Search - Jimmy James & Vagabonds :: Vagabond King: Sixties Sides

Solid Collection of Afro-Caribbean Soul Singer

Randall E. Adams | Los Angeles, CA United States | 03/20/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"For those of you looking for his one and only U.S. success "Come to Me Softly," this is the anthology to buy. That song and many others from the same era are included here. Jimmy James enjoyed relatively little commercial success as a recording artist because the U.K. market tended to look down on its homegrown soul artists. On the other hand, James was in great demand as a live performer. His voice is a wonderful 60's styled deep-throated tenor. He wrote a handful of his own tunes during the earliest part of his career. Indeed, his finest original "Come to Me Softly," was only intended to be a b-side. He also cut some fine versions of soul ballads favored in the U.K. at the time, often by British writers. His biggest hit in the U.K. was a version of Neil Diamond's "Red Red Wine" which is what inspired Tony Tribe and, in turn, UB40. The covers of familiar American songs may seem redundant, but they are generally very well accomplished.Today, no one really questions the U.K.'s ability to generate fine soul records. In the 1960s, no one credited it at all. Jimmy James' records give a fascinating look at the genesis of the homegrown U.K. soul scene."

Maybe not the original versions, but some smooooth music non

collegemoney | 01/27/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"You should be advised that at least many of the key songs on "The Sixties Sides" are not the original versions. That said, this is a smooth very enjoyable CD, if you can't remember the originals any more, your soul won't know the difference. But, if you remember and cherish the originals, get "Sock It To "Em JJ" a fabulous 2 CD compilation."

Brings back memories of the 60's!

collegemoney | 05/13/1999

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The collection is very good EXCEPT that his most famous (and best) song, COME SOFTLY TO ME, is NOT the version that was a hit in the 60's--too bad, it'd be a super album otherwise. And too bad that he never found a big following--he's great. So, I'm disappointed. Also bought, and reviewed the Walker Bros.,Wayne Fontana & the Mindbenders, and the Tremeloes."