The idea today in featuring the original version of a song that would eventually become a big hit for James, is two-fold.
Firstly, given that I’m getting on a plane much later on today for an overnight flight to Glasgow, the title is appropriate.
mp3: James – Come Home
Released on Rough Trade to complete indifference in November 1989. The failure of the label to provide the band with sufficient support for both this and previous single Sit Down led to a parting of the ways and James making the move to Fontana Records. The re-recorded versions of the two Rough Trade singles, along with the album Goldmother, brought the commercial success they had been dreaming of for years.
There is no question that Fontana insisted on a more commercial radio-friendly sound, but at the same time, with baggy/Madchester being very much to the fore, the stars had aligned perfectly for the band.
The second reason is that the b-side to the Rough Trade 45 provides one of James’ finest recordings, and one of my very favourite political protest songs
I’ll settle down and watch some television
Watch the news
Confronted by an ugly politician
And her ugly views
I don’t belong here
I don’t belong here
In your promised land
In your promised land
She is at the scene of every disaster
Shaking hands
Circling the corpses like a vulture
Coming into land
I don’t belong
Here, I don’t belong
Here, in your promised land
In your promised land
Never tell the truth
Look them in the eye
Soften up the voice
Justify a lie
Smother us in blue
Smother us in rust
Images are true
Images we trust
Promise us a home
Sell us what we own
Give the dog a bone
Dog a, dog a bone
You are the one
Ever so strong
Never be wrong
Never be wrong
The people of my country are divided
By her greed
Money is directed to ambition
Not to need
Now the scum is really floating to the surface
Of the sea
Everything she touches is infected
Including me
I don’t belong here
I don’t belong here
In your promised land
Thatcher may be long gone, but her legacy lives on, especially in the way Tory and the far-right politicians go about their business. I really wish the lyrics of this song weren’t still so meaningful 35 years on….can only hope the recently elected government will do things differently and better.
Early signs are…….well, the jury is still deliberating.
mp3: James – Promised Land
THE NEW VINYL VILLAIN 
Those few years of mismanagement might have been torture for the band but they were great for fans. The band were releasing top shelf records and still flying somewhat under the radar. The gigs were still electric. something happened after they started shifting the big units. The shows were still fun, but (at least to my ear) the band lost a bit of its punch. They continued to put out quality records, but for me this and Sit Down are the musical peak.
‘Student’ James. While it brought them sales (they probably made money on t-shirts) it rather smothered the essence of what attracted me to the band. As noted many times previously, Fontana were skilled at ‘killing’ a much-loved bands as they flooded the market with differing formats of each release.
I don’t doubt there are many that will utter the horrifying remarks ” I used to like them when I was a student”.
Pre-Fontana, is my period of James. They could do no wrong. It was precious of me. I knew that. I didn’t care.
Flimflamfan
I lost interest around Gold Mother, they lost something that had made them so good. Fontana fucked up the House of Love in similar fashion- worse maybe (although part of that was self- destruction) but the early 90s indie gold rush, multi- format, big studio and producer etc thing did neither band (and some others) no favours at all really.
I wouldn’t hold your breath about this new lot either!
I love all periods of James , they still make consistently fabulous records and are still the friend of Rachel worth best live band going