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James / Be Opened By The Wonderful LP / Out NOW

JAMES

 

BE OPENED BY THE WONDERFUL LP // OUT NOW

 

 

 

 

40TH ANNIVERSARY DOUBLE ALBUM OF GREATEST HITS AND FAN FAVOURITES REIMAGINED WITH ORCHESTRA AND CHOIR

 

 

JAMES have released their new album in celebration of their 40th Anniversary. BE OPENED BY THE WONDERFUL is a 20 track – 19 vinyl – double album of some of their most loved and rare tracks, reimagined with a 22 piece orchestra and eight piece choir. Available via Virgin Music on DSPs, vinyl and CD, the album also includes one brand new track, Love Make A Fool. The album was recorded at Blueprint Studios in Manchester, orchestrated and conducted by Joe Duddell with the ORCA22 Orchestra, led by Andra Vornicu, and features the Manchester Inspirational Voices choir directed by Wayne Ellington.

 

 

ALBUM REVIEWS

 

“The lush arrangements gives hits like She’s A Star and Sit Down a plaintive beauty …” DAILY MIRROR

“A gorgeous, gliding Sometimes, Laid taken at a glacial pace, and a revamped She’s A Star featuring an urgent, stabbing string section, are amongst the most striking arrangements …” CLASSIC POP 4*

“It works brilliantly on tracks such as Sometimes, where Tim Booth’s vocals are complemented by gentle strings and ethereal harmonies …: CLASSIC ROCK

“James throw themselves a fancy 4oth birthday soiree …” UNCUT MAGAZINE 8/10

“New track Love Make A Fool stands proudly alongside their best work …” THE SUN

TOUR REVIEWS

“Sonically and emotionally rich, and admirably ambitious for such long-serving pop veterans. The orchestra and choir were major assets, throwing themselves into this performance with the same giddy euphoria as James themselves; their joyous collective energy was infectious …” THE TIMES 4*

“Hearing the band, orchestra and choir was a truly exceptional way to hear James perform their rich back catalogue with sensational choruses and a community of rising sounds carried beautifully by Tim Booth’s distinctive and textured voice. A night to remember …” MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS

“A truly unforgettable night …” THE SCOTTISH SUN

“James have been around a long time but the energy they created here was still vigorous and exciting …” THE SCOTSMAN

 

 

In further celebration of their four decades as a band, James were recently honoured with the PRS for Music Icon Award at the prestigious Ivor Novello Awards 2023, in recognition of their songwriting.

 

This summer the band play The Odeon Of Herodes Atticus, a Roman Theatre on the south slope of the world famous Acropolis in Athens, one of only a handful of rock and pop acts to headline the historic venue. A few weeks later they will also perform at Latitude Festival as special guests on the Sunday afternoon, a slot created especially to honour their 40th Anniversary. Both performances will be backed by orchestra and choir.

 

One of Britain’s most enduring success stories, JAMES have released sixteen studio albums, selling over 25 million copies, with their recent run of Top 5 albums proving to be a golden era for the band. All The Colours Of You, released in 2021, was their most critically acclaimed in many years, preceded by Living In Extraordinary Times in 2018, and Girl At The End Of The World, which narrowly missed out on the top spot to Adele in 2016.

 

JAMES are: Tim Booth, Jim Glennie, Saul Davies, Adrian Oxaal, David Baynton-Power, Mark Hunter, Andy Diagram, Chloe Alper and Deborah Knox-Hewson.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UK FESTIVAL DATES 2023

 

JUNE

 

Fri         23         BRISTOL                                       Bristol Sounds

 

JULY

 

Sun       02         LIVERPOOL                   Pier Head

Fri         07         HALIFAX                                       Piece Hall

Sat        08         HALIFAX                                       Piece Hall

Fri         21         PORTLAOIS                   Forest Fest

Sun       23         SUFFOLK                        Latitude

Fri         28         DUNDEE                                      Slessor Gardens

Sat        29         PIKEHALL                       Y Not

 

AUGUST

 

Sat        12         DARLINGTON                            Arena

Fri         11         CRYSTAL PALACE                     South Facing

 

SEPTEMBER

 

Sun       03         JERSEY                                          Weekender

 

 

 

CD TRACKLIST

 

CD #1

 

  • Sometimes
  • Love Make A Fool
  • We’re Gonna Miss You
  • Tomorrow
  • The Lake
  • She’s A Star
  • Lookaway
  • Sit Down
  • Alaskan Pipeline

 

CD #2

 

  • Someone’s Got It In For Me
  • Hey Ma
  • Hello
  • Beautiful Beaches
  • Why So Close
  • Medieval
  • Hymn From A Village
  • Say Something
  • Top Of The World
  • Moving On
  • Laid

 

VINYL TRACKLIST

 

SIDE A

 

  • Sometimes
  • Love Make A Fool
  • We’re Gonna Miss You
  • Tomorrow

 

SIDE B

 

  • The Lake
  • She’s A Star
  • Lookaway
  • Sit Down
  • Alaskan Pipeline

 

SIDE C

 

  • Someone’s Got It In For Me
  • Hey Ma
  • Hello
  • Beautiful Beaches
  • Why So Close

 

SIDE D

 

  • Medieval
  • Say Something
  • Top Of The World
  • Moving On
  • Laid

 

 

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