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.
Postman's Sack
Colin James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the postman went
And he brought the mail
That my baby sent
No, she didn't say yes
Yes, she didn't say no
But from what I read
Man it's time to go
I'm going put a stamp in the middle of my back
Gonna take a ride in that mailman's sack
I'll be wearin' a tag
In the mailman's bag
Once I'm in the sack
Ain't no turnin' back
Yeah!
Well if my baby
Ain't where she says she's at
Just be kind to me
And pass around my hat
I'll be broke and beat
Livin' on the street
But I won't stay put
I gotta make it by foot
Dat do dat do ri do day
Shat dat do ri do day
I'm riding in that mailman's bag
The song "Postman's Sack" by Colin James is a catchy and upbeat tune that tells the story of a man who receives a letter from his lover and realizes that it's time to move on. The lyrics focus on the postman and the mail that he delivers, serving as a metaphor for the unpredictable nature of love and relationships.
The opening lines of the song mention the postman delivering the mail that the singer's lover has sent. The lyrics suggest that the contents of the letter are ambiguous, and the singer is unsure of whether his lover wants to continue their relationship or not. However, he decides that it's time to move on and put a stamp on his back, so he can take a ride in the mailman's sack, eager to see what the future holds.
The chorus indicates that once the singer is in the mailman's sack, there's no turning back. He has made his decision, and he's ready to see it through, no matter what the outcome may be. The song's upbeat tone and catchy melody reinforce the singer's determination and sense of adventure.
Line by Line Meaning
Well the postman came
The postman made a delivery or visit to the singer's location.
And the postman went
The postman left the singer's location after completing their task.
And he brought the mail
The postman delivered some kind of mail or message to the singer.
That my baby sent
The mail was sent by the singer's significant other or romantic interest.
No, she didn't say yes
The singer's significant other did not agree to a proposal or some other request.
Yes, she didn't say no
The singer's significant other did not explicitly reject a proposal or other request.
But from what I read
The singer is inferring or interpreting something from the contents of the mail they received.
Man it's time to go
The singer has decided to take some kind of action based on the contents of the mail.
I'm going put a stamp in the middle of my back
The singer is using a metaphor to indicate that they are putting themselves on the market, so to speak.
Gonna take a ride in that mailman's sack
The singer intends to travel with the postman or in the mailman's bag, again using a metaphor.
I'll be wearin' a tag
The singer will have some kind of ID or label to indicate their destination.
In the mailman's bag
The singer will be traveling in a bag or other container carried by the postman.
Once I'm in the sack
Once the singer is inside the container, they cannot change their mind or reverse their decision.
Ain't no turnin' back
The singer has committed to a course of action from which they cannot retreat.
Well if my baby
The singer is returning to a discussion of their significant other, or the subject of the mail they received.
Ain't where she says she's at
The singer's significant other is not at the location they claimed to be at in the mail.
Just be kind to me
The singer is asking for sympathy or assistance from others.
And pass around my hat
The singer is asking for money or other charity to support themselves.
I'll be broke and beat
The singer will be impoverished and defeated, presumably due to their significant other's actions.
Livin' on the street
The singer will be homeless and destitute.
But I won't stay put
The singer is resolved to take action to improve their situation, even if it means leaving their current location.
I gotta make it by foot
The singer plans to travel on foot, indicating a significant distance or journey.
Dat do dat do ri do day
Repetitive and nonsensical lyrics used for a catchy chorus or refrain.
Shat dat do ri do day
Repetitive and nonsensical lyrics used for a catchy chorus or refrain.
I'm riding in that mailman's bag
A repetition of earlier lyrics, indicating the continuation of the topic and situation described in the song.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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