Needle Time

  James - Sit Down [RTT 225 UK 1989 24-Bit FLAC] Rough Trade rescued James from the post-Warners doldrums, then gave them the freedom to write and record their most uplifting & well known track, represented here from an original 1989 UK vinyl pressing. This version is far superior to the bastardised version for Fontana Records, released in twelve versions/formats between 1991 and 1998. I was too young to be a punk and too old to be a baggy, this single marked the end of my affair with James. After the two wonderful Factory singles, then one excellent and one okay album for Warners/Sire/ Blanco Y Negro, then this - I was done. In case you were wondering, the chap immortalised on the Central Station Design sleeve is Tony Macedo, Gibraltar-born goalkeeper for Fulham FC - long before most of you were born. A1 Sit Down B1 Goin' Away B2 Sound Investment B3 Sky Is Falling

James - Stutter [JIMLP 1 UK 1986 24-Bit FLAC] A new 2020 rip of an old favourite. Save for a tiny bit of light crackle (hardly noticeable), this new rip sounds rich and detailed thanks to an excellent pressing. I've seen the original James many times live, mostly supporting The Smiths and this rip brings all those heady days back to me. Here's what I wrote a few years back about this record. Perhaps if James had stuck with Factory Records, the world would have been saved from the Happy Mondays? There are many theories as to why The Smiths never signed to the Manchester label. It is known that Morrissey and Tony Wilson had a dislike for each other. It is believed that Rob Gretton wanted to sign them but, between themselves, Stephen Patrick and Anthony H. were ensuring that would never happen. So what has this to do with James? Pure suggestion, no evidence (even 30+ years on), consider also that the two main players are no longer with us, but may I specula...

James - Village Fire [FAC 138 UK 1985 24-Bit FLAC] I bought both the James 7" singles on Factory and still have them in a box somewhere. The Jimone EP never sounded that great due to pressing flaws, so it was a no-brainer to buy them again on this 12" reissue compilation of the two. These tracks to pop out of the grooves and sound much more lively than the original sevens. Another case of what could have been as James jumped over to Blanc Y Negro and technically flopped with major label backing. It wasn't to be until the baggy years when Sit Down launched them back at the public. These are important tracks from the formative years of what was a great band (even on Warners!). A1 Whats The World A2 Folklore A3 Fire So Close B1 If Things Were Perfect B2 Hymn From A Village