James House (singer)

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James House
Birth nameJames Andrew House
Born (1955-03-22) March 22, 1955 (age 69)[1]
OriginSacramento, California, U.S.
GenresCountry
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, acoustic guitar
Years active1983–present
LabelsAtlantic Records, MCA, Epic, Friday, Dream On

James Andrew House (born March 22, 1955) is an American country music artist. Originally a member of a group called the House Band, he recorded a solo rock album in 1983 on Atlantic Records before he began his country music career in 1989 on MCA Records, recording two albums for that label. He later penned singles for Diamond Rio and Dwight Yoakam, before finding another record deal on Epic Records in 1994. That year, he charted two Top 40 singles on the Billboard country chart, including the Top 10 hit "This Is Me Missing You".

Biography[edit]

James House's musical career began in a band called the House Band, which was signed first to Warner Bros. Records and later to Atlantic Records.[2] In addition, House served as vocal coach for Dustin Hoffman on the movie Ishtar.[2] In 1983, House recorded a rock album for Atlantic.[3]

House later moved to Nashville and signed as a solo artist on MCA Nashville in 1989. On that label, he recorded two albums: James House and Hard Times for an Honest Man. The former accounted for "Don't Quit Me Now", a number 25 on the country charts, while the latter produced no Top 40 hits. House wrote seven of the ten songs on his first album.[4]

In 1990, House was slated to be a nominee for the Academy of Country Music Award for New Male Artist of the Year, but he didn't make the final three.[5]

After exiting MCA, he co-wrote "Ain't That Lonely Yet" for Dwight Yoakam and "In a Week or Two" by Diamond Rio, both of which peaked at number 2 on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in the early 1990s. By 1994, House had signed to Epic Records. His first album for that label, Days Gone By, was released that year, producing his highest-charting single in the top 10 "This Is Me Missing You". The album's title track, while not a single, was featured in the soundtrack for the movie The Cowboy Way.[6] In addition, the album featured collaborations with Raul Malo, Trisha Yearwood and Nikki Nelson.

Although House never entered Top 40 on the country music charts again after "This Is Me Missing You", he made an appearance on The Beach Boys' album Stars and Stripes Vol. 1, which featured re-recordings of Beach Boys songs with country music artists. He also continued to write songs for other artists. In late 1997, Martina McBride reached the top of the country charts with "A Broken Wing", which House co-wrote.[7] House also contributed three songs to Steve Holy's debut album Blue Moon. He also co-wrote six songs on Steve Azar's 2009 album Slide On Over Here, on which he also played acoustic guitar, percussion and sang backing vocals.[8] In 2012, House co-wrote The Mavericks' single "Born to Be Blue".[9]

In 2012, House formed the duo Troubadour Kings with John Brannen. Their debut album, Heartache Town, was released in June 2012.[10]

In 2022, MelodicRock Classics released The L.A. Tapes: Classic Rock Years including his 1983 self-titled debut as well as a second disc featuring soundtrack cuts.

Discography[edit]

Albums[edit]

Title Album details Peak positions
US Country US Heat
James House
James House
  • Release date: 1989
  • Label: MCA
Hard Times for an Honest Man
  • Release date: August 17, 1990
  • Label: MCA
Days Gone By
  • Release date: January 17, 1995
  • Label: Epic
48 19
Broken Glass Twisted Steel
  • Release date: April 29, 2014
  • Label: Victor House
James House and the Blues Cowboys
  • Release date: August 3, 2018
  • Label: Victor House
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Extended plays[edit]

Title Album details
Home, Vol. 1
  • Release date: March 3, 2009
  • Label: Dream On

Singles[edit]

As lead artist[edit]

Year Single Peak positions Album
US Country
[1]
CAN Country
[11]
1983 "Steal Your Love Away"[12] James House (Atlantic)
1989 "Don't Quit Me Now" 25 James House (MCA)
"That'll Be the Last Thing" 52 78
"Hard Times for an Honest Man" 48 69 Hard Times for an Honest Man
1990 "Southern Belles" [a] 76
"You Just Get Better All the Time" 60
1994 "A Real Good Way to Wind Up Lonesome" 52 79 Days Gone By
1995 "Little by Little" 25 27
"This Is Me Missing You" 6 10
"Anything for Love" 49 33
1996 "Until You Set Me Free" 90
2009 "I Love You Man"[14] Non-album single
2014 "Every Time It Rains"[15] Broken Glass Twisted Steel
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

As featured artist[edit]

Year Single Peak positions Album
US Country
[1]
CAN Country
[11]
1996 "Little Deuce Coupe"
(The Beach Boys featuring James House)
69 41 Stars and Stripes Vol. 1

Music videos[edit]

Year Video Director
1989 "Hard Times for an Honest Man"[16] Bud Schaetzle
1990 "You Just Get Better All the Time" not available
1994 "A Real Good Way to Wind Up Lonesome"[17] Matti Leshem
1995 "Little by Little"[18]
"This Is Me Missing You"[19] Steven Goldmann
"Anything for Love"[20]
1996 "Little Deuce Coupe" (with The Beach Boys)[21] Jim Yukich
2014 "Every Time It Rains"[22] Marcel

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ "Southern Belles" did not chart on Hot Country Songs, but peaked at No. 10 on Hot Country Radio Breakouts.[13]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 194. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
  2. ^ a b "James House Biography | OLDIES.com". oldies.com. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  3. ^ Orange Coast Magazine. Emmis Communications. September 1987. p. 126. ISSN 0279-0483. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  4. ^ "New Artist Fact File" (PDF). Radio & Records: 70. April 14, 1989.
  5. ^ "ACM Selects Nominees For 25th Annual Awards" (PDF). Billboard. February 3, 1990. pp. 44, 46.
  6. ^ "The Cowboy Way (1994) – Soundtracks – IMDb". imdb.com. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  7. ^ CMT.com : Sam Hogin, Co-Writer of "A Broken Wing," Dies
  8. ^ Slide On Over Here (CD insert). Steve Azar. Ride Records. 2009. 094922 863287.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ "Publishing News : MusicRow – Nashville's Music Industry Publication – News, Songs From Music City". musicrow.com. June 5, 2012. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  10. ^ "Chris Cagle, Jerry Douglas Lead New Releases". Country Music Television. June 26, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  11. ^ a b "James House - Country Singles". RPM. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  12. ^ "Top Single Picks (Pop)" (PDF). Billboard. September 17, 1983. p. 83.
  13. ^ "Hot Country Radio Breakouts" (PDF). Billboard. July 28, 1990. p. 38.
  14. ^ Jacobs, Allen (November 4, 2009). "James House - I Love You Man". Roughstock. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  15. ^ "R&R :: Going For Adds :: Country". Radio & Records. Archived from the original on April 16, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
  16. ^ "CMT : Videos : James House : Hard Times For An Honest Man". Country Music Television. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  17. ^ "CMT : Videos : James House : A Real Good Way To Wind Up Lonesome". Country Music Television. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  18. ^ "CMT : Videos : James House : Little By Little". Country Music Television. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  19. ^ "CMT : Videos : James House : This Is Me Missing You". Country Music Television. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  20. ^ "CMT : Videos : James House : Anything For Love". Country Music Television. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  21. ^ "CMT : Videos : The Beach Boys : Little Deuce Coupe". Country Music Television. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  22. ^ "CMT : Videos : James House : Every Time It Rains". Country Music Television. Retrieved May 30, 2014.