Q magazine sept 96 interview

[chewy168]

The skinny half of the partnership, Tim Booth, was born in braford in 1960. He's the singer in James a six way improvisation band that, very occasionally has hits(sit down). Booth is also a masseur, a mate of Brian Eno a dance teacher and a numerologist and a fan of Patti Smith who comes close to tears whenever he talks about her. The wider partner in this 2 man combo is Angleno Badalamenti he was teaching english in a new york school he moved briefly to Surrey began starting to write pop tunes, was told by joe meek that he had a glorious singing voice by Joe Meek and went back to Brooklyn; penned hits for Melba Moore and Nina Simome;scored dozens of movie soundtracks under the name Andy Badal; and wrote the superlative music for David Lynche's Blue Velvet and most famously of all, Twin Peaks.
Between them they confess a fondness for Iggy Pop, Herbert lom, poetic lyrics and eeire,beautiful songs and finally with the release of theif album 59 year old Badalamenti makes his debut apperance as a vocalist, on a song called life gets better.
"So it was just me and Joe meek who wanted you to sing?" Booth teases him over lunch. "no," replies Badalamenti between munches of pasta, recalling a third champion." Tony Orlando". Remember" Tony Orlando and Dawn?" "You've ruined the fucking story, Angelo," i was in cool company there and you bring Dawn to the table"

Next installment next week if you want it.

[fritzperls]

Aye, keep it coming.
Hello from Halifax BTW.

[chewy168]

Most of the singing is done by booth, a serene yet cynical fellow who punctuates his mouthfuls of sausage with strange throat clearing noises like Jack Lemmon in The odd couple. Hrrrmmm...Grrrmmm.
A rehearsel for Later with Jools Holland follows lunch, where they will play the albums first two singles, with the remaining members of James providing the musical backing. Then Booth will head off to see Patti Smith play at the Serpentine galery, and ...oh dear...choke...sob.
He and Badalamenti have all ready agreed to a follw up album-an odder darker record than this one. Badalamenti is collaborating with Lynch on the latters movie Lost Highway. Booth has nearly completed a record with James and wants to be an actor. He was offered the role of Tommy on Broadway, but-he claims - refused to do it unless iggy played uncle Ernie. Badalamenti thinks Booth is a genius.
Tim and i - i can honestly say - we did not have a single disagreement making the record coos badalamnti.
"Ive moved into Angelo's house," smirks Booth. "I'm sleeping with his daughter."
"Ill slap your face," retorts Badalamenti, putting his fork down. "You forget I'm part sicillian. My uncle Tony will be paying you a visit."
Prior to 1990, Booth and Badalamenti had never heard of each other. That year,Both fell in love with Julee cruise's remarkable album of dream songs,Floating into the night (music by badalamenti lyrics by Lynch) and was delighted to be asked, by the producer of C4's Friday night at the Dome, to choose a musician from anywhere in the world with whom he'd like to collaberate.

[chewy168]

For over 2 years they attempted to meet , with no joy, until a Paul McCartney recording session brought Badalamenti over to London. That night,James played at the town&country club in Kentish town.
So this is the kid leaving crazy messages on my answer phone when they met backstage. Wow he looks like a New York cab driver,thought Booth. Fontana records-the label to which James signed in 1990-gave Booth and the bad Angel the financial backing to make the album.Booth had a James album to make (Laid) and felt guilty asking him to turn down movie soundtracks.
He's terrible."he's turned down Leonard Cohen,Tori Amos...(to Badalamenti) what are you doing turning down Leonard Cohen? you need a manager" The album they slowly co wrote and produced was full of slightly off-centre but melodic pop songs, which surprised those who'd expected 11 woozy reprises of laura Palmers theme or sit down. But it didnt have any decent guitar playing, so Booth cold called Bernard Butler, later of Suede, who was about to leavefor France to record his comeback single.
"Tim rang me up," the down to earth Butler recounts in a soho cafe "and said he wnted me to fly to New York. I said,look iv'e never met you,i don't know anything about this and im not going". Butler, however is all over Booth and the Bad Angel,and in grattitude for his cheap,not to mention speedy contributions, Booth allowed him aphoto in the album booklet.He plays on seven tracks and mixed six.
"I could tell Tim was an excitable guy" says Butler. "Down the phone he was like, wow... thats so exciting !but he is funny. You can take the piss out of him a little bit. I said to him in every one of these lyrics you're either flying or youre free"
Within weeks,Butler trusted him to submit to a massage when he needed to shake of a vicious cold.Booth massaged him so formidablythat not only did the cold dissapear , but Butler could not hold a guitar for several hours afterwards.
"I was thinking christ, what have i done-i've taken away his demons,"admits Booth.
"I was feeling like like i'd had four Es and and a bottle of scotch," muses Butler.He gets o your back and starts breathing and blowing on you.He was there for about 20 mins. I got up and felt very nice. Everything was all fluffy." And what are we to make off Avril, Booths favoured psychic? Avril,who, according to Boot,has never been proved wrong,predicted some years ago that he would work with an American "who has the name of an angel". Badalamenti finds this wonderful.
Avril also predicted that James would work with Eno-they have-and has lately told Booth to "watch out for crossed feathers". Sound advice in anyone's Book.

The end...
Anyone wants this mag for their collection let me know will post it to first person who wants it.