| Now Ain't the Time for Your Tears | |
| Type: | Album |
| Artist: | Wendy James |
| Cover: | WendyjamesTEARS.jpg |
| Released: | 8 March 1993 |
| Studio: |
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| Genre: | Pop rock, alternative rock, pop punk |
| Length: | 36:22 |
| Label: | MCA |
| Producer: | Chris Kimsey |
| Next Title: | I Came Here to Blow Minds |
| Next Year: | 2011 |
Now Ain't the Time for Your Tears is the debut solo album by English singer-songwriter and Transvision Vamp vocalist Wendy James, released on 8 March 1993 by MCA Records.
The album was conceived after Wendy James had a chance meeting with Pete Thomas, drummer for Elvis Costello and the Attractions, during Transvision Vamp's final tour.[1] After asking Thomas if Costello might be able to help her with guidance or advice for a possible solo career, Thomas suggested she contact him.[1] [2] The album was then written in its entirety, in one weekend, by Costello, with several tracks co-written by his then-wife, Cait O'Riordan.[3] James told Melody Maker in 1993, "I sketched a letter to Elvis, reasonably long and philosophical, and sent it off, thinking nothing would ever come of this, it's a ridiculous idea. I didn't hear anything for a while and then Elvis's publisher rang up and said, 'He's written you an entire album, and if you like it, it's yours'. I was astounded. It's like, imagine if your favourite artist or performer of all time has just written you, personally you, your very own album."[4]
James received a cassette of basic demo recordings and a lyric sheet from Costello in December 1991 and she recorded the material in June 1992.[4] James briefly met Costello at a party after U2's Earl's Court concert on 31 May 1992.[4] Now Ain't the Time for Your Tears was released by MCA, Transvision Vamp's former label, which James signed with as a top priority solo act.[2]
Speaking of the album's material, James told NME, "Elvis is a man with a tremendous amount of insight. I'd only met him once, but he seemed to understand perfectly everything I had gone through. Some of it is pure storytelling, but overall it's an almost conceptual album which traces the successes and failures of my own career."[2] She added to Melody Maker, "All of the songs, from the melancholy songs to the glory glory hallelujah songs, are rather cynical. And there isn't a moment on the album where you can get away with anything, because you're being asked to look at yourself in a very hard-hearted manner every step of the way. There are many times when it's cutting someone's ego, whether it's mine as the singer, or someone else's."[4]
The album's title comes from a line in the chorus of Bob Dylan's song "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll".[5] James chose the title as it was a bit of advice she gave herself.[2]
Now Ain't the Time for Your Tears was relatively unsuccessful, only peaking at No. 43 on the UK Albums Chart.[6] The singles released from the album also met with moderate to minor success, with "The Nameless One" and "London's Brilliant" peaking at Nos. 34 and 62, respectively.[7] In 1994, Costello's demos for "Puppet Girl", "Basement Kiss" and "We Despise You" were released on his "13 Steps Lead Down" EP.[3]
Upon its release, Sian Pattenden of NME gave a mixed review. She described the album as "fairly proficient, but, more importantly, dull" and added that the "only excuse one can make for this sniffle of an album [is that it] prove[s] beyond doubt Costello has a sense of humour". She added, "It's all about Wendy and her world, which is not enough for ten songs. Wendy has only two emotions: 'irritated' and 'angry'. Unfortunately, she only has one singing style, which seems to be 'trying to resist the urge to shout'."
All songs by Elvis Costello, except where noted.
Additional musicians
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