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.
Standin' on the Edge
Colin James Lyrics
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I was dreamin' of your charms
And I was standin' on the edge of love baby
With you in my arms
Well you whispered sweet things and you told me
You told me that you'd love me
And you'd always be true
I'll stand with you
That's why I'm standin' on the edge of love
And I'm just about to slip and fall
That's why I'm standin' on the edge of love baby
Waitin' on your call
Well a young man's mind will wonder
And wander off to distant shores
And if you'd just come here and stand with me
I won't wander no more
Well I promise that I'll stop all of my gamblin'
Stop stayin' out late all nite
Might even settle down baby
Treat ourselves right
That's why I'm standin' on the edge of love
And I'm just about to slip and fall
That's why I'm standin' on the edge of love baby
Waitin' on your call
That's why I'm standin' on the edge of love
And I'm just about to slip and fall
That's why I'm standin' on the edge of love baby
Waitin' on your call
That's why I'm standin' on the edge of love
And I'm just about to lose my mind
That's why I'm standin' on the edge of love baby
Waitin' on you one more time
The lyrics of Colin James's "Standin' on the Edge" describe a man who is deeply in love and willing to do anything for his beloved to be with him. The first verse talks about how the man dreams of his beloved and how they stand on the edge of love. The chorus emphasizes the man's vulnerability and how he is about to slip and fall while waiting for his beloved to call.
In the second verse, the man tries to convince his beloved to be with him by promising to change his ways. He promises to stop gambling and staying out late at night and maybe even settle down with his beloved. The third verse talks about how the man's mind wanders off to distant places but if his beloved stands with him, he won't wander anymore. The chorus repeats what was said before, emphasizing the man's vulnerability and how he is about to lose his mind while waiting for his beloved to call him.
The song portrays the feeling of unconditional love and how it can make a person vulnerable as they wait for their beloved. It also highlights the sacrifices that someone can make in the name of love. The lyrics are emotional and are sure to strike a chord with anyone who has experienced the feeling of being deeply in love.
Line by Line Meaning
Late last nite I was dreamin'
I dreamt about you last night
I was dreamin' of your charms
I was thinking of your attractive qualities
And I was standin' on the edge of love baby
I was contemplating the idea of falling in love with you
With you in my arms
Holding you close to me
Well you whispered sweet things and you told me
You said sweet and loving things to me
You told me that you'd love me
You expressed your feelings of love towards me
And you'd always be true
You promised to always be honest and loyal to me
And that you'd stand on the edge of love with me
You're ready to take the leap of love with me
I'll stand with you
I'll be with you every step of the way
Well a young man's mind will wonder
A young man's thoughts might stray
And wander off to distant shores
And go off to see other places
And if you'd just come here and stand with me
But if you stand with me, I won't have the desire to wander
I won't wander no more
I won't have the desire to explore outside of our relationship any longer
Well I promise that I'll stop all of my gamblin'
I promise to give up my vices, like gambling
Stop stayin' out late all nite
I'll also stop staying out late at night
Might even settle down baby
I might even consider settling down
Treat ourselves right
And treat ourselves to a good life
That's why I'm standin' on the edge of love
That's why I'm contemplating falling in love with you
And I'm just about to slip and fall
And I'm almost ready to take that leap of faith
Waitin' on your call
I'm waiting for you to make the move and show interest in me
And I'm just about to lose my mind
My obsession with you is causing me to go insane
Waitin' on you one more time
I'm hoping for one more chance to be with you
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Written by: Jerry L. Williams
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind