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.
Background
The album was conceived after Wendy James had a chance meeting with Pete Thomas, drummer for Elvis Costello's backing band the Attractions, during her final tour with her band Transvision Vamp.[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 Costello.[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]
Now Ain't the Time for Your Tears was relatively unsuccessful, only peaking at No. 43 on the UK Albums Chart.[12] The singles released from the album also met with moderate to minor success, with "The Nameless One" and "London's Brilliant" peaking on the UK Singles Chart at Nos. 34 and 62, respectively.[13] 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, Siân Pattenden of NME gave a mixed review. She described the album as "fairly proficient, but, more importantly... dull", and said that "the only excuse one can make for this sniffle of an album" is that it shows "Costello has a sense of humour". Pattenden 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'."[9] Ira Robbins of Rolling Stone was also critical, calling Costello's songs "certainly worth listening to" while opining that James "does them no justice."[14]
