Colin James and Friends
2011-03-18
The Studio at Hamilton Place
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Runtime: 62:35

Broadcast: 'Canada Live' on CBC Radio Two
MPEG II, Layer 1 (192 kb/s, 48 KHz, stereo)
Recorded and edited at 48 kHz, downsampled to 44.1 kHz for CD audio
Lineage: L-Band broadcast > DAB receiver > HD > edit+downsample > flac(lvl8)

After almost 25 years and one of the most eclectic careers in Canadian music, Colin James is still a top draw. Known best as a blues-rock musician, Colin James performed at the Studio in Hamilton Place. James turned down the amps and picked up his acoustic guitar for an intimate evening of music. This was Colin James' second acoustic tour. The first time out he was reluctant, but ended up enjoying how the pared down performance enabled tell stories about the songs.

James plays a number of covers when he picks up the acoustic, including some of the old blues tunes that inspired him as a young musician, and he plays acoustic versions of his own songs -- with 12 albums to his name, James has a large catalogue of origianal material. This style of playing may become a habit with James, who says he hopes to make a more stripped down, acoustic-based album next time he's in studio. He's had a lot of Ray LaMontagne and Lucinda Williams on his playlist lately and has been turning his ear toward that kind of feel and sound. His National Steele album, released in 1997, was a primarily acoustic, cover-heavy outing that was his first foray into acoustic blues. He thinks his next album will be in the same vein.

Chris Caddell, a regular in James's band and a musician in his own right, performed a couple of tunes of his own, as well as performed with Colin throughout the set. Hamilton resident, Tom Wilson of Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, also dropped in to perform a couple of songs with Colin. The two of them frequently write songs together.

Colin has just re-signed with EMI Records and his latest release is a greatest hits package called "Take It from the Top".

01 Man's Gotta Be a Stone (Colin James, Tawgs Salter, Tom Wilson) 5:01
02 Better Way to Heaven (Colin James, Craig Northey, Tom Wilson) 4:19
03 Riding in the Moonlight (Howlin' Wolf, Jules Taub) 6:34
04 From the Wreckage [C. Caddell vocals] (Chris Caddell, Steve Dall, Casey Marshall) 4:04
05 Through My Hands [C. Caddell vocals] (Chris Caddell, Casey Marshall, Mike Fox) 3:24
06 I Live the Life I Love (Willie Dixon) 4:37
07 Travellin' (Colin James, Colin Linden, Jim Weider) 3:53
08 Keep On Lovin' Me Baby (Otis Rush) 5:44
09 Heaven Knows Your Name [T. Wilson vocals)] (Colin Cripps, Colin James, Tom Wilson) 5:43
10 Why'd You Lie (Morgan Davis) 5:31
11 Just Came Back (Daryl Burgess, Colin James) 4:01
12 Into the Mystic (Van Morrison) 5:26
13 Leave This House [C. James and T. Wilson vocals] (Colin James, Tom Wilson) 4:12

Colin James - vocals, guitar
Chris Caddell - vocals, guitar
Tom Wilson - vocals, guitar
Maury Lafoy - bass
Al Webster - drums

CBC Radio Two Production Credits:
Cathy Irving - Producer
Doug Doctor - Recording Engineer
Chris Jackson - Mobile Engineer
Cathy Irving - Photographer