Colin James (born Colin James Munn, August 17, 1964) is a Canadian rock and… Read Full Bio ↴Colin James (born Colin James Munn, August 17, 1964) is a Canadian rock and blues singer and songwriter. James has been nominated for 15 Juno Awards, winning six times.

James was only 18-years old when he captured the attention of guitar legend Stevie Ray Vaughan, who marveled at this prodigious guitar talent, and immediately decided to take him on the road through the Canadian prairies, and later the United States. It wasn't long after that the young musician began opening for the likes of John Lee Hooker, ZZ Top, Steve Winwood and Keith Richards, Colin's 1988 self-titled debut Colin James was the fastest-selling album in Canadian music history featuring the smash hits "Why'd You Lie?”, “Voodoo Thing” and “Five Long Years". It featured a team of three top producers, including Tom Dowd (Eric Clapton, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Allman Brothers), Danny Kortchmar (Bon Jovi, Billy Joel, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Stevie Nicks, Neil Young) and Bob Rock (Jann Arden, Michael Bublé, Bush, The Cult, Loverboy, Sarah McLachlan, Metallica).

James followed up his record-breaking debut with a strong 1990 release, Sudden Stop, which was produced by Joe Hardy (.38 Special, Steve Earle, The Jeff Healey Band, ZZ Top ). This release has two top forty radio hits: "Just Came Back" and, "Keep On Loving Me Baby", and features Bonnie Raitt singing backing vocals on "Give It Up". This sophomore album further helped established Colin's integrity as an artist to lookout for.

James formed The Little Big Band in early 1990's and would eventually release a trilogy of CDs fronting this 1930's-50's style punchy horn section band, playing classics and originals featuring his stellar guitar fills and confident vocals. The first Colin James and The Little Big Band was released in 1993, and it was produced by Chris Kinsley (The Cult, Duran Duran, Psychedelic Furs, The Rolling Stones). The second Colin James and The Little Big Band II was released in 1998 on Warner Music, while the third, Colin James & The Little Big Band 3 was distributed on Maple Music in Canada and Universal Music Group globally in 2006, and he would eventually do a fourth with the band, a holiday album Colin James & The Little Big Band Christmas.

In 2008 he took home three Maple Blues Awards (Toronto Blues Society), which included Entertainer of the Year, while his release Limelight also went gold in Canada.

James released his twelfth album Rooftops and Satellites on October 6th, 2009, and it was a return to his guitar Blues-Rock roots. The album was primarily co-written by Tom Wilson (Junkhouse, Blackie and The Rodeo Kings, Lee Harvey Osmond) and Thomas "Tawgs" Salter, co-writer and producer of Lights' debut and Josh Groban's Awake, and it has generated four Canadian radio singles, “Man’s Gotta Be A Stone”, “Lost Again”, “Wavelength” and “Johnny Coolman.”

2011's 'Take It From The Top: The Best Of’ pays tribute to James's career's first 23 years and serves as a celebration of Colin’s return back where he started his recordings, Virgin/EMI. This Greatest Hits collection also features two newly recorded tracks, “It’s Gonna Be Alright“ as well as an innovative cover of the Buddy Miles' classic “Them Changes”, that were recorded in Vancouver with veteran producer Bob Rock (Michael Bublé, Metallica), reuniting the two after almost twenty years.

On June 12th, 2012, James released his fifteenth album, appropriately entitled Fifteen, which was produced by Joe Hardy (ZZ Top, Brooks & Dunn, Jeff Healey, Steve Earle), who had handled three of Colin's previous album productions including his successful sophomore release. Colin co-writes with Gordie Johnson (Big Sugar, Grady) on the opener “Sweets Gone Sour” and the rocker “I Need You Bad.” Colin also re-teamed with Tom Wilson and Thomas “Tawgs” Salter on four high-octane tracks, including the bluesy “No Time to Get There” and the driving “Stone Faith,” the album’s first single.

Fifteen also features two beautiful co-writes with Ron Sexsmith that reveal Colin’s seductive side: “Finally Wrote a Song for You”, a soulful love ballad; and “Shoulder to Cry On,” a moving acoustic number that highlights his vocal range, while closing the album. The disc also features some inspiring covers, including John Lennon's "Jealous Guy", Peter Green's (Fleetwood Mac) "Oh Well", [artis]Foy Vance’s gospel-tinged “Shed A Little Light,” and Allen Toussaint's funky "Sneakin' Sally Through The Alley", which has perhaps become best known by Robert Palmer's cover.

On February 3, 2015, James released Hearts On Fire which was produced by Colin Linden at House of Blues Studios in Nashville, and this twelve track collection is distributed by Universal Music. The title track and all but two of the songs were written or co-written by Colin.

In 2016, James was named an inductee into the Western Canadian Music Hall of Fame presented by FACTOR (The Canadian Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings). In addition to this honour, Colin headlined the Western Canadian Music Awards Show at Casino Regina on October 13th, 2016, kicking off BreakOut West’s 14th year of celebrating Western Canada’s talent.

James's studio album Blue Highways features thirteen Classic Blues covers from guitar-hero greats like Blind Willie McTell, Freddie King, Peter Green, and Robert Johnson. The CD was released on October 16th, 2016. Recording and Production was primarily handled in Vancouver by Colin James and Dave Meszaros, with recording and mixing assistance from Eric Mosher, Chris Stringer and Jason Jaknunas. Blue Highways is being distributed by True North Records, and iTunes.

Over his illustrious career, James has earned 16 Maple Blues Awards, and he has worked and toured with the 'who’s who' in the international music scene (in alphabetical order): Luther Allison, Jann Arden, The Chieftains, Albert Collins, Robert Cray, Tom Dowd, Buddy Guy, Johnny Hallyday, John Hammond Jr., Gordie Johnson, Albert King, Bobby King and Terry Evans, Danny Kortchmar, Lenny Kravitz, Little Feat, The Memphis Horns, Craig Northey, Bill Payne, Bonnie Raitt, Keith Richards, Bob Rock, The Rolling Stones, Roomful Of Blues, Carlos Santana, Mavis Staples, Roebuck "Pops" Staples, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Tom Wilson, Betty Wright and ZZ Top. In addition to writing most of his own material, his music has been covered by artists like Maria Muldaur, Johnny Halliday and Lucinda Williams.

Atlanta Moan
Colin James Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Atlanta Moan Dobro - Low E Tuning
Colin James - Bad Habits

Intro

Nobody knows Atlanta like I do, nobody knows Atlanta like I do!

The reason I know's 'cause I traveled it through and through.

They've taken my woman, and they've cut her to the bone.

They've taken my woman, and cut her to the bone.

That's the reason you don't hear me cry any more.

Solo

Can't you hear that steamboat whistle blow

Can't you hear that steamboat whistle blow

You know it blows just like it's never blown before.

Second Solo, and outro.

Overall Meaning

The song "Atlanta Moan" by Colin James is a blues-infused ballad that tells a story of heartbreak and loss. The singer sings about how he knows Atlanta like the back of his hand, having traveled through it extensively. He laments the fact that his woman has been taken away from him and that she has been hurt to the bone. The pain and suffering he has endured are expressed through his somber and mournful voice, a quintessential feature of the blues genre.

The song's lyrics may be interpreted in several ways. Some interpret them as a metaphor for life's hardships, while others see them as a manifestation of the singer's struggles in love. According to some listeners, the reference to the steamboat whistle blowing in the background symbolizes the passing of time, which can also be seen as a metaphor for the fickle nature of love.

In summary, the song "Atlanta Moan" is a classic blues number that captures the essence of heartbreak and loss. It serves as a reminder of the rich cultural history of the blues and its ability to capture the human condition in its rawest form.

Line by Line Meaning

Nobody knows Atlanta like I do, nobody knows Atlanta like I do!
I'm intimately familiar with Atlanta and know it better than anyone else.

The reason I know's 'cause I traveled it through and through.
My knowledge of Atlanta comes from having traveled extensively throughout the city.

They've taken my woman, and they've cut her to the bone.
My lover has been hurt deeply by someone, emotionally or physically.

They've taken my woman, and cut her to the bone.
My lover has been harmed in a severe and damaging way.

That's the reason you don't hear me cry any more.
I am no longer crying because I have a deep pain in my heart due to my beloved's mistreatment.

Can't you hear that steamboat whistle blow
Listen to the steamboat whistle - it's wailing like it's never wailed before.

Can't you hear that steamboat whistle blow
The sound of the steamboat whistle is piercing and mournful.

You know it blows just like it's never blown before.
The steamboat whistle is sounding more mournful and poignant than ever.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS

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