ENDEIT
James Last
Photo: Sven-Sebastian Sajak, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Bassists · 1929–2015

James Last

German musician (1929-2015)

Born
17 April 1929
Bremen
Died
9 June 2015
Palm Beach Gardens
Country
Germany
Active
1946–
Record labels
Polydor Records
Discography
225 albums

Biography

James Last was a jazz musician who played double bass. James Last was born on 17 April 1929 in Bremen and died on 9 June 2015 in Palm Beach Gardens. The music is usually filed under jazz, easy listening and estrada. Record labels: Polydor Records. The discography here lists 225 albums, from “Die gab’s nur einmal: Großes Sorgenbrecher-Potpourri mit Schlagern der letzten 50 Jahre” (1963) to “James Last Plays James Last” (2015). Honours include Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (1978), Honorary Lock keeper (1983) and Goldene Stimmgabel (1991).

James Last was a German composer and big band leader of the James Last Orchestra. Initially a jazz bassist, his trademark "happy music" made his numerous albums best-sellers in Germany and the United Kingdom, with 65 of his albums reaching the charts in the UK alone. His composition "Happy Heart" became an international success in interpretations by Andy Williams and Petula Clark. Last is reported to have sold an estimated 200 million records worldwide in his lifetime of which 80 million were sold by 1973 and won numerous awards including 200 gold and 14 platinum discs in Germany, the International MIDEM Prize at MIDEM in 1969, and West Germany's highest civilian award, the Bundesverdienstkreuz. His album This Is James Last remained a UK best-seller for 48 weeks, and his song "Games That Lovers Play" has been covered over a hundred times.

Read the full article on Wikipedia ↗ · From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Discography

Studio and live albums

Die gab’s nur einmal: Großes Sorgenbrecher-Potpourri mit Schlagern der letzten 50 Jahre 1963
Die gab’s nur einmal, Folge 2: Schlager von gestern und heute zum Tanzen und Mitsingen 1964
Non Stop Dancing '65 1965
Non Stop Dancing ’65 1965
Christmas Dancing 1966
Classics Up to Date 1966
Concerto per Natale 1966
Hammond à gogo Vol. II 1966
Happy Christmas From James Last 1966
Non Stop Dancing ’66 1966
This Is James Last 1966
Trumpet à gogo 1966
Ännchen von Tharau bittet zum Tanz 1966
Games That Lovers Play 1967
James Last Presents George Walker 1967
Non Stop Dancing '67/2 1967
Non Stop Dancing ’67/2 1967
Sax à gogo 1967
Die Dreigroschenoper: Songs & Szenen 1968
Guitar à gogo 1968
Humba Humba à gogo 1968
James Last à gogo 1968
Käpt’n James bittet zum Tanz 1968
Non Stop Dancing 68 1968
Non Stop Dancing 7 1968
Non Stop Dancing ’68 1968
Piano à gogo 1968
Rock Around With Me! 1968
Sekai Wa Futari No Tameni 1968
Trumpet à gogo 3 1968
Trumpet à gogo Vol. 2 1968
Classics Up to Date, Volume 2 1969
Hair 1969
Happy Lehár 1969
Non Stop Dancing 8 1969
Non Stop Dancing 9 1969
Non Stop Evergreens 1969
Onder Moeders Paraplu 1969
Op klompen 1969
Ännchen von Tharau bittet zum Tanz 2 1969
Around the World 1970
Beachparty 1970
In Scandinavia 1970
Non Stop Dancing 11 1970
With Compliments 1970
Beachparty 2 1971
Happyning 1971
In Concert 1971
James Last Around the World: Russia & Italy 1971
Käpt’n James bittet zum Tanz, Folge 2 1971
Last of Old England 1971
Non Stop Dancing 12 1971
Non Stop Dancing 1972 1971
Non Stop Party 12 1971
Polka-Party 1971
Voodoo-Party 1971
Beachparty 3 1972
Love Must Be the Reason 1972
Non Stop Dancing 1972/2 1972
Polka-Party 2 1972
Russland zwischen Tag und Nacht 1972
Wenn die Elisabeth … 1972
Beachparty 4 1973
Christmas and James Last 1973
Classics 1973
Happy Hammond 1973
Käpt’n James auf allen Meeren 1973
Non Stop Dancing 1973 1973
Non Stop Dancing 1973/2 1973
Non Stop Dancing 1974 1973
Olé 1973
Sing mit James Last 1973
Weihnachten 1973
Beachparty 5 1974
Classics Up to Date, Volume 3 1974
Die schönsten Polkas 1974
Don’t Let the Sun Go Down 1974
In South America 1974
In Wien beim Wein 1974
Melodies and Rhythms 1974
Non Stop Dancing 1974/2 1974
Polka-Party 3 1974
Sing mit 2 1974
Violins in Love 1974
Beachparty 6 1975
In the Mood for Trumpets 1975
Non Stop Dancing 1976 1975
Non Stop Dancing 20: Jubiläums-Ausgabe 1975
Rock Me Gently 1975
Sing mit 3 1975
Tulpen uit Amsterdam 1975
Well Kept Secret 1975
Freut euch des Lebens 1976
Happy Marching 1976
Happy Summer Night 1976
Non Stop Dancing 1976/2 1976
Non Stop Dancing 77 1976
Sing mit 4 1976
Auf last geht’s los 1977
James Last spielt Robert Stolz 1977
Non Stop Dancing 1977/2 1977
Russland Erinnerungen 1977
Western Party 1977
Auf last geht’s los 2 1978
Classics Up to Date 5 1978
New Non Stop Dancing 79 1978
Non Stop Dancing 78 1978
World Hits 1978
Classics for Dreaming 1979
Ein festliches Konzert zur Weihnachtszeit mit James Last 1979
Hereinspaziert zur Polka-Party 1979
James Last and the Rolling Trinity 1979
Jubiläumskonzert 1979
Latin Latin Latin 1979
Paintings 1979
Screen Music Forever 1979
The Non Stop Dancing Sound of the 80’s 1979
Caribbean Nights 1980
Non Stop Dancing 81 1980
Rosen aus dem Süden: James Last spielt Johann Strauss 1980
Seduction 1980
The Four Moods of James Last 1980
Die schönsten Melodien der letzten 100 Jahre 1981
Hansimania 1981
Non Stop Dancing ’82: Hits Around the World 1981
Tango 1981
Ännchen von Tharau bittet zum Träumen 1981
Biscaya 1982
Bluebird 1982
Nimm mich mit, Käpt’n James, auf die Reise 1982
Paradiesvogel 1982
Sing mit: Laß’ die Puppen tanzen 1982
Wir wollen Spass! 1982
Christmas Classics 1983
De Nederlandse Successen 1983
Die größten Songs von The Beatles 1983
Erinnerungen 1983
My Favourite World Hits 1983
Non Stop Dancing ’83: Party Power 1983
Romantic Dreams 1983
Superlast Superparty 1983
Classics Up to Date 6 1984
James Last in Scotland 1984
Non Stop Dancing ’85 1984
Paradiso 1984
Ännchen von Tharau bittet zum Tanz 1984
Leave the Best to Last 1985
Sky Blue 1985
Swing mit 1985
Viva Vivaldi 1985
Deutsche Vita 1986
In Ireland 1986
Plus 1986
Traumschiff-Melodien 1986
Alles hat ein Ende nur die Wurst hat zwei 1987
James Last in Holland 1987
James Last spielt Bach 1987
Romantische Träumereien 1987
Vrolijk Kerstfeest Met James Last 1987
Vrolijk Kerstfeest met James Last 1987
Dance, Dance, Dance 1988
Flute Fiesta 1988
Happy Music 1988
James Last spielt Mozart 1988
Happy Heart 1989
Lieder 1989
Classics by Moonlight 1990
Golden Hearts 1990
Il y a toujours du soleil au-dessus des nuages 1990
In Holland, 2 1990
Um Piano Acima Das Nuvens 1990
Serenaden 1991
In Holland 3 1992
Viva España 1992
Viva España 1992
Frieden: Weihnachten mit James Last und Freunden 1993
Plays Andrew Lloyd Webber 1993
The Russian Album 1993
The Tropical Collection 1993
Christmas Eve 1994
Dein ist mein ganzes Herz 1994
In Harmony 1994
Meine Schönsten Erfolge 1994
The Christmas Album 1994
Weihnachts-Konzert 1994
Wonderful Christmas 1994
Classics by Moonlight, Volume 2 1995
My Soul: Motown’s Best 1995
The Very Best of James Last & His Orchestra 1995
Classics from Russia 1996
For Always: The Best of James Last 1996
Tenderly 1996
The Love Collection 1996
Und Jetzt Alle 1997
Classics Up To Date Volume 1 1998
Classics Up to Date, Volume 8 1998
Classics Up to Date, Volume 9 1998
Country Roads 1998
Manner and Matter 1998
Russland zwischen Tag und Nacht 1998
The Best of Polka Party 1998
Classics Up to Date, Volume 7 1999
Happy Heart 1999
Morgens um sieben ist die Welt noch in Ordnung 1999
Dreaming 2000
Festliche Weihnachtszeit 2000
The Best Christmas 2000
Hammond & Trumpet 2001
James Last plays ABBA 2001
New Party Classics 2002
Sommer Serenade 2003
Das Sonntagskonzert James Last In Berlin 5. Mai 1974 Open Air 2004
Instrumental Magic 2004
Spring Fling 2004
They Call Me Hansi 2004
Music From Across the Way 2005
The Essential James Last in Concert 2006
Back to Back 2011
The America Album 2012
James Last Plays James Last 2015
A Man And A Woman
In Concert
James Last
Käpt'n James Bittet Zum Tanz
Käpt'n James Grüßt Hamburg

Awards

Frequently asked questions

What instrument did James Last play?

James Last is known for playing double bass.

When and where was James Last born?

James Last was born 17 April 1929 in Bremen.

What are James Last's best-known albums?

Albums in our database include Die gab’s nur einmal: Großes Sorgenbrecher-Potpourri mit Schlagern der letzten 50 Jahre (1963), Die gab’s nur einmal, Folge 2: Schlager von gestern und heute zum Tanzen und Mitsingen (1964), Non Stop Dancing '65 (1965), Non Stop Dancing ’65 (1965) and Christmas Dancing (1966).

External links

Data compiled from open sources; see the source links below. Spotted an error? Let us know.