
Sometimes (Live at Maida Vale) – James (1993, Fontana Records)
Sometimes (Album version) – James (1993, Fontana Records, Taken from ‘Laid)
I’m not sure what year or release of ‘Laid’ that this version of ‘Sometimes’ comes from. It doesn’t say – but suffice to say it’s not on my version of ‘Laid’ so I suspect its from some record company repackage somewhere down the line. This version of ‘Laid’ has four extra tracks on it – two tracks recorded at Maida Vale, one at GLR and one remix, all of which I’ve included here.
Anyway let’s talk about my version of ‘Laid’, which is for anyone counting the third best album by Rocks fifth Greatest J, (after ‘Gold Mother’ and ‘Stripmine’).
It is a record I have actually bought three times. The first time was shortly after it came out. It was a return to form for James, and it bought some of the older fans (people like me) back from our grunge and shoegaze records for a little bit at least. I knew it was a return to form because when it came out, the girl who I was seeing at the time borrowed it from me and she hated James, and you can tell how much she hated them because I’ve stuck it in italics to emphasis the point.
Sadly, she never actually gave it back to me, and as far as I know she still has it, and maybe she occasionally reaches for it off the shelf and sighs a sad little sigh as she picks her husbands dirty pants up off the floor. Strangely enough, a friend of mine, also lent his copy of ‘Laid’ to his German girlfriend, and six weeks later she dumped him and buggered off back to Cologne taking his copy of ‘Laid’ with her (along with about fifteen more of his Cds)
Five – O (Live at Maida Vale) – James (1993, Fontana Records)
The second copy of ‘Laid’ that I bought I left on a train as I hastily jumped off at Birmingham New Street in order to grab a connection somewhere and left in on the seat, this was in about 2001. I hope if you found that CD you enjoyed it. I once also left a memory stick full of music on a seat in Somerset County Cricket Ground, so again, if you found that I hope you enjoyed what was on it.
The third version is the one that I have now, purchased in a second hand record stall in Newton Abbot market for the princely price of £3.50 and you know what, its worth every penny of that.
Laid (Live At GLR) – James (1993, Fontana Records)
The extra tracks are ok. The version of ‘Sometimes’ is not a million miles away from the original and because of that it isn’t as great as the original. Which means it allows the originals to stretch their lead to 8 -6. The other Maida Vale track (‘Five -O’) is much the same as well, it has a more distinct
What the Maida Vale tracks do very well is showcase what a very good singer Tim Booth is, when his voice isn’t being drowned out by incessant trumpets and the GLR version of ‘Laid’ reinforces that.
The GLR live version of ‘Laid’ in an acoustic version all gently strummed guitars and accordions and Uncle Tim Booth’s lovely vocals which have homely and storytelling vibe to them. It is far removed from the sex by numbers shtick of the original. It’s great, really lovely, is it better than the original? Possibly.
We’ll end with the remix, which has to be heard to be believed as James head in the direction marked ‘Happy Hardcore’ as their fans run towards the door marked ‘EXIT’ as quickly as possible. Good grief, it’s bad.
Say Something (The Say Nothing Mix) – James (1993, Fontana Records)
On Monday we enter the final week and start with Kendrick Lamar