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.
LONE WOLF
Colin James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can't you hear me howl
I'm a lone wolf
Can't you hear me howl
I'm a lone wolf babe
Tonight I'm on the prowl
When I howl you can hear for miles around
You better watch out tonight the wolf's in town
When you hear me howling, I'm not howling at the moon
I'm crying for some loving and I better get some soon
I'm a lone wolf
Can't you hear me howl
I'm a lone wolf baby
Tonight I'm on the prowl
I'm a lone wolf and I just can't sleep at night
I'm a lone wolf and I just can't sleep at night
Well I'm a real gone dog with a ... at the tight
Well I'm gonna where she's at
I'm gonna pick her up where she walks at
To the east and on to the west
And I won't settle for second best
I'm a lone wolf
Can't you hear me howl
When you hear me howling
I'm not howling at the moon
...............of some lovin' and I better get some soon
I'm a lone wolf
Can't you hear me howl
I'm a lone wolf babe and tonight I'm on the prowl
I'm a lone wolf babe and tonight I'm on the prowl
Gone Dog
The song "Lone Wolf" by Colin James is a rock/blues style track that expresses the feeling of being a lone wolf, someone who is independent and self-reliant. The lyrics are about a man who howls like a wolf, looking for love and affection, but always ends up being alone. When he howls, he is not just howling at the moon, but also calling out for someone to love him.
The first two verses show how the man is a lone wolf, howling at night, and announcing his presence to the surrounding area, letting everyone know that he is out there. He is on the prowl and is in search of a mate. The third verse shows how he is looking for someone specific and will go to any length to find her. He won't settle for anything less than the best.
The fourth verse is where the title of the song comes into play. He is a "real gone dog" with a "bite that's tight," meaning that he is a tough and independent guy, but he cannot sleep at night without someone to love him. He is looking for affection and cannot find it, causing him to be restless and without peace.
Overall, "Lone Wolf" is a song about a man who is looking for love, but always ends up alone. He howls like a wolf, calling out for someone to hear him, but it seems like no one ever does.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a lone wolf
I'm a solitary person who prefers to be alone.
Can't you hear me howl
I'm expressing myself loudly and emotionally, hoping to be heard and understood.
Tonight I'm on the prowl
Tonight, I'm planning to actively seek out companionship or some form of interaction with others.
When I howl you can hear for miles around
My voice carries far and wide, I'm trying to draw attention to myself.
You better watch out tonight the wolf's in town
Be careful, I'm here looking for something, and you might not want to cross me.
When you hear me howling, I'm not howling at the moon
I'm not just making noise for the sake of it; there's a deeper meaning and intention behind my actions.
I'm crying for some loving and I better get some soon
I'm in need of affection or attention, and I hope to receive it soon.
I just can't sleep at night
I'm restless and unable to find peace or rest.
Well, I'm a real gone dog with a... at the tight
I'm a bold and confident person, not easily intimidated by others.
Well, I'm gonna where she's at
I know where the object of my affection is, and I plan to go there and try to win her over.
And I won't settle for second best
I have high standards and won't accept anything less than what I'm looking for.
Contributed by Evelyn W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.