James Chance and the Contortions (initially known simply as Contortions, a spin-off group is called James White and the Blacks) was a musical group led by saxophonist and vocalist James Chance (20 April 1953 - 18 June 2024), formed in 1977. They were a central act of New York City's downtown no wave music scene in the late 1970s, and were featured on the influential compilation No New York (1978).
Their first recording, credited solely as Contortions, was on the 1978 compilation, No New York, produced by Brian Eno. The following year, two albums were issued almost simultaneously on ZE Records; Buy and Off White under the moniker James White and the Blacks. The same musicians recorded both records, though none are credited on the album cover. The Contortions appeared in Rosa von Praunheim's film Das Todesmagazin in 1979.
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Links to Peel[]
After co-founding Teenage Jesus & The Jerks with flatmate Lydia Lunch, James Chance moved centre-stage with his own Contortions band, as well as with spin-off James White & The Blacks, both of which were also played by Peel.
Festive Fifty Entries[]
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Sessions[]
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Other Shows Played[]
James Chance - Contort Yourself
- Contortions / James Chance & The Contortions
- 20 December 1978: I Can’t Stand Myself (v/a LP – No New York) Antilles
- 04 December 1978: Dish It Out (v/a LP - No New York) Antilles
- 12 February 1980: unknown (trailed at start of show)
- 20 February 1980 (BFBS): Design To Kill (LP - Buy) ZE
- 26 February 1980: My Infatuation (album - Buy) ZE/Island
- 17 November 1982: unknown (trailed at start of show)
- 27 October 1982 (BFBS): Bedroom Athlete (album - Buy) ZE
- 16 September 1984 (BFBS): My Infatuation (album - Buy) ZE
- James White & The Blacks
- 11 June 1979: White Savages (LP - Off White)' (Zee)
- 21 September 1981: Contort Yourself
- 01 November 1981 (BFBS): Tropical Heatwave (album - Off White) ZE
See Also[]
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