FROM THE ARCHIVES....A SERIES FOR SATURDAYS

UPWARDS AND ONWARDS (the 501st post on TVV - originally posted on 3rd August 2008)

Having started things off back in 2006 with a rare and hard-to-find song by James, I thought it would be worthwhile to do something similar with post # 501.

The band had created a bit of stir with the initial singles released on Factory Records, and mainstream success was anticipated with the move to Sire Records. The first release on the new label appeared in March 1986, and it was probably a bit of a disappointment to the label bosses, as it was as quirky and lo-fi as the Factory songs.

Confusingly for the record-buying public, it also came out in two different formats - a 7" single called Chain Mail, and a 12" single called Sit Down - Three Songs by James.

And as you can see from the sleeves, the artwork was different as well.

However, the only difference in terms of music was the appearance of a third song not available on the 7". The two songs that appeared on the 7" and 12" had identical mixes.....

mp3 : James - Chain Mail
mp3 : James - Hup-Springs
mp3 : James - Uprising

The eagle-eyed cherries among you will have noticed that the 12" release, despite its title, didn't have any song on it called Sit Down.....in fact it is highly unlikely that the band had even written that particular song given it was still a number of years before it would take the UK by storm.

Chain Mail or whatever you want to call it was far from a commercial success, which is not all that surprising as it was clearly never designed for daytime radio. I would love to have been in the room when the label bosses had their first listen, just for the sight of the collective jaws hitting the floor.

All three tracks remain among my favourite of the entire James back catalogue.

Happy Listening.


Oh and a quick PS in response to an email from Ymir in Amsterdam:-

mp3 : The Planets - Lines

Glad to be of service.