Clap Happy

James - One Man Clapping [ONE MAN 1CD UK 1989 FLAC]

I was lucky enough to see James a few times in their prime during their Factory years (mostly supporting The Smiths) and when promoting their major label debut album. I loved their rawness and energy, plus I always believed they were miles better than The Smiths. The masses of daffodil waving, floppy quiffed, sexually-confused young men who attended Smiths gigs would never really appreciate the quirky folk of James. Sire Records never did either and dumped the band after two albums and four singles. 

James found brief solace with Rough Trade, who helped distribute this one off self-released live album. This is the only officially released live set by the band in their pre-baggy days, and was recorded at The Moles Club in Bath in November 1988, except the energetic Stutter which may well have been recorded elsewhere without an audience?

01 Chain Mail

02 Sandman (Hup-Springs)

03 Whoops

04 Riders

05 Leaking

06 Why So Close

07 Ya Ho

08 Johnny Yen

09 Scarecrow

10 Are You Ready

11 Really Hard

12 Burned

13 Stutter