Jimmy James and The Vagabonds<div hidden>Jimmy James & The Vagabonds</div>
Jimmy James & The Vagabonds is a Jamaican-British soul and rhythm and blues band that rose to prominence on the UK club circuit in the mid-1960s and later scored mainstream chart hits in the 1970s. Michael “Jimmy” James was born in Jamaica on 13 September 1940 and first found success there as a solo singer, scoring two local hits before fronting The Vagabonds. The Vagabonds themselves were originally formed around 1960 and became one of Jamaica’s leading live bands before teaming up with James. Under Canadian manager Roger Smith, Jimmy James and The Vagabonds relocated from Jamaica to the UK in April 1964, seeking a wider audience in the burgeoning British R&B and soul scene. Within weeks of arriving, they recorded the album “Ska-Time” (issued in the UK as “Jamaica’s Own Vagabonds”), regarded as one of the earliest Jamaican ska records made in Britain.
By the mid-1960s the band had become a major live attraction on the British club and college circuit, often mentioned alongside Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band as leading exponents of high-energy soul in UK venues. They signed to Pye Records and in 1966 released their best-known 1960s studio album, “The New Religion,” which helped cement their reputation. Jimmy James & The Vagabonds supported leading acts such as The Who, Sonny & Cher, Rod Stewart’s group Steampacket, and The Rolling Stones, and they frequently worked at Abbey Road Studios, at times sharing the building with The Beatles. Alongside studio work, they toured widely across Europe, including dates in France, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Greece, and Tunisia.
The original Vagabonds line-up, which included bassist Phil Chen among others, disbanded in 1970, though Jimmy James retained ownership of the band name. In 1973 he formed a new, predominantly white British line-up with musician and fixer Alan Wood, continuing under the Jimmy James & The Vagabonds banner. This second incarnation shifted toward a more polished soul-disco sound and achieved UK Singles Chart success with “I’ll Go Where Your Music Takes Me” (1976) and “Now Is the Time,” the latter reaching number 5 in the UK. They also recorded the disco-oriented track “Disco Fever” in 1976, reflecting the dance-floor trends of the era.
Key recordings from the 1960s include the ska-oriented “Ska-Time,” the UK LP “Presenting the Fabulous Vagabonds,” and especially the soul-driven album “The New Religion” (1966). A second late-60s album, “Open Up Your Soul,” featured their version of Neil Diamond’s “Red Red Wine,” which gave them an early commercial single success. Later, compilations such as “Golden Hour of Jimmy James and the Vagabonds” (1979), “I’ll Go Where the Music Takes Me – The Best of Jimmy James and the Vagabonds” (1994), and “Vagabond King: The Sixties Sides” (1997) helped keep their catalogue in circulation. Their discography also includes various singles like “You Don’t Stand a Chance if You Can’t Dance” (1975) and reissues of earlier ska and soul material.
Jimmy James & The Vagabonds are widely remembered as one of the defining live soul acts of the British mod and club era, their shows noted for energetic horn arrangements and James’s powerful vocals. The group’s work bridged Jamaican ska and American-influenced soul, contributing to the development of a distinctive Black British club sound in the 1960s. Over the decades, the band name has continued with changing personnel, with Jimmy James remaining the central figure and performing selections from both the 1960s and 1970s repertoires. Their best-known songs, particularly “Now Is the Time” and “I’ll Go Where Your Music Takes Me,” still feature on Northern soul, oldies, and disco compilations, sustaining their cult following among soul collectors and fans.
Come To Me Softly
Written-By – R. Wylie, Tony Clarke
3:12
A2 This Heart Of Mine
Written-By – Barrett Strong
2:29
A3 Do It Right
Written-By – Rudy Clark
3:03
A4 I Gotta Dance From Keep From Crying
Written-By – Holland-Dozier-Holland
2:31
A5 I'm Just A Fool For You Girl
Written-By – Carl Davis, Gerald Sims
2:19
A6 Hi-Diddly Dee Dum Dum (It's A Good Feelin')
Written-By – Billy Davis, R. Staunton, R. Walker
2:43
B1 People Get Ready
Written-By – Curtis Mayfield
2:36
B2 The Entertainer
Written-By – Tony Clarke
2:19
B3 Come To Me Softly
Written-By – Jimmy James
3:20
B4 Little Boy Blue
Written-By – Curtis Mayfield
2:11
B5 It's Growing
Written-By – William Robinson, Warren Moore
2:43
B6 Ain't No Big Thing
Written-By – Gerald Sims
2:40
Label: Atco Records – SD 33-222
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1968
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Sixties Soul
Released in 1968 on the Atco label, Come To Me Softly by Jimmy James & The Vagabonds is a soul-focused album capturing the energy of their UK club scene popularity. The LP features the title track hit, along with soul covers, showcasing a blend of studio production and live-sounding, soulful performances.
The record is characterized by James’s powerful vocals and the band's tight, brass-heavy arrangements. Jimmy James is noted for a, at times, inconsistent vocal identity on earlier recordings, but this album marks a period of increasing confidence.
Key Tracks:
"Come To Me Softly": The standout title track, originally a solo hit for James in Jamaica, showcases his ability to deliver a tender, romantic performance.
"This Heart Of Mine": A Northern Soul classic praised for its "plaintive" vocal entry and "dreamily infectious" backing.
Soul Covers: The album includes robust versions of classics like "People Get Ready" and "The Entertainer," which some fans argue are equal to the original US versions.
While the band had success in the UK, this release helped them reach US audiences with their polished, soul-influenced sound.
Often associated with the 1960s UK club scene, the group is remembered for high-energy, danceable music.
The album serves as a key representation of a Jamaican-born artist making his mark on the British soul scene. It is highly regarded by soul enthusiasts and Northern Soul collectors, holding an average rating of 4.1 / 5 on Discogs. Critics and fans often highlight it as one of the best British-recorded soul albums of the 1960s.