Michael "Jimmy" James (born 13 September 1940) is a Jamaican ska and soul m… Read Full Bio ↴Michael "Jimmy" James (born 13 September 1940) is a Jamaican ska and soul music singer, known for songs like "Come To Me Softly", "Now Is the Time" and "I'll Go Where the Music Takes Me". Based in Britain, he has performed as the lead singer of Jimmy James and the Vagabonds since the mid 1960s.

James grew up and began performing in Kingston, Jamaica, where he recorded as a solo artist with producers Coxsone Dodd, Clancy Eccles, and Lyndon Pottinger. His most successful release was an early version of "Come To Me Softly", which found local success and persuaded James to give up a job with the Inland Revenue for a music career.

The Vagabonds were originally formed in 1960. James teamed up with them under Canadian band manager Roger Smith and in April 1964, they relocated to the UK. "Ska-Time" (Decca Records) was recorded as Jamaica's Own Vagabonds within two weeks of their arrival, and is one of the first examples of Jamaican ska music to be recorded in the UK. After meeting manager Peter Meaden in 1965, Jimmy James and the Vagabonds supported The Who and Rod Stewart who was with his group The Steampacket at the Marquee Club in London. The band played the Shanklin Pier ballroom on the Isle of Wight in June 1965 and returned for two further sold-out concerts that summer. He and the Vagabonds shared several bills with Jimi Hendrix's band, The Experience, during the late 1960s when they were both trying to establish themselves. "We used to hang out a lot at clubs like the Bag O' Nails, the Cromwellian and Whiskey A Go Go. A great guy, very quiet and unassuming," James recalled. The Vagabonds and the Experience also played the Ricky Tick and Upper Cut clubs in London in December 1966 and January 1967 respectively, and at the Beachcomber Ballroom in Nottingham.

They signed a recording contract with Pye Records and released their best known studio album, The New Religion in 1966. The band also played as support for The Who, and Sonny & Cher, Rod Stewart (who was also on Pye Records at the time), and The Rolling Stones. The band often used the Abbey Road Studios, once being there at the same time as The Beatles were recording. Their live performance was captured in the album, London Swings – Live at the Marquee Club, also featuring The Alan Bown Set. Jimmy James and the Vagabonds were labelmates and rivals of Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band.

The Vagabonds disbanded in 1970, but James, who owned the name, reformed the band with a new, all white line-up in 1974. They had hits in the UK Singles Chart with " I'll Go Where Your Music Takes Me" and "Now Is The Time". Without James, the Vagabonds recorded an album (Ska-Time) as "Jamaica's Original Vagabonds" which was released in 1970.

Former Vagabonds bass player Alan Wood (1973–77) now runs his own management agency and represents Paul Carrack.

In 1979 a new band, Big Business, was formed by Alan Kirk and Andrew Platts, former Vagabonds and they continue to tour to this day. Big Business toured with Mick Jackson ("Blame It on the Boogie"). Kirk owns Hilltop Studios in Dronfield near Chesterfield. Platts is managing editor of the entertainment paper, Mercury Newspaper in Sheffield.

In 1999, drummer Russ Courtenay co-wrote the track "Whatever You Need", which appeared on Tina Turner's album, 24/7, and later on her All the Best and The Platinum Collection compilation albums. He is currently working on a project entitled 'Rainbow Beach'.

In 2007, James contributed the track "The Other Side of the Street" for Ian Levine's Northern Soul 2007 album.

James regularly performs around the UK with former Foundations frontman, Clem Curtis. The pair, along with Flirtations vocalist Earnestine Pearce have toured with 'The Soul Explosion'. In April 2007, James performed at the 'Classic Gold Weekender' along with Marmalade, Love Affair and Showaddywaddy. In 2013, they toured with James' early hero, Ben E. King.

In February 2014, the song "Whatever You Need", written by drummer Russ Courtenay and Harriet Roberts featured on Tina Turner's album, Love Songs.

The Vagabonds
Members of the Vagabonds have included:

Rupert Balgobin (drums, 1960–70)
Barry Sutton (Trumpet, 1967–70)
Colston Chen (bass, 1960–70)
Phil Chen (guitar, 1960–70)
Fred Fredericks (saxophone, 1960–70)
Carl Griffiths (saxophone, 1960–70)
Count Prince Miller (vocals, 1960–70) died in 2018
Carl Noel (keyboards, 1960–67)
Art Regis (Hammond organ, 1967–1969)
Wallace Wilson (guitar, 1960–70)
Stewart Blandamer (saxophone, 1970-1972
Steve Farr (saxophone, 1970-1972)
Bill Roberts (guitar, 1970-1972)
Eddy Spence (keyboards, 1970-1972)
Kelvin(Kelly)Cantlon (bass, 1970-1972)
Mick Dolan (drums, 1970-1972)
Alan Wood (bass, 1973–77)
Martin Dale (trumpet, 1971)
Dave Hopper (guitar, 1973–74)
Fred Guite (drums, 1973–74)
Pete Wright (drums, 1974–75)
Russ Courtenay (drums, 1975–77)
Chris Garfield (guitar, 1975–77)
Alan Kirk (keyboards, 1975–77)
Pete Gill (drums, 1974–1975)
John Steele (guitar, 1974–1975)
Rick Sequeira (keyboards, 1974–1975)
Andrew Platts (trombone and vocals 1977–1979)
Glenn Harland (Lead Guitarist 1981–1984)
John Wintony (keyboards 1981–1984)
Dave Bussey (drums 1981–1984
Chris Turner (bass 1981–1984)
Steve Ward (lead guitarist, 1990–1995)
David Cooke (keyboards, 1990–1995)
Pat Coleman (drums, 1990–1994)
Mario James (bass, 1990–1992)
Mike Scrimshaw (bass, 1992)
Dean Spain (backing vocals, 1998–current)

Discography
"Red Red Wine" – 1968 – Pye – No. 36 UK
A Man Like Me -1972 - Stateside Records Did not Chart
I'll Go Where your Music Takes Me– Pye – No. 23 UK
"You Don't Stand a Chance if You Can't Dance" - 1975 - PYE Records Limited
"Now Is The Time" – 1976 – Pye – No. 5 UK

Ain't Too Proud to Beg
Jimmy James & The Vagabonds Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I know you wanna leave me,
But I refuse to let you go,
If I have to beg, plead for your sympathy,
I don't mind 'cause you mean that much to me.

Ain't too proud to beg and you know it,
Please don't leave me girl,
Don't you go,

Ain't too proud to plead, baby, baby,
Please don't leave me, girl,
Don't you go.

Now I've heard a cryin' man
Is half a man with no sense of pride,
But if I have to cry to keep you,
I don't mind weepin' if it'll keep you by my side.

Ain't too proud to beg and you know it,
Please don't leave me girl,
Don't you go,
Ain't too proud to plead, baby, baby,
Please don't leave me, girl,
Don't you go.

If I have to sleep on your doorstep all night and day
Just to keep you from walking away,
Let your friends laugh, even this I can stand,
'cause I wanna keep you any way I can.

Ain't too proud to beg and you know it,
Please don't leave me girl,
Don't you go,
Ain't too proud to plead, baby, baby,
Please don't leave me, girl,
Don't you go.

Now I've got a love so deep in the pit of my heart,
And each day it grows more and more,
I'm not ashamed to call and plead to you, baby,
If pleading keeps you from walking out that door.

Ain't too proud to beg and you know it,
Please don't leave me girl,
Don't you go,
Ain't too proud to plead, baby, baby,

Please don't leave me, girl,
Don't you go.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Jimmy James & The Vagabonds's song Ain't Too Proud to Beg express the desperation of someone who is about to lose the love of their life. The singer is begging and pleading with their significant other not to leave them, and they are willing to do whatever it takes to keep them by their side. The first part of the song is dedicated to the singer stating their refusal to let their lover go and their willingness to beg and plead if they have to. They make it clear that their love for their partner is worth all the begging and pleading in the world.

In the second part of the song, the singer touches upon the societal stereotypes surrounding crying men and emphasizes that they are not ashamed to cry if it means they get to keep their love. They state that they are willing to sleep on their significant other's doorstep all night and day to prevent them from leaving. The singer also acknowledges that their actions might result in ridicule by others, but they are willing to endure it if it means keeping their love.

Overall, the lyrics of Ain't Too Proud to Beg portray the intense love and desperation of someone who is about to lose their significant other. The singer is willing to do whatever it takes to keep their love and expresses this through the repeated phrase "Ain't too proud to beg."

Ain't Too Proud to BegJimmy James & The Vagabonds Lyrics

Ain't Too Proud to Beg
Jimmy James & The Vagabonds Lyrics