JAMES have announced details of their new album in celebration of their 40th Anniversary. BE OPENED BY THE WONDERFUL is a 20-track – 19 vinyl – a double album of some of their most loved and rare tracks, reimagined with a 22-piece orchestra and eight-piece choir. Released on 9 June via Virgin Music and available on DSPs, CD and vinyl, the album also includes a brand new track, Love Make A Fool, due to be released in April.
BE OPENED BY THE WONDERFUL was recorded at Blueprint Studios in Manchester, orchestrated and conducted by Joe Duddell with the ORCA22 Orchestra, led by Andra Vornicu, featuring the Manchester Inspirational Voices choir directed by Wayne Ellington. In further celebration of their 40th Anniversary, the band will play a headline slot at Latitude Festival, performing as Special Guests on the Sunday afternoon at midday, a slot especially created for JAMES to honour their Anniversary. This performance will see them backed with orchestra and choir.
Tim Booth says: “Life begins at 40. For our midlife euphoria we recorded a double orchestral album of some of our deepest cuts. If you already have a golden ticket, you’ll be catching this on tour and at Latitude Festival. Bring your wings and come ready to fly.”
Joe Duddell says: “Having attended the first six years of Latitude Festival, I’m excited to be involved in James’ special Main Stage show this year in a UK festival exclusive. James have always been a great band at festivals, mixing their extensive and well loved back catalogue with newer songs which immediately sound as though they too have been around forever.”
Listen to She’s A Star (Orchestral Version) – BELOW:
As previously announced, JAMES will be headlining venues across the UK in April and May on their James Lasted tour, calling at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall and Birmingham Symphony Hall and concluding at The Royal Albert Hall in London. Tickets for the tour sold out in a record time of 6 hours.
One of Britain’s most enduring success stories, JAMES has 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 the top spot to Adele in 2016.
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
HEADLINE TOUR
APRIL
Tue 25 BRIGHTON Dome
Wed 26 CARDIFF St Davids Hall
Fri 28 YORK Barbican
Sat 29 EDINBURGH Usher Hall
MAY
Mon 01 GLASGOW SEC Armadillo
Tue 02 NEWCASTLE O2 City Hall
Thu 04 SHEFFIELD City Hall
Fri 05 BIRMINGHAM Symphony Hall
Sun 07 LIVERPOOL Philharmonic Hall
Tue 09 MANCHESTER O2 Apollo
Wed 10 MANCHESTER O2 Apollo
Fri 12 BLACKPOOL Opera House
Sat 13 NOTTINGHAM Royal Concert Hall
Mon 15 BATH Forum
Wed 17 LONDON Royal Albert Hall
UK FESTIVAL DATES
MAY
Sun 28 MARGAM In It Together
JUNE
Fri 23 BRISTOL Bristol Sounds
JULY
Sun 02 LIVERPOOL Outdoor
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
Fri 11 CRYSTAL PALACE South Facing
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