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.
I'm Shakin'
Colin James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
An' talk sweet talk
I got a knockin' in my knees
And a wobble in my walk
I'm tremblin'
And I'm shakin'
To talk romance
My heart starts doin' the St. Vitas dance
An' I'm pantin'
An' I'm shakin'
Early in the mornin' time
Late in the middle of the night
Whenever this chill comes over me
I wanna hug you with all-a my might, ay-ay
An' I'm sweatin'
An' I'm shakin'
A chill an a fever
So I've been told
Makes your head spin around
An' your feet run cold
I got fever
An' I'm shakin'
Feel like I been run through the mill
I can't move around an' I can't stand still
I'm so jittery
An' I'm shakin'
Samson was a mighty good man
Strongest in his day
Then along came Delilah an' clipped his wig
An' it looks like you took me
The same old way
So, I'm 'noy-vous'
An' I'm shakin'
Well, a storm rocks a ship on a sea
The wind shakes the leaves on a tree
I'm like a nervous wreck
I'm all shook up
And that's what you are doin' to me
'Cause I'm jumpin'
An' I'm shakin'
An' I'm jumpin'
An' I'm shakin'
Sha-aaaa-kin'
Shakin', shakin', shakin'
Shakin', um-mmm-mmm
I'm shakin'
The song "I'm Shakin'" by Colin James is a classic rock and roll tune with a story of a man who is completely overcome with nerves and excitement when he's near the woman he loves. The verses of the song describe physical reactions that occur when he experiences the woman's touch, voice, and affection. The singer's knees knock, his heart races, and he sweats and trembles in the presence of his lover. He compares his infatuation to a fever that runs through his body and leaves him unable to stand still.
The chorus of the song is an energetic repetition of the word "shakin'" that reflects the singer's physical state. He is so overwhelmed by desire and attraction to the woman that he feels like he's jumping and shaking uncontrollably. The lyrics make reference to the biblical character Samson, who lost his strength and power when his hair was cut by Delilah, the woman he loved.
One interpretation of the song is that it's a celebration of the intense physical and emotional reactions that can occur when two people are in love. The singer's feelings for his partner are so strong that they cause him to lose control of his body and mind. The song is an homage to the excitement and energy of rock and roll music, which often celebrates passion and desire.
Line by Line Meaning
When ya touch my hand
When you touch my hand
An' talk sweet talk
And talk in a sweet and romantic manner
I got a knockin' in my knees
I feel a physical effect of your touch that makes my knees weak
And a wobble in my walk
I lose my balance and become unsteady on my feet
I'm tremblin'
I am shaking with emotion
And I'm shakin'
The physical effect of my emotions is causing me to shake
A-when ya take me in your arms
When you hold me in your arms
To talk romance
To speak romantically
My heart starts doin' the St. Vitas dance
My heart starts racing and pounding rapidly
An' I'm pantin'
I am breathing heavily
An' I'm shakin'
I am still shaking with emotion
Early in the mornin' time
At any early hour of the day
Late in the middle of the night
Even during the late hours of the night
Whenever this chill comes over me
Whenever I feel this overwhelming sensation
I wanna hug you with all-a my might, ay-ay
I have a strong desire to hold on to you tightly
An' I'm sweatin'
I am sweating profusely
An' I'm shakin'
I am still shaking from the sensations you evoke in me
A chill an a fever
A combination of chills and fever
So I've been told
This is what I have heard before
Makes your head spin around
It causes confusion and dizziness
An' your feet run cold
It causes your feet to feel cold
I got fever
I have a fever
An' I'm shakin'
I am still shaking from these sensations
Feel like I been run through the mill
I feel drained and worn out
I can't move around an' I can't stand still
I cannot stay still or find a comfortable position
I'm so jittery
I am nervous and anxious
An' I'm shakin'
I am still experiencing physical tremors from my emotions
Samson was a mighty good man
Samson was known for his strength and power
Strongest in his day
He was considered the strongest person of his era
Then along came Delilah an' clipped his wig
Then Delilah came along and betrayed him
An' it looks like you took me
It seems like you have the same effect on me
The same old way
Just like Delilah had on Samson
So, I'm 'noy-vous'
So I am feeling nervous and anxious
An' I'm shakin'
I am still shaking from my heightened emotions
Well, a storm rocks a ship on a sea
Just like a storm can unsteady a ship at sea
The wind shakes the leaves on a tree
The wind can shake the leaves on a tree
I'm like a nervous wreck
I feel like a complete nervous wreck
I'm all shook up
I am completely shaken up by my emotions
And that's what you are doin' to me
You are the cause of my emotional turmoil
'Cause I'm jumpin'
Because I am experiencing such intense emotions
An' I'm shakin'
I am physically shaking from those emotions
Sha-aaaa-kin'
Shaking even harder now
Shakin', shakin', shakin'
Still shaking uncontrollably
Shakin', um-mmm-mmm
Shaking even harder now
I'm shakin'
I am still shaking from the powerful emotions you evoke in me
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RUDOLPH TOOMBS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind