Tag Archives: Alex James

Marianne Faithfull: Kissin’ Time

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On February 19, 2002, “Hut” and “Virgin” labels released “Kissin Time”, the 15th Marianne Faithfull studio album. It was recorded 2001 – 2002, and was produced by Tonny Hoffer, Beck, Billy Corgan, Dave Stewart, Jarvis Cocker, Steve Mackey, Etienne Daho, Les Valentines, Ben Hillier and Barry Reynolds.

Personnel:

  • Marianne Faithfull – lead and backing vocals, synthesizer, percussion, hand-clapping
  • Beck – guitar, synthesizer, percussion, backing vocals, programming
  • Smokey Hormel – guitar
  • Edith Fambuena – guitar
  • Mark Webber – guitar
  • Damon Albarn – guitar, keyboards, backing vocals, hand-clapping
  • Graham Coxon – guitar
  • Jarvis Cocker – keyboards
  • Jean Louis Pierot – keyboards
  • Ned Douglas – keyboards, programming
  • Justin Meldal-Johnsen – bass
  • David A. Stewart – bass, guitar
  • Barry Reynolds – bass, guitar, programming, mixing
  • Alex James – bass, hand-clapping
  • Steve Mackey – bass
  • Nick Banks – drums
  • Dave Rowntree – drums, hand-clapping
  • Mark Price – drums
  • Gavin Skinner – drums
  • Jon Brion – celeste, Chamberlain, harmonium, drums
  • Billy Corgan – bass, guitar, keyboards, programming, backing vocals, engineer, mixing
  • Matt Walker – drums
  • Shawn Christopher – backing vocals
  • Paris Delane – backing vocals
  • Ben Hillier – engineer, mixing, hand-clapping
  • Tony Hoffer – programming, engineer, mixing
  • Bertrand “Mako” Blais – programming
  • Howard Willing – pre-production
  • Clive Goddard – engineer, mixing
  • Bjorn Thorsrud – engineer, mixing
  • Nick Addison – engineer
  • Jean-Paul Gonnod – engineer
  • Chris Potter – engineer
  • Howie Weinberg – mastering
  • Tim Young – mastering
  • Paul Hetherington – graphic design, art direction, design
  • Howard Wakefield – graphic design
  • Nick Knight – photography

Track listing:

  1. Sex with Strangers – Marianne Faithfull, Beck
  2. The Pleasure Song – Marianne Faithfull, Étienne Daho, Edith Fambuena, Jean Louis Pierot
  3. Like Being Born – Marianne Faithfull, Beck
  4. I’m on Fire – Marianne Faithfull, Billy Corgan
  5. Wherever I Go – Billy Corgan
  6. Song for Nico – Marianne Faithfull, Dave Stewart
  7. Sliding Through Life on Charm – Marianne Faithfull, Jarvis Cocker, Steve Mackey, Mark Webber, Nick Banks
  8.   Love & Money – Marianne Faithfull, David Courts
  9. Nobody’s Fault – Beck
  10. Kissin Time – Marianne Faithfull, Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James, Dave Rowntree
  11. Something Good – Carole King, Gerry Goffin

Blur: The Magic Whip

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On April 27, 2015, “Parlaphone” label released “The Magic Whip”, the eighth Blur studio album. It was recorded May 2013-November 2014-January 2015, at “Avon Studios” in Hong Kong and “Studio 13” in London, and was produced by Stephen Street, Graham Coxon and Damon Albarn.

Personnel:

  • Damon Albarn– vocals, keyboards, synthesizers, acoustic guitar, iPad
  • Graham Coxon– co-lead and backing vocals, electric guitar
  • Alex James– bass guitar
  • Dave Rowntree– drums, percussion, backing vocals
  • Stephen Street– saxophones, programming, percussion, drum machine, mixing
  • James Dring – programming
  • Demon Strings– orchestration
  • Stephen Sedgwick – recording
  • Drew Smith – engineer assistant
  • Jasper Dent – engineer assistant
  • Armic Tang – engineer assistant
  • Lee Wai MIng – engineer assistant
  • John Davis – mastering
  • Tony Hung – art direction, design

Track listing:

All tracks by Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree.

  1. Lonesome Street
  2. New World Towers
  3. Go Out
  4. Ice Cream Man
  5. Thought I Was a Spaceman
  6. I Broadcast
  7. My Terracotta Heart
  8. There Are Too Many of Us
  9. Ghost Ship
  10. Pyongyang
  11. Ong Ong
  12. Mirrorball

Blur: The Great Escape

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the-great-escape

On September 11, 1995, “Food” label released “The Great Escape”, the fourth Blur studio album. It was recorded January – May 1995, at “Maison Rouge” in Fulham; “Townhouse Studios” in  London, and was produced by Stephen Street. The album was certified 3 x Platinum in UK by the “BPI” and Platinum in Europe by “IFPI”.

Personnel:

  • Damon Albarn– vocals, piano, keyboards, organ, synthesizer, handclaps
  • Graham Coxon– electric and acoustic guitar, banjo, saxophone, handclaps, backing vocals
  • Alex James– bass guitar
  • Dave Rowntree– drums, percussion
  • Simon Clarke – saxophone
  • Tim Sanders – saxophone
  • Neil Sidwell – trombone
  • Roddy Lorimer – trumpet
  • Louise Fuller – violin
  • Richard Koster – violin
  • John Metcalfe – viola
  • Ivan McCermoy – cello
  • Ken Livingstone– narration
  • Theresa Davis – backing vocals
  • Angela Murrell – backing vocals
  • Cathy Gillat – backing vocals
  • John Smith – engineer
  • Julie Gardner – engineer assistant
  • Tom Girling – engineer assistant
  • Nels Israelson – photography
  • Tom King – photography
  • Jason Cox – studio manager

Track listing:

All tracks by Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree.

  1. Stereotypes
  2. Country House
  3. Best Days
  4. Charmless man
  5. Fade Away
  6. Top Man
  7. The Universal
  8. Robinson’sQuango
  9. He Thought of Cars
  10. It Could Be You
  11. Ernold Same
  12. Globe Alone
  13. Dan Abnormal
  14. Entertain Me
  15. Yuko and Hiro

Blur: Modern Life Is Rubbish

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Blur_-_Modern_Life_is_Rubbish

On May 10, 1992, “Food” label released “Modern Life Is Rubbish”, the second Blur studio album. It was recorded October 1991 – March 1992, and was produced by Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James, Dave Rowntree, John Smith, Steve Lovell and Stephen Street.

Personnel:

  • Damon Albarn– vocals, piano, keyboards
  • Graham Coxon– guitar, backing vocals
  • Alex James– bass guitar
  • Dave Rowntree– drums
  • Kick Horns– brass
  • Kate St John– oboe
  • John Smith – engineer
  • Simon Weinstock – mixing

Track listing:

All tracks by Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree.

  1. For Tomorrow
  2. Advert
  3. Colin Zeal
  4. Pressure on Julian
  5. Star Shaped
  6. Blue Jeans
  7. Chemical World
  8. Sunday Sunday
  9. Oily Water
  10. Miss America
  11. Villa Rosie
  12. Coping
  13. Turn It Up
  14. Resigned

Blur: Think Tank

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Think_tank

On May 5, 2003, “Parlaphone” label released “Think Tank”, the seventh Blur studio album. It was recorded November 2001 – November 2002 in London, Morocco and Devon, and was produced by Ben Hillier, Norman Cook, William Orbit and Blur. The album won the “Q” magazine award “Album of the Year”, and was named the best album of 2003, by The Observer.

Personnel:

  • Damon Albarn– leqd and backing vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards
  • Alex James– bass guitar, backing vocals
  • Dave Rowntree– drums, backing vocals, guitar
  • Bezzari Ahmed – rabab
  • Moullaoud My Ali – oud
  • Mohamed Azeddine – oud
  • Graham Coxon– guitar
  • Gueddam Jamal – cello, violin
  • Abdellah Kekhari – violin
  • Ait Ramdan El Mostafa – kanoun
  • El Farani Mustapha – tere
  • Dalal Mohamed Najib – darbouka
  • Hijaoui Rachid – violin
  • Rabet Mohamid Rachid – violin
  • Mike Smith– saxophone
  • Kassimi Jamal Youssef – oud
  • Phil Daniels– backing vocals
  • Desyud Mustafa – orchestral arrangements
  • James Dring – engineer, programming
  • Jason Cox – engineer, production assistant
  • Ben Hillier– engineer, percussion

Track listing:

All lyrics by Damon Albarn. All music by Albarn, Alex James, Dave Rowntree except where noted.

  1. Ambulance
  2. Out of Time
  3. Crazy Beat
  4. Good Song
  5. On the Way to the Club – Damon Albarn, James Dring, Alex James, Dave Rowntree
  6. Brothers and Sisters
  7. Caravan
  8. We’ve Got a File on You
  9. Moroccan Peoples Revolutionary Bowls Club
  10. Sweet Song
  11. Jets – Damon Albarn, Alex James, Dave Rowntree, Mike Smith
  12. Gene by Gene
  13. Batteru in Your Leg – Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James, Dave Rowntree

Blur: Parklife

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Blur - Parklife

On April 25, 1994, “Food Records” label released “Parklife”, the third Blur studio album. It was recorded August 1993 – January 1994, at “Maison Rouge” in Fulham.  “RAK Studios” and “St. John’s Wood” in London, and was produced by Stephen Street, Stephen Hague, John Smith, Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree.

Personnel:

  • Damon Albarn– lead and backing vocals, keyboards, Hammond organ, Moog synthesizer, machine strings, harpsichord, melodica, vibraphone, recorder, programming
  • Graham Coxon– guitars, clarinet, saxophone, percussion, backing
  • Alex James– vocals, bass guitar
  • Dave Rowntree– drums, percussion, programming
  • Stephen Street– vintage keys, sound effects, some programming
  • Laetitia Sadier– vocals
  • Phil Daniels– narration
  • Stephen Hague – accordion vocals

String quartet

  • Chris Tombling
  • Audrey Riley
  • Leo Payne MBE
  • Chris Pitsillides

Duke strings

  • Louisa Fuller – violin
  • Rick Koster – violin
  • John Metcalfe – string arrangement, viola
  • Ivan McCready – cello

Kick horns

  • Richard Edwards– trombone
  • Roddy Lorimer– flugelhorn, trombone
  • Tim Sanders– tenor sax, soprano sax
  • Simon Clarke – baritone sax, alto sax, flute

Track listing:

All lyrics by Damon Albarn, except where noted, all music by Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree.

  1. Girls & Boys
  2. Tracy Jacks
  3. End of a Century
  4. Parklife
  5. Bank Holiday
  6. Badhead
  7. The Debt Collector
  8. Far Out – lyrics by Alex James
  9. To the End
  10. London Loves
  11. Trouble in the Message Centre
  12. Clover over Dover
  13. Magic America
  14. Jubilee
  15. This Is a Low
  16. Lot 195

Blur: 13

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Blur-13

On March 15, 1999, “Food” label released “13”, the sixth Blur studio album. It was recorded from June to October 1988, and was produced by William Orbit, Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree.

Personnel:

  1. Damon Albarn– lead and backing vocals, piano, keyboards, synthesizers, acoustic guitar, melodica
  2. Graham Coxon – lead and backing vocals, lead and rhythm guitars, banjo, saxophone
  3. Alex James– bass guitar, backing vocals
  4. Dave Rowntree– drums, percussion
  5. The London Community Gospel Choir – vocals
  6. Jason Cox – additional drums

Track listing:

All lyrics by Damon Albarn except where noted, all music by Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree.

  1. Tender – lyrics by Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon
  2. Bugman
  3. Coffee & TV – lyrics by Graham Coxon
  4. Swamp Song
  5. 1992
  6. L.U.R.E.M.I.
  7. Battle
  8. Mellow Song
  9. Trailer Park
  10. Caramel
  11. Trimm Trabb
  12. No Distance Left to Run
  13. Optigan 1

Blur: Same

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Blur_Blur

On February 10, 1997, “Food Records” label released the self titled, fifth Blur studio album. It was recorded July to November 1996, at “Stúdíó Grettisgat” in Reykjavík, “Maison Rouge Studio” in Fulham, “Studio 13 Mayfair Studios” in London, and was produced by Stephen Street, Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree.  In 2013, “NME” magazine ranked the album at number 137 in its list of “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Damon Albarn– lead vocals, piano, keyboards, Hammond organ, acoustic guitar
  • Graham Coxon– lead and backing vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, Theremin,  drums
  • Alex James– bass guitar, lead and rhythm basses
  • Dave Rowntree– drums, percussion

Track listing:

All tracks by Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree, except where noted.

  1. Beetlebum
  2. Song 2
  3. Country Sad Ballad Man
  4. M.O.R. – David Albarn, David Bowie, Graham Coxon, Brian Eno, Alex James, Dave Rowntree
  5. On Your Own
  6. Theme from Retro
  7. You’re So Great – Graham Coxon
  8. Death of a Party
  9. Chinese Bombs
  10. I’m Just a Killer for Your Love
  11. Look Inside America
  12. Strange News from Another Star
  13. Movin On
  14. Essex Dogs” (includes hidden track Interlude)

 

Blur: Leisure

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Leisure

On August 26, 1991, “Food Records” label released  “Leisure”, the debut Blur album. It was recorded May 1990 – March 1991, and was produced by Steve Lovell, Steve Power,Stephen Street, Mike Thorne and Blur. The artwork for the album originates from a 1930’s photoshoot for a swimming cap ad campaign.

Personnel:

  • Damon Albarn– vocals, keyboards
  • Graham Coxon– guitars, backing vocals
  • Alex James– bass guitar
  • Dave Rowntree– drums, percussion

Track listing:

  1. She’s So High
  2. Bang
  3. Slow Down
  4. Repetition
  5. Bad Day
  6. Sing
  7. There’s No Other Way
  8. Fool
  9. Come Together
  10. High Cool
  11. Birthday
  12. Wear Me Down