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 Need You Bad
Colin James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why don't you call me?
Said if you need me
Why don't you call me?
Don't wait too long
When things go wrong
I'll be there, yeah
Said if you want me
Why don't you send for me?
Said if you want, want, want
All you gotta do is send for me
Don't wait too long
Justa pick up your phone
I'll be there, right there
Where I belong
People always told me, darling
That you didn't mean me no good
But I know deep down in my heart
I've done the best I could
And one of these days, darling, it won't be long
You're gonna come walking through that door
And I know in my mind these are the very words
You're gonna say to me
I still love you
Always thinking of you
I still love, love, love
Always thinking of you
Don't wait too long
When things go wrong
I'll be there, right there
Where I belong
The lyrics to Colin James's song If You Need Me is a testament to unconditional love and support. The song is a message to a loved one who is struggling and needs help. James implores the person to call him when they need him because he will always be there. The repetition of the lyrics "why don't you call me" and "all you gotta do is send for me" is a reminder that love and support are always available, and one should not hesitate to reach out when in need.
The lines "when things go wrong, I'll be there, where I belong" indicate that the singer will always be by their loved one's side, no matter what. The chorus suggests that the person he is addressing has either been hesitant to ask for help or has been reluctant to accept help in the past. The lyrics "people always told me, darling, that you didn't mean me no good, but I know deep down in my heart, I've done the best I could" suggest that the person he speaks to may have been misunderstood and judged harshly by others, but James affirms that he knows and understands the person for who he is.
The final verse of the song is a declaration of love. James confidently asserts that the person he speaks to will return to him one day, saying "I still love you, always thinking of you." The words "don't wait too long" repeated throughout the song serve as a warning that time is fleeting, and one should not hesitate to reach out to those who love and care for them.
Line by Line Meaning
If you need me
If you ever need my help or support
Why don't you call me?
Why don't you contact or communicate with me?
Said if you need me
Reiterating the offer for assistance
Don't wait too long
Don't delay or hesitate too much, act in a timely manner
When things go wrong
When you encounter problems or difficulties
I'll be there, yeah
I'll be available and ready to help, yes
Where I belong
In a supportive role, helping and assisting you
Said if you want me
Declaring the availability for romantic interest
Why don't you send for me?
Why don't you request my presence or invite me over?
Said if you want, want, want
Reiterating the offer for romantic interest
All you gotta do is send for me
You just need to ask for me, I'll be at your service
Just pick up your phone
Simply make a phone call
People always told me, darling
People always warned me, dear
That you didn't mean me no good
That you were not sincere or committed to me
But I know deep down in my heart
But I trust my instincts and feelings
I've done the best I could
I have tried my hardest to make things work
And one of these days, darling, it won't be long
And soon, one day, you will come back to me
You're gonna come walking through that door
You will return to my life
And I know in my mind these are the very words
I can already hear the exact phrases
You're gonna say to me
You will express your feelings and intentions to me
I still love you
I still have deep affection and care for you
Always thinking of you
I constantly have you on my mind
Don't wait too long
Don't take too much time before you come back to me
When things go wrong
When things get tough or challenging
I'll be there, right there
I'll be by your side, present and supportive
Where I belong
In your life, as your partner or ally
Writer(s): gordie johnson, colin james
Contributed by Jordan F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
MrJagxjsc12
I love the base line in this tune and the way it makes me wanna shake my money maker! Way to do it Colin!!
Grant Prokop
Sounds too much like Big Sugar!
eder feder
i would pay to see both at any outdoor festival . Canada talent ... got to love it