Please note this is an old page and Fly Global Music has now moved. Please follow this link and search for the entry in the new site.

After the chaotic and short lived Teenage Jesus And The Jerks (the band who arguable ‘found’ no wave that was put together by Chance and Lydia Lunch, James launched his career as part James Dean pin-up, part James Brown and part James Blood Ulmar of the sax. Perhaps that’s why the band went through a load of identity changes from The Contortions, James Chance and The Contortions, James White and The Blacks, James Black and the Whites but whatever he called himself, (real name) James Siegfried, he produced the hardest art-rockin’ street funk jazz that was immediately identifiable and cool.

Actually, born in Milwaukee, he went to New York and made his name as part of the second punk wave after bands like The Ramones had moved on taking over at the legendary punk venues CBGB’s and Max’s Kansas City. Then up steps Brian Eno and producers the seminal compilation No New York feturing Chance, Lunch, Suicide, Mars et al to a recptive world stage.

From that album, ‘I Can’t Stand Myself’ (more identity issues?) and ‘Jaded’ are included but they stand as only reference pointsas the funk-jazz-style-meanderings take over. It’s as if ESAfter the chaotic and short lived Teenage Jesus And The Jerks (the band who arguable ‘found’ no wave that was put together by Chance and Lydia Lunch, James lauch his career as part James Dean pin-up, part James Brown and part James Blood Ulmar of the sax. Perhaps that’s why the band went through a load of identity changes from The Contortions, James Chance and The Contortions, James White and The Blacks, James Black and the Whites but whatever he called himself, (real name)_James Siegfried produced hard art-rockin’ street funk jazz that was immediately identifiable and cool.

Actually, born in Milwaukee, he went to New York and made his name as part of the second punk wave after band like The Ramones as they gigged at CBGB’s and Max’s Kansas City. Up steps Brian Eno and the seminal compilation No New York launches Chance, Lunch, Suicide, Mars et al on the world stage.

From that album, ‘I Can’t Stand Myself’ (more identity issues?) and ‘Jaded’ are included but they stand as a reference points as the punk-funk-jazz-style-meanderings take over as if ESG were Albert Ayler’s mothers. ‘Almost Black’, ‘Off Black’ and ‘I Don’t Want To Be Happy’ and best examples. ‘Off Black’ and their big “disco hit” ‘Contort Yourself’ being on their Off White alubm on ZE Records (from more on ZE see ZE 30 : ZE Records 1979-2009).

Post Lunch, the biggest influence on the band was their manager and James’ partner Anya Phillips who passed away in 1981. ‘Sex Maniac’ and ‘The Twitch’ are taken from the album Sex Maniac that was dedicated to Phillips and it proved to be a creative high point as the follow-up album Flaming Demonics a couple of years later proved to be a low point by comparison; and avoided by this compilation (which is a bit of a shame as the track on that album that’s a medley of Ellington’s classics ‘Caravan’ and ‘It Don’t Mean A Thing’ with White’s own ‘Melt Yourself Down’ was always of a leftfield oddity).

And with this is mind, it was no wonder that little was heard of of him and/or band save for re-issues and occasional live recordings. However, this compilation is timely as he appeared at the Matt Groening curated All Tomorrow’s Parties festival in May and has for the last five years been touring with Pierre Fablet (guitar), Alex Tual (drums) and Jacques Auvergne (drums) as Les Contortions (they being French of course). The second CD is made up of highly energetic performances and ends with Chance and Les Contortions doing a live version of the “distasteful” ‘Stained Sheets’ and the anthemic (but suitably contorted live version) of ‘Contort Yourself’.

To be honest, you’d have to be a bit of a fan to go through both CDs in one go but stick with it as the Live CD has a fantastic out-there version of the standard ‘Ain’t Nobody’s Buisness If I Do’, a cover of Gil Scott Heron’s ‘Home Is Where The Hatred Is’ and JB’s ‘Cold Sweat’. Not only that, Chance teams up with original members Jody Harris, Pat Place, Don Christensen with former Lounge Lizard Erik Sanko with their re-formed Contortions and three tracks included here (‘Roving Eye’ and ‘Bedroom Athlete’) are full of the mid-late 70s spunk of their youth whilst ‘Devilish Angel’ is more in a jazzy groove.

It certainly is about time Chance got renewed recognition as a true inovator and if you don’t recall, back in ‘81 he was hangin’ with all the big names in New York and beyond (see links below to the Jean-Michel Basquiat movie Downtown ‘81 as well as the No Wave book) and worth checking some never seen before photos taken by Philips and Chances’ notes with the CD booklet.

So what you waitin’ for - get the CD and contort yourself!

Reviewed: James Chance - Twist Your Soul: The Definitive Collection (Dumb Angel/History Records) Cat. No. DUMB019CD Release date: 2nd August 2010
Tracklisting:
CD 1 (Studio Recordings)
1. I Can’t Stand Myself (4:46)
2. Jaded (3:51)
3. Almost Black Part 1 & 2 (6:59)
4. Off Black (6:29)
5. I Don’t Want To Be Happy (3:22)
6. Contort Yourself (4:23)
7. Sax Maniac (7:33)
8. The Twitch (6:28)
9. Christmas With Satan (9:54)
10. I Don’t Want Nobody To Give Me Nothing (3:40)
11. Hyp No Tease (5:29)
12. Town Without Pity (4:22)
13. The Street With No Name (4:30)
14. Icorrigible (5:25)
CD 2 (Live Recordings)
1. Intro / Designed To Kill (4:10)
2. My Infatuation (4:16)
3. Throw Me Away (3:02)
4. Twice Removed (3:10)
5. Roving Eye (3:36)
6. Bedroom Athlete (4:21)
7. Devilish Angel (7:56)
8. The Splurge (5:06)
9. Disposable You (4:01)
10. Ain’t Nobody’s Business If I Do (6:35)
11. Home Is Where The Hatred Is (5:40)
12. Why Try To Change Me Now (5:07)
13. Cold Sweat (7:38)
14. Boulevard Of Broken Dreams (7:12)
15. Stained Sheets (3:08)
16. Contort Yourself (4:58)

Links:
http://www.myspace.com/jameschanceeuropetour
www.historygroup.co.uk
The OST Show - Michael Garrad sitting in for Jonny Trunk - Resonance 104.4fm Sat 31-7-10 [repeat Weds 4.8.10 3.30pm: Songs In Film
10 - Jim Dickinson with Jerry McGill - White Man Walks - from Stranded In
Canton
11 - Barbara Sukowa - Capri Fischer - from Lola
12 - Graham Tardif - Bad Boy Bubby Blues - from Bad Boy Bubby
13 - Jason Holliday - The Music That Makes Me Dance - from Portrait Of Jason
14 - James White And The Blacks - Sax Maniac - from Downtown 81
15 - Alan Price - Sell Sell - from O! Lucky Man
16 - Anna Karina and Jean-Paul Belmondo - Ma Ligne De Chance - from
Pierrot Le Fou
17 - Scott Wood And His Orchestra (Vocal Jack Plant) - I Only Have Eyes
For You - Pennies From Heaven
18 - Claude Channes - Mao Mao - from La Chioise
19 - Der Plan - Junger Man - from Die Letzte Rachen
www.closeupfilmcentre.com
The Stool Pigeon Summer 2010 p12 International News - stunning never-seen-before photos have come to light, all taken by girlfriend at the time, Anya Philips, a co-founder of New Yorl’s Mudd Club. Check this moment-in-time shot of James and a few pals. www.thestoolpigeon.co.uk
No Wave - Post Punk Underground New York 1976-1980 by Thurston Moore/Byron Coley Abrahms Image, 115 West 18th Street, NY www.abramsimage.com
Albert Ayler’s mothers. ‘Almost Black’, ‘Off Black’ and ‘I Don’t Want To Be Happy’ and best examples. ‘Off Black’ and their big “disco hit” ‘Contort Yourself’ being on their Off White on ZE Records (from more on ZE see ZE 30 : ZE Records 1979-2009).

Post Lunch, the biggest influence on the band was their manager and James’ partner Anya Phillips who passed away in 1981. ‘Sex Maniac’ and ‘The Twitch’ are taken from the album Sex Maniac that was dedicated to Phillips and it proved to be a creative high point as the follow-up album Flaming Demonics a couple of years later proved to be a low point (and avoided by this compilation).

And with this is mind, it was little wonder that little was heard of of him/band save for re-issues and live recordings. However, this compilation is timely as he appeared at the Matt Groening curated All Tomorrow’s Parties festival in May and has for the last five years been touring with Pierre Fablet (guitar), Alex Tual (drums) and Jacques Auvergne (drums) as Les Contortions (they being French of course). The second CD is made up of highly energetic performances and ends with Chance and Les Contortions doing a live version of the “distasteful” ‘Stained Sheets’ and the anthemic (but suitably contorted live version) of ‘Contort Yourself’.

To be honest, you’d have to be a bit of a fan to go through both CDs in one go but stick with it as the Live CD has a fantastic out-there version of the standard ‘Ain’t Nobody’s Buisness If I Do’, a cover of Gil Scott Heron’s ‘Home Is Where The Hatred Is’ and JB’s ‘Cold Sweat’. Not only that, Chance teams up with original members Jody Harris, Pat Place, Don Christensen with former Lounge Lizard Erik Sanko with their re-formed Contortions and three tracks included here (‘Roving Eye’ and ‘Bedroom Athlete’) are full of the mid-late 70s spunk of their youth whilst ‘Devilish Angel’ is more in a jazzy groove.

It certainly is about time Chance got renewed recognition as a true inovator and if you don’t recall, back in ‘81 he was hangin’ with all the big names in New York and beyond (see links below to the Jean-Michel Basquiat movie Downtown ‘81 as well as the No Wave book) and worth getting checking some never seen before photos taken by Philips and Chances’ notes with the CD booklet.

Don’t wait - get the CD and contort yourself!

Reviewed: James Chance - Twist Your Soul: The Definitive Collection (Dumb Angel/History Records) Cat. No. DUMB019CD Release date: 2nd August 2010
Tracklisting:
CD 1 (Studio Recordings)
1. I Can’t Stand Myself (4:46)
2. Jaded (3:51)
3. Almost Black Part 1 & 2 (6:59)
4. Off Black (6:29)
5. I Don’t Want To Be Happy (3:22)
6. Contort Yourself (4:23)
7. Sax Maniac (7:33)
8. The Twitch (6:28)
9. Christmas With Satan (9:54)
10. I Don’t Want Nobody To Give Me Nothing (3:40)
11. Hyp No Tease (5:29)
12. Town Without Pity (4:22)
13. The Street With No Name (4:30)
14. Icorrigible (5:25)
CD 2 (Live Recordings)
1. Intro / Designed To Kill (4:10)
2. My Infatuation (4:16)
3. Throw Me Away (3:02)
4. Twice Removed (3:10)
5. Roving Eye (3:36)
6. Bedroom Athlete (4:21)
7. Devilish Angel (7:56)
8. The Splurge (5:06)
9. Disposable You (4:01)
10. Ain’t Nobody’s Business If I Do (6:35)
11. Home Is Where The Hatred Is (5:40)
12. Why Try To Change Me Now (5:07)
13. Cold Sweat (7:38)
14. Boulevard Of Broken Dreams (7:12)
15. Stained Sheets (3:08)
16. Contort Yourself (4:58)

Links:
www.myspace.com/jameschanceandthecontortions
www.historygroup.co.uk
The OST Show - Michael Garrad sitting in for Jonny Trunk - Resonance 104.4fm Sat 31-7-10 [repeat Weds 4.8.10 3.30pm: Songs In Film
10 - Jim Dickinson with Jerry McGill - White Man Walks - from Stranded In
Canton
11 - Barbara Sukowa - Capri Fischer - from Lola
12 - Graham Tardif - Bad Boy Bubby Blues - from Bad Boy Bubby
13 - Jason Holliday - The Music That Makes Me Dance - from Portrait Of Jason
14 - James White And The Blacks - Sax Maniac - from Downtown 81
15 - Alan Price - Sell Sell - from O! Lucky Man
16 - Anna Karina and Jean-Paul Belmondo - Ma Ligne De Chance - from
Pierrot Le Fou
17 - Scott Wood And His Orchestra (Vocal Jack Plant) - I Only Have Eyes
For You - Pennies From Heaven
18 - Claude Channes - Mao Mao - from La Chioise
19 - Der Plan - Junger Man - from Die Letzte Rachen
www.closeupfilmcentre.com
The Stool Pigeon Summer 2010 p12 International News - stunning never-seen-before photos have come to light, all taken by girlfriend at the time, Anya Philips, a co-founder of New Yorl’s Mudd Club. Check this moment-in-time shot of James and a few pals. www.thestoolpigeon.co.uk
No Wave - Post Punk Underground New York 1976-1980 by Thurston Moore/Byron Coley Abrahms Image, 115 West 18th Street, NY www.abramsimage.com