As a musician I compose and write songs. As a songwriter I am: Ragman Jones. My first recordings were with legendary producer, friend and mentor Bob Lamb. It was a gift, 4 songs on my 24th birthday. I have yet to find the recordings to release! They did exist on some form of digital tape, although they were recorded on 24 track analog tape. The musicians became friends, Bob was on drums, Jimmy Simpson on bass (notably the drummer for UFO) and Brett Wilde on guitar, backing me up as if I were able to play… All while I timidly strummed my acoustic guitar and sang.

After this I recorded a number of Ep’s (still not released) and then, although released as Ragman Jones, became a part of a band (TCP). The albums and an EP recorded with Tom Newman (Tubular’s Bells producer & Virgin Records founder) are not released yet either. one collection of TCP tracks – World on a String, is available on Spotify. TCP core members were Nick ‘Skip’ James, Steve Turner, Ryann Snow & Tom Livemore. Other members of TCP were Spike Barker & Simon Smith with contributions from Jo Hamilton & Carina Round.

All my music is available through most streaming & download services, Spotify, Apple, Amazon, Deezer, Bandcamp, YouTube etc.

Precious Time

This is the primary album associated with Ragman Jones, recorded in 2009/10 — a richly melodic collection of original songs rooted in acoustic/folk-rock and singer-songwriter traditions. The album was co-produced with Brian Bannister and recorded with collaborators at The Old Post Office, Studio, Stretton & Sky Lab Studio, Jewellery Quarter Birmingham.

A mix of personal, poetic lyrics with melodic guitar work and band arrangements. Tracks include songs like Here It Is, She’s a Mocking Bird, The Last Breath, Medicate Me, Beautiful World, and more. Many of which explore love, loss, reflection, and the beauty and confusion of life. The record often blends acoustic storytelling with subtle instrumentation (mandolin, piano, flugelhorn, strings) reflecting a lyrical folk/roots sensibility. This album shows Ragman Jones as a true songwriter, someone who crafts earnest, lived-in songs with emotional depth.

Released April 29, 2010, All songs written by Nicolas C James

Guitar & Vocals – Nicolas C James
Lead Guitars – Steve Turner, Tom Livemore, Richard Austin, Andy Pell & Tariq Quadri
Bass – Simon Smith, Spike Barker & Carlos Sanchez
Drums & Percussion – Ryann Snow
Banjos & Mandolins – The Mandolin Brothers
Backing Vocals – Sarah Barrington, Brian Bannister & Sharon Lewis
Strings – Salene
Rhodes – Steve Turner & Sharon Lewis
Piano – Charlotte James
Fluegelhorn – Aaron Diaz

Produced, recorded, mixed & engineered Brian Bannister & Nicolas C James
Some bass tracks recorded by Tom Livemore & Simon Smith at 1738 wilcox Los Angeles CA
My my my – Recorded at Skylab studios, Birmingham, engineered by Andy Taylor

Cover artwork – Nicolas C James & Cover photo by Paul Ward
All musical & artistic content copyright © 2010 Nicolas C James – All rights reserved

1. Where I Gotta Crawl – 4:05
2. Pick It Up – 2:46
3. If I Could – 3:50
4. High & Low – 3:29
5. I Saw Mary (Sitting in a Tree) – 2:43
6. She’s a Mockingbird – 3:41
7. My My My – 4:02
8. How Long – 2:53
9. Close to a River – 1:32
10. Precious Time – 3:51
11. Medicate Me – 4:11
12. The Last Breath – 4:49
13. My Guiding Light – 2:37
14. Before the Snow – 2:17
15. Beautiful World – 3:38
16. Shoot Me Back Up – 3:34
17. Doodla Do Doo – 2:04
18. Here It Is – 3:29 

World on a String

World on a String is one of Ragman Jones’s official albums, and while earlier work it continues his signature blend of acoustic-led, singer-songwriter material, grounded in folk, roots and melodic storytelling. Recorded essentially as TCP (Steve Turner, Ryann Snow & Tom Livemore) at Bishops Wood House in 2012. (See bands below)

World on a String sits alongside Ragman Jones’s other albums that showcase his consistent voice as a songwriter rather than chasing commercial trends. It provides a cohesive listening experience for fans of acoustic roots music and thoughtful lyrics.Released in August 2012, World on a String captures Ragman Jones’s warm, folk inflected songwriting and organic acoustic production in a ten-track collection that’s both lyrical and grounded; a record for listeners who cherish honest voice and melodic depth. The album reflects Ragman’s skill with melody, lyric and acoustic instrument interplay, with songs that feel personal and direct. Themes often explore identity, relationships and life’s simple but resonant moments, characteristic of his earlier work. Production supports the emotional tone of the songs without heavy studio gloss, keeping the focus on performance and feel.

Released August 10, 2012, All songs written by Nicolas C James/TCP

Guitars & Vocals – Nicolas C James
Lead Guitars – Steve Turner, Tom Livemore
Bass – Tom Livemore & Steve Tuner
Drums & Percussion – Ryann Snow
Keyboards – Steve Turner, Tom Livemore & Nicolas C James

Produced, recorded, mixed & engineered Tom Livemore & TCP

Cover photo by Nicolas C James
All musical & artistic content copyright © 2012 TAX Records/TCP/Nicolas C James – all rights reserved

1. World On a String – 5:32
2. Vera – 6:16
3. Plastikle Magikal – 3:25
4. I Don’t Know Why – 3:31
5. Girl Interrupted – 3:59
6. Cupid – 3:04
7. Dead Man Walking – 4:48
8. Chewing Gum & Rage – 3:39
9. Badbug Strange – 3:36
10. Boy from the Stars – 4:17

Everybody Digs Ragman Jones

A warm, groove-driven collection of folk-blues songs that wears its heart lightly and its craft effortlessly. Everybody Digs Ragman Jones is a loose-limbed, warm-blooded collection of songs that leans into groove, character, and lived-in storytelling. It’s an album that doesn’t chase perfection; it trusts feel, timing, and human presence. Built around acoustic foundations, relaxed rhythms, and melodic hooks that arrive without forcing themselves, the record carries Ragman Jones’s signature blend of folk, blues, and roots songwriting. The songs feel communal, as if they’ve already been played in kitchens, back rooms, and late-night gatherings before ever being recorded. The album’s title Everybody Digs Ragman Jones — evokes a relaxed confidence and an appreciation for Ragman’s craft that feels communal and sincere Unlike highly polished commercial records, this album feels rooted in musicianship and narrative honesty. Its songs don’t chase trends; they instead invite listeners into Ragman’s world of melody, observation, and musical conversation, much like his other albums known on streaming services (Precious Time, World on a String, Me, The Moon & Melody).

Lyrically, the album moves between humour, tenderness, and quiet observation. There’s an ease to it — a sense that nothing is being proved. These are songs that sit comfortably in their own skin, allowing space for listeners to lean in rather than be led. Everybody Digs Ragman Jones isn’t loud about what it is. It simply plays, listens back, and smiles. It captures his early songwriting and performance style in an organic, roots‑infused collection of songs. This mix of shorter tunes and longer, more exploratory pieces suggests an album that balances folk storytelling with extended musical moments, allowing Ragman’s voice and instrumental interplay room to breathe. Everybody Digs Ragman Jones reflects the musical identity Ragman Jones has cultivated across his recordings: with songs that feel conversational, reflective, and grounded in personal experience. A blend of folk, blues, and traditional song forms, evident in titles like “Tom Brown Blues” and “Rainy Night (Ode to Shelby)” While extended tracks such as Between the Sea suggest a willingness to explore atmospheric or improvisational space as part of the album’s flow.

Released April 29, 2014, All songs written by Nicolas C James

Guitars & Vocals – Nicolas C James
Lead Guitars – Steve Turner & Nicolas C James
Bass – Nicolas C James
Drums & Percussion – Ryann Snow
Keyboards – Nicolas C James

Produced, recorded, mixed & engineered Nicolas C James

Cover artwork by Nicolas C James
All musical & artistic content copyright © 2014 Nicolas C James – all rights reserved

1. Roll On By – 03:27
2. Wooden Box – 02:49
3. Round & Round She Spins – 03:56
4. Making Time (Tom Brown Blues) – 04:27
5. Give It to You Freely – 05:14
6. I Feel So Good – 03:30
7. Between the Sea – 13:13
8. Fisher of Men – 03:28
9. My Love – Exts.a – 07:14
10. Thirsty – 04:39
11. With No Witness – 05:21
12. Rainy Night (Ode to Shelby) – 08:36

Me, The Moon & Melody

Me, The Moon & Melody Released May 2, 2023 blends elements of blues, folk, and roots songwriting with an intimate, almost conversational performance style. The tracklist blends fleshed‑out songs with shorter interludes, creating a paced listening experience that feels both reflective and narrative in flow. Lyrics are introspective and poetic, often grounded in mood and observation rather than narrative story arcs. Organic acoustic textures set the foundation. Interludes act as atmospheric pauses, giving the record a meditative, almost cinematic rhythm between full songs.

This isn’t an album driven by commercial gloss; it’s rooted in feeling and voice, with subtle shifts in tempo and dynamics that reflect an artistic sensibility more than a chart‑driven imperative. Me, The Moon & Melody feels like a late‑night conversation; gentle, unhurried, and rich in reflective detail. The title track leads with an evocative sense of longing and lyrical charm, setting the tone for an album that rests comfortably between introspective blues and poetic acoustic songwriting. Interludes serve as breathers that enrich the narrative arc of the record, lending a sense of movement across mood spaces rather than strict genre compartments. Tracks like Sometimes and Move On Up & Out showcase deeper grooves and fuller arrangements, while closer and quieter moments like Finding Out emphasise emotional intimacy. This album will resonate best with listeners who enjoy: singer‑songwriter and folk‑influenced blues poetic lyricism over production flash & music that feels lived‑in and personal It’s not background music — it’s music that invites you to listen closely and linger.

Released May 2, 2023, All songs written by Nicolas C James

All instrumentation & Vocals – Nicolas C James
Cello – Alison Bann

Produced, recorded, mixed & engineered Nicolas C James

Cover artwork by Nicolas C James
All musical & artistic content copyright © 2023 Nicolas C James – all rights reserved

1. Me, The Moon & Melody – 4:02
2. Interlude – 4:23
3. Sometimes – 5:56
4. It’s Love – 2:42
5. Interlude 2 – 0:59
6. Country Walk – 2:37
7. Interlude 3 – 1:41
8. Finding Out – 2:40
9. Move On Up & Out – 6:32

Me, The Sun & Harmony

Me, The Sun & Harmony, release as a counter-part to Me, The Moon & Melody, May 2, 2023, is a contemplative, acoustic-inflected album from Ragman Jones that blends full-length songs with atmospheric interludes to create a musical narrative. Its song titles evoke themes of memory, love, wind, and emotional reflection; painting a picture of quiet introspection and organic performance that’s characteristic of Ragman’s folk-rooted songwriting A thoughtfully arranged collection from singer-songwriter Ragman Jones, Me, The Sun & Harmony weaves melodic storytelling with reflective interludes to create an intimate listening journey of wind-touched emotion and poetic nuance.

The track-list suggests an introspective, narrative mood album with full songs bookended by shorter interludes. Me, The Sun & Harmony specifically, based on its track names and how Ragman Jones’s music is generally categorised: Expect a strong lyric focus with an acoustic centrepiece. Titles like Dreamtime for My Love & Me and That Wind Will Blow suggest atmosphere and emotional contemplation. The presence of multiple interludes gives the album a story thread quality; perhaps moving listeners through different moods or thematic shifts. The inclusion of these spaces is similar to Me, The Moon & Melody, which also used interludes to pace the album. Me, The Sun & Harmony appears to be part of a later phase in Ragman Jones’s creative output; alongside other recorded works from his mature songwriting period. The structure suggests this is a conceptually cohesive album rather than just a collection of singles.

Released May 2, 2023, All songs written by Nicolas C James

All instrumentation & Vocals – Nicolas C James
Cello – Alison Bann

Produced, recorded, mixed & engineered Nicolas C James

Cover artwork by Nicolas C James
All musical & artistic content copyright © 2023 Nicolas C James – all rights reserved

1. Introduction – 05:51
2. No Eye Dear – 04:28
3. Interlude – 02:30
4. That Wind Will Blow – 03:56
5. Interlude 2 – 02:15
6. You May Never Hear – 04:21
7. Mercy, Let Me Be – 03:12
8. Interlude 3 – 01:41
9. Dreamtime for My Love & Me – 03:55

Ragman Jones, Live