Like many people, Colin James becomes a fan the closer the play offs get. He was born in Saskatchewan. "I'm from Saskatchewan so I am a Saskatchewan fan."

But. "They went out, so I became a B.C. fan."

But. "They went out. Now I don't know..."

James will be at the Commodore, Friday, headlining the weekend's Party on the Pacific, a celebration of the Grey Cup festivities. There will be some football talk as "I've met Bob Ackles and his son; they've always been good to me," and James is glad that the CFL has made a comeback, "I know there are people who prefer to watch American football, but I can't get behind it," but not a lot.

"This is a show like any other show."

For Vancouver, the Commodore date will be the first taste of some of the songs from Limelight, James 10th LP, which was released in September. He begins a 20 date Canadian tour in Victoria, January 19, taking a band of Doug Elliott, Craig Northey, Simon Kendall, Geoff Hicks and a two man horn section with. Colin Linden, who produced Limelight, will open and, James, believes, will sit in on a few numbers, which will add to the flexibility and authenticity of the live show.

"It's funny," James comments. "When a new record is out you try to make the live show as representative as possible. You want it to be like the record but you can't always."

For instance, the guitarist explains, Limelight features acoustic guitar prominently. In concert, James can't switch from acoustic to electric for a solo, but having Linden means having another electric guitarist to fill that role.

Much of Limelight was recorded between Nashville, where Linden is based, and the Warehouse in Vancouver. Most of the songs came from collaborations with Craig Northey, who has become a valuable utility man since departing from Odds and has written with Rob Baker of Tragically Hip as Stripper's Union, and Tom Wilson, who works with Linden in Blackie and the Rodeo Kings. There also are covers by Bob Dylan, Nick Lowe and Van Morrison. Morrison's brand of what he called "Caledonia soul" is the biggest influence on the sound of Limelight. It has that kind of light but authentic R&B feel.

"The horns thread everything together," James says, admitting that there hasn't been a great opportunity to road test the album, though "Far Away Like A Radio," (the first single) "Limelight," "Watching The River Flow," "Shadow Of Love," "Into The Mystic," and "Better Way To Heaven (the new single) are working out.

"I have found over the years that when I do more contemporary material I stay away from the Little Big Band stuff. This is a reference to James' well-received two albums of post war rhythm and blues. They arguably are the easiest records the exacting James has made and his biggest successes. Yet they've also confused his identity as much as they've shown his range and knowledge. James wants balance between the old and new. Nonetheless, he is contemplating a third Little Big Band album.