James formed in Manchester in 1982, when Paul Gilbertson (guitar), Jim Glennie (bass), and Gavan Whelan (drums) met Tim Booth (vocals) at Manchester University and asked him to join their fledgling band. During the next year, James became regulars on the local club circuit, and by 1983 they had signed to Factory, releasing their debut EP, Jimone, later that year. Two years later, their second EP, James 2, was released, and Morrissey, the lead singer of the Smiths, publicly endorsed the group, asking them to open for his band. By the summer of 1985, Larry Gott had replaced Gilbertson, and the group signed to Sire Records. Working with producer Lenny Kaye, the group recorded its debut, Stutter, that year, releasing it in early 1986 to generally positive reviews.
Over the next two years, James toured constantly, building up a solid fan base. They released their second album, the folky Strip-Mine, in 1988. The record failed to capitalize on their live following, and the band departed Sire the following year, signing with the independent Rough Trade. On their new label, James released the moderately successful "Sit Down" and the live album One Man Clapping, which climbed to number one on the indie charts. In 1990, Whelan was replaced by David Baynton-Power, and James expanded to a septet with the addition of keyboardist Mark Hunter, violinist Saul Davies, and trumpeter Andy Diagram. The new lineup signed to Fontana Records and released Gold Mother in the fall. Following a handful of minor hit singles, Gold Mother finally became a breakthrough success in the spring of 1991, when a re-recorded version of "Sit Down" -- now boasting a contemporary baggy beat -- climbed to number two on the U.K. charts and became a staple on U.S. modern rock radio. Although the success of "Sit Down" was a blessing, it also was a curse, as the single became all James were known for. The band began to rebel in concert, playing almost nothing but new material, and its next album, 1992's Seven, was perceived as a misguided stab at big arena rock.
For the follow-up to Seven, James stripped away Diagram and worked with producer Brian Eno. The resulting record, Laid, was a quieter, more ambitious album, and it received some of the band's best reviews. While the album was ignored in the U.K., it was an alternative rock hit in the U.S. on the strength of the title track, which became a crossover hit. During the Laid sessions, James recorded another album's worth of experimental music with Eno that was released in the fall of 1994 as Wah Wah. The album received mixed reviews and the group took an extended break throughout 1995, partly due to guitarist Gott's departure. In 1996, Tim Booth recorded a collaboration with composer Angelo Badalamenti (Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet) entitled Booth and the Bad Angel, which received generally positive reviews.
With guitarist Adrian Oxaal in tow, James returned in early 1997 with Whiplash, a more straightforward record that was greeted with mixed reviews. Released in 1999, Millionaires, recorded with new guitarist Michael Kulas, was initially released only in the U.K. Their spectacular follow-up, 2001's Pleased to Meet You, was also available only in the U.K. A few months later, frontman Tim Booth announced his departure from the band he founded nearly 20 years before, and James called it quits following a winter tour of the U.K. in December 2001. The break was short-lived, however, as the band re-formed in 2007 and embarked on a tour in support of the double-disc compilation Fresh as a Daisy: The Singles. The following year saw the release of Hey Ma, James' tenth studio album.
The band returned in 2010 with a pair of "mini-albums" called The Night Before and The Morning After, respectively, before late 2011 brought a short, but novel, U.K. tour (the Orchestra of the Swan and the Manchester Consort Choir were their backup bands). In 2012, the lavish and long-awaited box set The Gathering Sound was issued, and included previously unreleased audio material alongside long-unavailable video concert footage. Details of the Max Dingel-produced La Petite Mort emerged in February 2014, and this first post-Mercury studio album was released four months later in June. Dingel then returned to produce their 2016 record, Girl at the End of the World. Written in Scotland and recorded in London, the album was described by the band as "big but personal, abrasive but warming" and "ultimately uplifting." Two years later, James teamed with producers Charlie Andrew and Beni Giles for Living in Extraordinary Times.
During the 2020 pandemic, Tim Booth teamed up with his Topanga Canyon neighbor Jacknife Lee to construct the basic tracks the rest of James completed while in quarantine. The resulting All the Colours of You was released in June 2021.
Biography by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
There are other artists using the same name:
2) James is the vocalist of popular Bangladeshi band Nagar Baul. He was a member of the band Feelings and later formed the band Nagar Baul. James was raised in Chittagong and later moved to Dhaka for his singing career. Stylishly longhaired James--overwhelmingly known as the Nagar Baul (the City Bard), was the pioneer of psychedelic rock in Bangladesh. Originally a lead singer and guitarist, he has always been respected for his solo projects. He became affectionately called Guru by his fans. His tunes were bright and his singing a divergence from the archetypal tunes preferred by the commercial-type directors. His songs expressed love, rage, discontent, frustration, and happiness.
3) A Dutch rapper connected to the Fakkelteitgroep.
4) James Lee - known as James - was a former member of Royal Pirates, a South Korean band. On 2015, he got into an accident that caused him unable to play bass any longer. Hence, he decided to left the band.
James moved back to Los Angeles and decided to release music written post accident in a project called ’the Light EP’ consisted of 5 tracks. (http://jamesleeofficial.com/)
How Was It For You
James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Would be impossible
For you look even better than the face of god on a sunny day
You look good enough to eat but I've had a bellyful
And now I have this bill but I don't want to pay
How was it for you
Do you really need that drink to disarm defences
Well I don't believe my luck I am defenceless
Do with me what you want but don't tell a soul
Don't tell my soul
How was it for you
If you ain't out of your head can you ever enjoy yourself
But if you ain't in your head then who's at home?
I'm so possessed by sex I could destroy my health
We could be dancing over coals and we'd never know
We'd never know
How was it for you
Where did you get those clothes
Are you sure they're still fashionable?
The sell by date says 68
Where did you steal those riffs and that bad attitude
You are travelling back in time to an altered state
How was it for you
Was it as good as it was for me
Well that's the best it's ever been
And you're the best I've ever seen
How was it for you
How was it for you?
The lyrics to James's song "How Was It For You" explore themes of desire, pleasure, and self-destructive behavior. The singer is physically and emotionally overwhelmed by the object of their desire, whom they describe as "even better than the face of god on a sunny day." However, there is also a sense of guilt and regret present, as the singer laments the consequences of their actions, such as having to pay a bill and potentially compromising their reputation. The lyrics also touch on the idea of self-control and whether it is possible to truly enjoy oneself without letting go of rational thought.
The song's chorus of "How was it for you?" is a common question after sexual encounters, but in this context, it takes on more meaning as the singer is seeking validation and reassurance. Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of intense longing and confusion, as the singer grapples with their own desires and the consequences they bring.
Line by Line Meaning
Well they said you are as good as you look but that
Would be impossible
For you look even better than the face of god on a sunny day
You look good enough to eat but I've had a bellyful
You are considered to be as good as you appear, but that is not possible as you look even better than what we imagine God’s face to be on a good day. Your appearance is so pleasing that I can’t take it anymore.
And now I have this bill but I don't want to pay
How was it for you
Do you really need that drink to disarm defences
Can you ever face the flak when you're in control
I am burdened with this bill which I do not wish to pay. How was the experience for you? Do you really need alcohol to lower your guard? Can you handle the criticism when you are the one in charge?
Well I don't believe my luck I am defenceless
Do with me what you want but don't tell a soul
Don't tell my soul
How was it for you
I can't believe my good fortune, I am powerless. Do what you want with me but don't let anyone know. How was the experience for you?
If you ain't out of your head can you ever enjoy yourself
But if you ain't in your head then who's at home?
I'm so possessed by sex I could destroy my health
We could be dancing over coals and we'd never know
We'd never know
How was it for you
If you are not in a state of euphoria, can you truly enjoy yourself? But if you are, who is in control of your mind? My fixation on sex could be ruining my health. We could be in a dangerous situation but we would be oblivious to it. How was the experience for you?
Where did you get those clothes
Are you sure they're still fashionable?
Where did you acquire your clothing? Are you certain that they are still in style?
The sell by date says 68
Where did you steal those riffs and that bad attitude
You are travelling back in time to an altered state
How was it for you
These riffs and attitude seem outdated. You seem to have stolen them from a past era. You're going back in time to an alternate realm. How was the experience for you?
Was it as good as it was for me
Well that's the best it's ever been
And you're the best I've ever seen
How was it for you
Did you enjoy the experience as much as I did? Well, it was the best I've ever had. And you are the best I have ever come across. How was the experience for you?
How was it for you
How was the experience for you?
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Juan Francisco
My favorites stanzas:
2:16
We lie awake and feel it warm
I need to feel your feeling hands
We lie awake and rise at dawn
Only your fingers can understand
Your feeling warm
Can understand
The feeling calls
Your feeling hands
It's such a feeling, yeah
It's such a feeling, woah
It's such a feeling, yeah
It's such a feeling, woah
It's such a feeling
Dogstar 74
"How Was It For You?"
Well they said you are as good as you look but that
Would be impossible
For you look even better than the face of God on a sunny day
You look good enough to eat but I've had a bellyful
And now I have this bill but I don't wanna pay
How was it for you
Do you really need that drink to disarm defences
Can you ever face the flak when you're in control
Well I don't believe my luck I am defenceless
Do with me what you want but don't tell a soul
Don't tell my soul
How was it for you
If you ain't out of your head can you ever enjoy yourself
But if you ain't in your head then who's at home?
I'm so possessed by sex I could destroy my health
We could be dancing over coals and we'd never know
We'd never know
How was it for you
Where did you get those clothes
Are you sure they're still fashionable?
The sell by date says 68
Where did you steal those riffs and that bad attitude
You are traveling back in time to an altered state
How was it for you
Was it as good as it was for me
Well that's the best it's ever been
And you're the best I've ever seen
How was it for you
How was it for you?
alan rhodes
how can anyone not love this song ?
DaveBrittain1
Along with Born of Frustration, this song is these guys finest hour!! Superb 90's track which brings back tons of memories......!
James Ritchie
Runaground and sometimes.
Ben Richards
a hideously underrated band.
Rainbow Rose
100%
Johan Edeling
And here I am -- listening in 2020 lockdown. I guess this could be theme song for 2021
Rabb Monk
Also excellent live, they were in my bucket list for years and seen them about 4 years ago in Manchester.
Lisa Owens
Yep! Ace..
Mike Thompson
Staying power as band full of talented musicians.
David Lavelle
I cannot believe that it is 34 years since I first saw them live at the Manchester Ritz . Still as good as they were then.
Long live James 🌼