Colin James Chasing The Sun

October 18, 2024

Colin James

Chasing The Sun

Stony Plain Records

Colin James Munn was initially inspired by listening to Stevie Ray Vaughan. After opening for SRV he decided to drop his last name. James recorded his debut album in 1988 but is best known for his jump blues band, Colin James and The Little Big Band; beginning in 1993 The Little Big Band released four albums. James has since recorded twenty studio albums winning eight Juno Awards (Canada’s equivalent to our Grammy Awards) and thirty Maple Blues Awards (equivalent to our Blues Music Awards). In fact James 2018 album “Miles To Go” remained on the Roots Music Reports Blues Chart for 24 weeks.

“Chasing The Sun” was produced by James with Colin Linden. They recorded and mixed the album at Pinhead Studios in Nashville. Some additional recording was completed in Vancouver, and in Clarksdale Mississippi. The album includes seven originals and four fabulous covers. The opening track “Protection” is a song written by Lucinda Williams which was originally included on her 2014 album “Down Where The Spirit Meets The Bone”; sung as a duet they sing “I need protection from the enemy of love”; while both James and Linden play electric guitar, the ensemble also includes Darryl Jones, bass; Charley Drayton, drums and percussion; and the McCrary Sisters, Ann and Regina, on backing vocals.

On “I’m Still Alive” James proves he is an emotive vocalist. “Devilment” is a cover of a song written by Linden and Paul Reddick with some fabulous harmonica from Charlie Musselwhite. A second cover song “Come To Find Out”, also with Musselwhite, is from John Hammond as James belts “goin’ up the country where I’m barely known”, with both James and Linden on guitar. “Crystal Ball” written by the two guitarists, includes Michael Hicks on the Hammond B-3, and saxophonist Jim Hoke.

My favorite “How It Feels To Be Loved” written by James, Tom Wilson, and Jesse O’Brien; also includes organist Hicks, and saxophonist Hoke. Two songs were written by James, Tom Wilson, Colin MacDonald, John-Angus MacDonald, Thompson Wilson and Jesse O’Brien, “Star Studded Sky” with Janice Powers on keyboards; and “This Song Kills Hate” with the lyric “we’re marchin’ in the street…no time to lose, least on network news, this song kills hate”.

“Too Far Gone” written by James, Tom Wilson, Jesse O’Brien, Terra Lightfoot, and Thompson Wilson includes Ruby Amanfu on harmony vocal, and Hicks on organ. “In My Own Dream” is the title track from the 1968 Paul Butterfield Blues Band album of the same name, “satisfied, I kept on living in my own dream”. The closer “Open Your Mind” written by James and Tom Wilson features James on electric guitar while Linden plays an electric Dobro, once again the McCrary Sisters add harmony “what you long for…still never changes…open your mind”.

James with over 40 Canadian singles has consistently set the bar for Canadian Blues. A consummate professional and a superb guitarist he is a musician’s musician. His stage performance is called “electrifying”. In January 2025 James will embark on a US tour. Be sure to get your tickets early. I will be there in Stuart, FL. when he takes the stage at the Lyric Theatre. Will you be there? Don’t miss out on this rare opportunity to see the talented Colin James.

Richard Ludmerer

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