James Taylor (Hammond organ star of JTQ – The James Taylor Quartet) reunites with his massively influential Brit Pop band The Prisoners, and former record label boss Steve Lamacq (BBC 6 Music presenter) who will DJ and compere the evening, for a special one off show at The London Roundhouse, Camden in May 2024. Special guest support will be announced in April.
The Prisoners emerged in 1982 from the Medway Towns in Kent with their debut LP “A Taste of Pink” on the band’s Own Up label. 1983 saw the band sign to Ace Records’ “Big Beat” subsidiary, to release the follow up “The Wisermiserdemelza”, which featured the single “Hurricane”.
The following year’s “Electric Fit” EP included the band’s signature song, “Melanie”, and The Prisoners joined Thee Milkshakes, The Stingrays and the Tall Boys on Channel 4’s “The Tube” programme on a feature called “Trash on the Tube”.
Two more albums followed, “The Last Fourfathers” (1985) and “In From The Cold” (1986), the latter featuring the classic “Whenever I’m Gone” single, before the band called it a day in 1986 after a UK tour supporting The Ramones.
10 years later, The Prisoners reformed for a handful of live dates which saw the band sign to Steve Lamacq’s Deceptive record label, alongside Elastica, Placebo & Earl Brutus. “Shine On Me” (1997) came out to enthusiastic reviews, but The Prisoners split up again soon after. Bands such as The Charlatans and the Inspiral Carpets have cited The Prisoners as a formative influence on their own sound.
THE PRISONERS BAND LINE UP:
Graham Day – Guitar/Vocals
Allan Crockford – Bass/Vocals
James Taylor – Hammond Organ
Johnny Symons – Drums
- In recent years British jazz funk band, the James Taylor Quartet has taken inspiration from Lalo Schifrin, Quincy Jones, John Barry and more, to produce a trio of breath-taking albums: “Soundtrack from Electric Black” (2018), “People Get Ready” (2020) and 2022’s “Man in the Hot Seat.” All of the albums feature a full orchestral line-up and are a cinematic stew of lush strings, powerful horns, funk rhythms and the trademark James Taylor Hammond organ sound.
James Taylor Quartet perform their current album “Man in the Hot Seat” at The Barbican, London on April 2nd with a full live orchestra. James has also reunited with his band The Prisoners for the reunion show at The Camden Roundhouse on 24th May 2024. https://www.jamestaylorquartet.co.uk
James Taylor’s “Track Record”…
1. First song you recall hearing as a child?
“Hey Jude” by The Beatles on Top Of The Pops on TV.
2. First single you owned?
The Beatles: “Can’t Buy Me Love”.
3. First LP/album you owned?
“The Railway Children” film soundtrack.
4. First CD you owned?
“Best of James Brown”.
5. Last music you bought and in what format (CD/vinyl/digital download)?
CD Of “Bach: Goldberg Variations” by Angela Hewitt.
6. Which album would you be happy to receive as a gift?
Anything classical or Hammond funky.
7. Favourite album? (Choose more than one if need be…)
“Silver and Brass” by Horace Silver.
8. Best record ever made (can be single/album/EP – and choose more than one if need be)?
Glenn Gould: “Goldberg Variations” [1981 version].
9. Guilty secret (or anything unusual or perhaps unexpected) in your music collection?
Can’t think of anything particularly unusual, but I really like the Wagner operas.
10. What does music mean to you and how does it make you feel?
It is the centre of my life and has been for all of my life. But I love my family more, and put that first.
11. Which song or album is a guaranteed mood booster?
Jimmy McGriff: “Electric Funk”.
12. Which song or album would be the soundtrack to a film about your life?
Jimmy McGriff: “Electric Funk”.
13. Your favourite driving track – or music to exercise to?
“Mahler’s 5th Symphony”.
14. Best song or album for a romantic moment?
“Mahler’s 5th Symphony”.
15. Which song was played for the “First Dance” at your wedding (if you are married) or which song would you choose if you did get married?
“James Taylor Quartet: “Theme from Starsky and Hutch”.
16. Your choice of song to sing at karaoke?
“Green Onions” by Booker T and The MGs. My band JTQ do a version with lyrics.
17. Which song takes you back to your childhood – and to which specific memory/memories?
“You Are The Sunshine of My Life” by Steve Wonder. As a child I was in a band with my three brothers and we used to play this Stevie tune.
18. Favourite band (or bands)?
The Who.
19. Favourite singer (or singers)?
The Sixteen. [A UK-based choir and period instrument orchestra; founded by Harry Christophers, they started as an unnamed group of sixteen friends in 1977.]
20. Which song would you like played at your funeral?
“Love The Life” by James Taylor Quartet (JTQ).
