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.
Forty-Four
Colin James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wore my .44 so long, I done made my shoulder sore.
Well, I'm wondrin everybody, where'd my baby go.
Well, I'm so mad this mornin, I don't know where in the world to go.
Well, I'm so mad this mornin, I don't know where in the world to go.
Well, I'm lookin for me some money, pawned gun to have some gold.
The lyrics to Colin James's song Forty-Four follow a sad and angry protagonist who has lost his significant other and feels as though he has nothing left in the world. He carries his .44 gun on his shoulder for so long that it has caused him physical pain. He laments on his loneliness and questions where his baby has gone. The frustration and hopelessness are palpable as he struggles to find a way out of this situation. The line "Pawned gun to have some gold" suggests that he is willing to give up his gun, which he likely values, as a desperate measure to get his life back on track.
The repetition of "I'm so mad this mornin'" and "I'm lookin for me some money" reinforces the character's sense of desperation and his determination to find a way to change his fortunes. The lyrics paint a picture of a man who has lost everything that matters to him and is willing to do whatever it takes to get it back. It is a powerful reminder of the ways in which we all struggle at times and the lengths we may go to find a way out of our troubles.
Line by Line Meaning
I wore my .44 so long, I've made my shoulder sore.
I've carried my gun for so long that it has caused discomfort and pain in my shoulder.
I wore my .44 so long, I done made my shoulder sore.
I've carried my gun for such a prolonged period that it has resulted in agonizing pain in my shoulder.
Well, I'm wondrin everybody, where'd my baby go.
I'm worried and anxious, as I'm clueless about the whereabouts of my beloved.
Well, I'm so mad this mornin, I don't know where in the world to go.
I'm extremely angry and irate at the moment, and I don't have any particular destination in mind.
Well, I'm so mad this mornin, I don't know where in the world to go.
My fury is at its peak this morning, and I'm grappling with finding a suitable location to vent my anger.
Well, I'm lookin for me some money, pawned gun to have some gold.
I'm in search of financial resources and had to sell/pawn my gun for some gold.
Contributed by Aaliyah C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Mike Kunyatz
The best canadian blues player going!
falconeaterf15
Not a huge blues fan but when you see him play this stuff live, especially on acoustic, minds are blown!
Johnny Mac
Colin is fantastic. I've gotta see him live one of these days. I wasn't a huge fan of his radio hits but the greater body of his work in blues and big band swing/jazz is spectacular. This track is fabulous. I love the whole album. Keep it up Colin! You rock man!
Tim Hoover
2 years ago he was supposed to open for Kenny Wayne shepherd band but it got postponed for 2 years. Saw Kenny last week but Colin wasn't there.
Dinorah Sánchez
Young blues artist, old feeling blues! Amazing!
Stephen Norbury
Colin James Munn. A greatly underappreciated talent.
Penni Hall
How on earth could I have never heard this guy? Wow. I gotta see YOU!!!!! Not just the best Canadian blues......Phewwww! I had to open a window!!!!!!!
Lamporre
He's a great blues artist, but also good at big band, rock, and even folk.
Netmanxps
Damn boy, you got it going on!
Andrew Kobysh
COLD IN MY VIENS. POWERFULL THING ! PLAY IT ALWAYS AND DON'T STOP