1 Topic by Curby (edited by Curby 2009-09-07 07:34:24)

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Topic: Colin James' album Bad Habits

I was made aware of this artist recently and looked into his music and found out he got his start opening for SRV in the late Eighties.  Apparently Stevie made a strong impression.  He had some international success early in his career and in the Nineties made some albums similar to Brian Setzer's Big Band revival.  None of his early stuff really appealed to me until I came across his Bad Habits album, released in 1995.  There's some great covers of Robert Johnson. Howlin' Wolf and Elmore James that are refreshing.  But it's his original stuff that's nothing less than stellar.  The title song sounds as if it came off Blues Deluxe.  His vocals are strong and his guitar is no nonsense and with emotion - especially on slide.  If it wasn't for his vocals I'd swear Joe was playing on this album.  Kim Wilson joins in on a few songs for some lively harp playing as well as Mavis Staples, Reese Wynans, Waddy Wachtel and Lenny Kravitz.  This is blues/rock with emphasis on pure rock.  One of the best albums of this genre I've listened to and can't recommend it any higher.

2 Reply by Curby (edited by Curby 2009-09-08 20:47:34)

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Re: Colin James' album Bad Habits

I should've added a video for this post and found one.  If I find more I'll add to this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w05Kksc3Btc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M26AKmRwguk  This song "Speechless" is also off Bad Habits.  Try to ignore the drunk woman at the start of the video.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GxrFrGgjD8  One of his earlier songs prior to '95 that reminds me of Paul Carrack.

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Re: Colin James' album Bad Habits

Wow Scott!  Those videos are great.   Really love the first 2.   Savior is one funky tune. And speechless is just beautiful.    Can't wait to check out the disc.  Where the heck has he been hiding?  Thank you.

Take care everyone. And if I don't meet you no more in this world
Then ill, I'll meet you in the next one and don't be late, don't be late

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Re: Colin James' album Bad Habits

He's been on here before.  Because he had another big fan on here where we posted about his shows.

He's from Canada from where he does most his shows.

"Holy Toledo"  -  Bill King   "Just Win Baby" - Al Davis  "The Autumn Wind" - Steve Sabol
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Re: Colin James' album Bad Habits

The RiverCat^-^ wrote:

He's been on here before.  Because he had another big fan on here where we posted about his shows.

He's from Canada from where he does most his shows.

Thanks for the heads-up - I probably wasn't a member then.  Shoulda known someone that good wouldn't go unnoticed.

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Re: Colin James' album Bad Habits

I could not see an earlier thread through the search facility, so it's good Colin James was brought to our attention (again?). Rather like David Gogo (although different in style) this is a fine Canadian talent who has released a batch of fine work.
Well worthy of our attention!

"The recently formed Edinburgh Blues Club has identified an appetite for the personal communication between musicians and audience that the blues long ago perfected." The Herald Newspaper (Scotland)
http://www.edinburgh-blues.uk

7 Reply by The RiverCat^-^ (edited by The RiverCat^-^ 2009-09-11 06:02:51)

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Re: Colin James' album Bad Habits

I posted these on here before:

Edit to take out Freedom(since not there anymore) and replace with Far Away Like a Radio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgRLUrBJyZQ

and this one to show a different style:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVwMltjWYT8

I'll post a new one right now, which is one of my favorites written by one of Colin's favorite's,
Van Morrison-Into the Mystic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQMJxLxf7MI

This gives you some different shades of him.  Maybe catch a show of his if you are ever in Canada smile

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Re: Colin James' album Bad Habits

I saw Colin open for ZZ Top back in 1990, was impressed enough to buy his, at that time, current album (Sudden Stop) and lost interest after that. I beleive the album had too much '80/'90's style synth-horns for my taste (I no longer have as that was when I was buying cassettes waiting to see if cd's would be a fad or not, ha ha).

When I was a child I spoke as a child, But all I heard was how I should get ahead,
Now growing up it ain't anything but all This indecision with these debts and doubts
And worries hanging over my head. When I was a child I spoke as a child,
I wish I could remember what I said.

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Re: Colin James' album Bad Habits

ReverendPaul wrote:

I saw Colin open for ZZ Top back in 1990, was impressed enough to buy his, at that time, current album (Sudden Stop) and lost interest after that. I beleive the album had too much '80/'90's style synth-horns for my taste (I no longer have as that was when I was buying cassettes waiting to see if cd's would be a fad or not, ha ha).

I agree his early stuff's a bit dated, but if your interest stopped after 1990 and Sudden Stop then I think you might want to seriously check out his Bad Habits cd.  This is a first rate blues album that sounds as good as any album I've purchased this year.  Someone told me once that if you never heard, read, tasted or experienced something than it's brand new, (to you),even if it's a book written 300 years ago or a blues album from the mid-nineties.