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.
Down In The Bottom
Colin James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The mystery of their fading light
That shines upon our caravan
Sleep upon my shoulder as we creep
Across the sands so I may keep
This memory of our caravan
This is so exciting, you are so inviting
As I thrill to all the magic charms of you
You beside me here beneath the blue
My dream of love is coming true
Within our desert caravan
This is so exciting, you, you are so inviting
Resting in my arms
As I thrill to all the magic charms of you
You beside me here beneath the blue
My dream of love is coming true
Within our desert caravan
Within our desert caravan
The lyrics of "Down in the Bottom" by Colin James speak of a romantic and dreamy experience. The first verse sets the scene of a beautiful night with the stars shining above. The reference to the fading light of the stars brings a sense of transience to the lyrics. The caravan, a common feature of the desert landscape, is the setting for the song. The singer invites his lover to rest on his shoulder as they travel across the sands. The mention of keeping the memory of the moment suggests that the singer knows the moment will soon pass and is savoring it while it lasts.
The second verse is more about the singer's feelings for his lover. He finds her exciting, and she is inviting him to rest in his arms. He is thrilled by all the magic charms of her. The reference to the blue possibly hints at the color of her eyes or perhaps the desert sky they are under. He goes on to say that being with her is a dream come true, and the dream is happening within their desert caravan. The overall sense that the lyrics give is that of a beautiful moment that may not last forever, but the memory of it will always remain.
Line by Line Meaning
Night and stars above that shine so bright
The darkness with the lights in the sky above that glitter so attractively.
The mystery of their fading light
The enigma of why the lights are vanishing into the air.
That shines upon our caravan
The light of the sky casting on our caravan.
Sleep upon my shoulder as we creep
Sleep while your head rests on my shoulder as we covertly move forward.
Across the sands so I may keep
Crossing the sand with the intention of keeping this memory.
This memory of our caravan
This recollection of our trip in the caravan.
You beside me here beneath the blue
You beside me here, beneath the sky.
My dream of love is coming true
My fantasy of love is finally real.
Within our desert caravan
Inside our caravan, in the desert.
This is so exciting, you are so inviting
This is incredibly exhilarating, and you're so alluring.
Resting in my arms
Lying peacefully in my embrace.
As I thrill to all the magic charms of you
As I experience the wonder of all your enchanting traits.
Within our desert caravan
Inside our caravan, in the desert.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Willie Dixon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mitch Gawlik
Another in a long line of solid tunes from Colin James. There's something about listening to and
watching him that makes me smile. Love the guitar work at the end, and I hope that's his Mustang.
Pierre Hame
Colin James is a fantastic and virtuous guitar player. Add on blessed with a great voice. Love his sounds since the very first record
Donna Ballantyne
I finally got to see him last night. He is such an amazing guitarist. I really appreciate how he entertains everyone. I am so happy i got to see him yesterday....
bannsidereddie
Superb,the man never disappoints,we are so lookin' forward to The Massey Hall show in a couple a weeks
Robert Noland
Great tune Colin, nicely done!
archerynut
Heard this on CKUA and I was entranced. This guy's still got it!
Dale Cornell
Never lost it. I'm a long time listener going back to his 1st LP
weasel7317
Can’t stop watching this. Great video and song. Love the gold top !!
JustAnAverageBrad
why isnt good stuff like this played on Canadian radio?
So great to hear your new song - looking good, sounding better, and really really like the video. Congratulations.