JAMES ANNOUNCE 40th ANNIVERSARY DOUBLE ALBUM OF GREATEST HITS & FAN FAVOURITES RE-IMAGINED WITH ORCHESTRA AND CHOIR
HEADLINE SLOT AT FOREST FEST, EMO 21ST JULY 2023 – TICKETS HERE
BE OPENED BY THE WONDERFUL’
RELEASED 9 JUNE 2023
LISTEN TO SHE’S A STAR (ORCHESTRAL VERSION)
James have announced details of a new album in celebration of their 40th Anniversary. Be Opened By The Wonderful is a 20 track (19 Vinyl) of some of their most loved and rare tracks, re-imagined with a 22 piece orchestra and 8 piece choir. Released on 9th June via Virgin Music and available on DSPs, CD and Vinyl the double-album also includes one brand new track, Love Make A Fool, 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 lead by Andra Vornicu featuring the Manchester Inspirational Voices choir, directed by Wayne Ellington.
Listen to She’s A Star (Orchestral Version) here
In further celebration of their 40th Anniversary, the band will play a headline set at Forest Fest Emo, performing as Special Guests on the Friday Evening.
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.”
As previously announced, the band will be headlining venues across the UK, April through to May on their ‘James Lasted’ tour, calling at Liverpool’s Philharmonic Hall and Birmingham Symphony Hall, concluding at The Royal Albert Hall, London on 17th May. Tickets for the tour sold out in a record time of 6 hours.
One of Britain’s most enduring success stories, James have released 16 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 years, preceded by Living in Extraordinary Times and Girl at the End of the World which narrowly missed out on the top spot in 2016 to Adele.
James are: Tim Booth, Jim Glennie, Saul Davies, Adrian Oxaal, David Baynton-Power, Mark Hunter, Andy Diagram, Chloe Alper, Deborah Knox-Hewson.
CD TRACKLIST
#1
Sometimes
Love Make A Fool
We’re Gonna Miss You
Tomorrow
The Lake
She’s A Star
Lookaway
Sit Down
Alaskan Pipeline
#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
FESTIVAL DATES 2023
May
28th In It Together Festival
June
23rd Bristol Sounds
July
2nd Liverpool Outdoor
7th The Piece Hall, Halifax
8th The Piece Hall, Halifax
12th Thessaloniki
21st Forest Fest, Emo, Co. Laois
23rd Latitude Festival – with orchestra (Midday stage time)
28th Dundee, Slessor Gardens
29th Y NOT Festival
August
11th South Facing, Crystal Palace
September
3rd The Weekendr
