James, MainArtist - Brian Eno, Producer - Jim Glennie, Bass Guitar, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Mark Hunter, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - David Baynton-Power, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - James Gott, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Saul Davies, Guitar, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Booth, Vocals, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - James Patrick Glennie, ComposerLyricist - Timothy Booth, ComposerLyricist - James Lawrence Gott, ComposerLyricist - Larry Gott, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Benedict Fenner, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1993 Mercury Records Limited
James, MainArtist - Stephen Hague, Producer - Brian Eno, Producer - Jim Glennie, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Mark Hunter, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - David Baynton-Power, Producer, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Saul Davies, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Booth, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - James Patrick Glennie, ComposerLyricist - Timothy Booth, ComposerLyricist - James Lawrence Gott, ComposerLyricist - Adrian Oxaal, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Kulas, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1997 Mercury Records Limited
James, MainArtist - Brian Eno, Producer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jim Glennie, Bass Guitar, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Mark Hunter, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - David Baynton-Power, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - James Gott, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Saul Davies, Guitar, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Booth, Vocals, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - James Patrick Glennie, ComposerLyricist - Timothy Booth, ComposerLyricist - James Lawrence Gott, ComposerLyricist - Larry Gott, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Benedict Fenner, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Martine McDonagh, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1993 Mercury Records Limited
James, MainArtist - Youth, Producer - Mark Hunter, Accordion, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - David Baynton-Power, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Saul Davies, Bells, Guitar, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - James Patrick Glennie, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Timothy Booth, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - James Lawrence Gott, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Andy (Diagram) Perkins, Trumpet, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1992 Mercury Records Limited
James, MainArtist - Stephen Hague, Producer - Brian Eno, Producer, Co-Producer, ComposerLyricist - Mark Hunter, Accordion, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - David Baynton-Power, Producer, Drums, Percussion, Associate Producer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Saul Davies, Bells, Guitar, Violin, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - James Patrick Glennie, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Timothy Booth, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - James Lawrence Gott, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1997 Mercury Records Limited
OTT, Producer - James, MainArtist - Jim Glennie, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Mark Hunter, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - David Baynton-Power, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Saul Davies, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Tim Booth, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - James Patrick Glennie, ComposerLyricist - Timothy Booth, ComposerLyricist - James Lawrence Gott, ComposerLyricist - Adrian Oxaal, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Kulas, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1998 Mercury Records Limited
James, MainArtist - Brian Eno, Producer - Jim Glennie, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ben Findlay, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Hunter, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - David Baynton-Power, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Saul Davies, Guitar, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Booth, Vocals, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - James Patrick Glennie, ComposerLyricist - Timothy Booth, ComposerLyricist - James Lawrence Gott, ComposerLyricist - Larry Gott, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Benedict Fenner, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1993 Mercury Records Limited
OTT, Producer - James, MainArtist - Alan Douglas, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jim Glennie, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Mark Hunter, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - David Baynton-Power, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Saul Davies, Mixer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Tim Booth, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - James Patrick Glennie, ComposerLyricist - Timothy Booth, ComposerLyricist - Adrian Oxaal, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Kulas, Percussion, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1998 Mercury Records Limited
James, MainArtist - Flood, Producer - Mark McGuire, Producer, Mixer, Additional Producer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Hunter, Accordion, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - David Baynton-Power, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Saul Davies, Bells, Guitar, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - James Patrick Glennie, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Timothy Booth, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - James Lawrence Gott, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Andy (Diagram) Perkins, Trumpet, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1990 Mercury Records Limited
James, MainArtist - Brian Eno, Producer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jim Glennie, Bass Guitar, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Mark Hunter, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - David Baynton-Power, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - James Gott, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Saul Davies, Guitar, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Booth, Vocals, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - James Patrick Glennie, ComposerLyricist - Timothy Booth, ComposerLyricist - James Lawrence Gott, ComposerLyricist - Larry Gott, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Benedict Fenner, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Martine McDonagh, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1993 Mercury Records Limited
Tim Palmer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - James, MainArtist - Mark Hunter, Accordion, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - David Baynton-Power, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Saul Davies, Bells, Guitar, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - James Patrick Glennie, Producer, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Timothy Booth, Producer, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - James Lawrence Gott, Producer, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Nick Garside, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andy (Diagram) Perkins, Trumpet, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1990 Mercury Records Limited
James, MainArtist - Youth, Producer - Mark Hunter, Accordion, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - David Baynton-Power, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Saul Davies, Bells, Guitar, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - James Patrick Glennie, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Timothy Booth, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - James Lawrence Gott, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Andy (Diagram) Perkins, Trumpet, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1992 Mercury Records Limited
Tim Palmer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - James, MainArtist - Jim Glennie, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Youth, Producer - Mark Hunter, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - David Baynton-Power, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - James Gott, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Saul Davies, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Booth, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - James Patrick Glennie, ComposerLyricist - Timothy Booth, ComposerLyricist - James Lawrence Gott, ComposerLyricist - Andy (Diagram) Perkins, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1991 Mercury Records Limited
James, Producer, MainArtist - STEVE "BARNEY" CHASE, Producer - Mark Hunter, Accordion, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - David Baynton-Power, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Saul Davies, Bells, Guitar, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - James Patrick Glennie, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Timothy Booth, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - James Lawrence Gott, Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Andy (Diagram) Perkins, Trumpet, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1992 Mercury Records Limited
James, Producer, MainArtist - Jim Glennie, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Mark Hunter, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - David Baynton-Power, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Saul Davies, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Booth, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - James Patrick Glennie, ComposerLyricist - Timothy Booth, ComposerLyricist - James Lawrence Gott, ComposerLyricist - Gavan Michael Whelan, ComposerLyricist - Paul Gilbertson, ComposerLyricist - Larry Gott, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Nick Garside, Producer - Adrian Oxaal, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1985 Factory Records Ltd.
Album review
An imperfect collection of a frustratingly uneven band, The Best of James is a tantalizing missed opportunity. James was always full of ambition and big ideas, from their early days as Smiths-like folk-rockers through their flirtation with baggy to their experimental dabbling with Brian Eno. Throughout it all, they hit as often as they missed, landing a handful of British hits and creating several more worthy album tracks. As album artists, however, they only occasionally were successful, as on 1993's terrific Laid. That's the reason why they are the perfect candidates for an 18-track retrospective like The Best Of. Too bad the compilers botched this disc. It's not that the collection overlooks their first two albums for Sire -- those had their moments, but they're not especially missed -- it's that they gather most of the best Fontana material (plus "Hymn From a Village," one of their early singles for Factory, and two new tracks), then throw it all in the air, not caring where each song lands. Since James changed drastically from album to album, this really is a block-headed move; it's difficult to listen to these songs out of chronological order, and the sequencing makes their achievements seem less impressive. That said, The Best Of is nevertheless recommended as a starting point because no other James album accurately conveys their eclecticism or their musical strengths; it's also nice to get all of these songs on one disc. Just be prepared to dig a little deeper -- or at least learn how to program the CD player -- if the collection sparks your interest.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 18 track(s)
- Total length: 01:09:12
- Main artists: James
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: EMI
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
© 1998 Mercury Records Limited This Compilation ℗ 1998 Mercury Records Limited
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