Jimmy James (song)


"Jimmy James" is the first song and third single from Beastie Boys' third album Check Your Head. The song has been described as a tribute to Jimi Hendrix by Beastie Boys member MCA, and contains samples from several Hendrix songs including "Foxy Lady", "Happy Birthday", and "Still Raining, Still Dreaming". The song also samples the drum beat from "I'm Chief Kamanawanalea " by The Turtles, as well as a line from Mantronix's 1985 single, "Fresh Is the Word".

Song information

"Jimmy James" originally started out as an instrumental track with scratching done by Yauch. Later on, lyrics were written and the other two Beastie Boys, Mike "Mike D" Diamond and Adam "King Adrock" Horovitz, asked to lend their vocals to the song along with Yauch.
However, Hendrix's family, who own the rights to most of his catalogue, denied the group clearance to use the samples. Determined to keep the song on Check Your Head, the group re-recorded "Jimmy James" using samples similar to the Hendrix ones. This version ended up being released as the first track on the album.
A few months after Check Your Head was released, Hendrix's family finally relented and gave the Beastie Boys clearance to use the samples. As a result, the "single version" of "Jimmy James" was released as the third single from Check Your Head, and a music video was made for it which premiered in August 1992.
The original version has since been issued on their compilation album . The beginning of the album version of the track is a sample from the live version of "Surrender" by Cheap Trick from their live album Cheap Trick at Budokan.

Music video

and VH1 credit the "Jimmy James" music video to Nathanial Hörnblowér, Adam Yauch's director alter ego. However, on the Beastie Boys' Sabotage VHS tape released in 1994, the "Jimmy James" music video is listed as being co-directed by Yauch and Lisa Ann Cabasa, an actress, and Yauch's girlfriend at the time the video was made. Cabasa directed the dance sequences in the music video and also appeared in the video as one of the silhouetted female dancers.

Formats and track listing

; U.S. CD single
  1. "Jimmy James" – 3:05
  2. "The Maestro" – 2:52
  3. "Jimmy James" – 3:14
  4. "Boomin' Granny" – 2:18
  5. "Jimmy James" – 3:42
  6. "Drinkin' Wine" – 4:42
; European CD single
  1. "Jimmy James" – 3:05
  2. "Jimmy James" – 3:14
  3. "Jimmy James" – 3:42
  4. "The Maestro" – 2:52
; UK CD single Frozen Metal Head EP
  1. "Jimmy James" – 3:05
  2. "The Blue Nun" – 0:31
  3. "Jimmy James" – 3:42
  4. "Drinkin' Wine" – 4:42
; U.S. 12-inch single
; European 12-inch single
; UK 12-inch single Frozen Metal Head EP

In popular culture

The name of the character Jimmy James played by Stephen Root on the television series NewsRadio came from this song.

Personnel

; Beastie Boys
; Production
; Other personnel
In the UK, the song charted as a part of the EP Frozen Metal Head.
Chart Peak
position
UK Singles Chart55