# James Collins (songwriter)

James Collins is a Canadian songwriter, actor and singer.

## Life and career

Oshawa, Ontario born, James Collins moved to Toronto to pursue a film and music career. As a songwriter, Collins has co-written, with Vancouver-based songwriter Dave Pickell, over 20 Top 40 hits in Canada.
As a singer, Collins has had three Top 40 hits – "Do You Mind If We Talk About Bill", which peaked at Number 31 on the Canadian national BDS Hot Adult Contemporary chart and "Missing You at Christmas (That's All)", peaking at number 17 on the Canadian national BDS AC chart. Two years earlier the original version of "Missing You at Christmas (That's All)" peaked Top 30 nationally. Collins' ballad "Good Enough (To Love)" also peaked at number two on Quebec's provincial ADISQ Le Palmares Top 25 Pop Adult chart. "Good Enough (To Love)" sat at the number two position for four weeks, behind the hit "Bad Day" by Daniel Powter.
In 2003, he and Pickell co-wrote American Idol contestant Vanessa Olivarez's first single "The One", which reached number ten on the Nielsen SoundScan Canadian Singles Sales chart. Collins collaborated with American Idol Season 3 finalist Jon Peter Lewis on the song "It's Christmas." The song peaked at Number 13 on the national Pop Adult chart (BDS) and was featured on the Canadian gold selling Now Christmas 2.
In 2006 Sony-BMG placed Collins' Christmas song, "Missing You at Christmas (That's All)", and a Christmas song he wrote with Melissa Manchester, "My Christmas Song For You" on their Platinum Christmas 3 compilation.
Collins achieved a Number 1 SOCAN award (with Dave Pickell) for story song, "Cyndi Lauper Said No." The song reached No. 1 on Quebec's Top 25 Pop/Rock chart for 5 weeks in 2009.
You can find many of James Collins' television and film credits (including Dream Scenario, Undercover Grandpa, Welcome To Derry, SurrealEstate, Private Eyes, The Listener, My Babysitter's a Vampire Cooking Up Love, Nightmare Alley...etc) on IMDB here... https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1384498/?ref_=fn_all_nme_1
With over 100 songs written or co-written, here's a partial list of Collins' released songs, over the years...
1989 - The Tears I Cry - Carol Medina (Written by James Collins, Carol Medina) # 9 on RPM's Top 40 National Adult Contemporary Chart
1990 - So Good For You - Carol Medina (Written by James Collins) #15 on RPM's National Top 40 Adult Contemporary Chart
1991 - Wait Til My Heart Finds Out - Carol Medina (Written by James Collins & Don Breithaupt) #30 on RPM's National Top 40 Adult Contemporary Chart
1993 - Love Me Just Enough - Carol Medina (Written by James Collins & Don Breithaupt) Extensive Canadian National airplay. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozElyUUXiZU
1993 - And The Song Goes... (Doo Dit) - Carol Medina (Written by James Collins & Don Breithaupt) #24 National Single Sales Chart # 49 National Hit Radio Chart (The Record) #54 RPM's Top 100 Hit Singles Chart / # 16 RPM's Top Adult Contemporary Chart Juno Award Nominee for Best R&B/Soul Recording https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MYG0peWuCA
1994 - I Had A Dream - Carol Medina (Written by James Collins & Don Breithaput) # 32 The Record's National Hit Radio Chart # 16 YTV's Video Hits / Top 40 RPM's Top 100 Singles Chart
1994 / 1995 - Tell Me You Me - Carol Medina (Written by James Collins, Carol Medina & Patti Janetta) #35 The Record's National Hit Single's Chart / # 32 RPM's Top 100 Singles Chart / #9 On National Dance Chart / Released On The Million Selling Dance Mix 95 CD / Released on the 100,000 selling Chris Sheppard's Pirate Radio Sessions III / Released on MC Mario's 50,000 selling Dome Mix CD Quebec. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gj6W09vx_Ec https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPGWK0goazQ
1995 - You Don't Know (Where My Lips Have Been) - Carol Medina (Written by James Collins / Dave Pickell / Carol Medina) # 25 on the National Single Sales chart / # 35 on The Record's Hit Radio chart https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBXfIDvWqP0 Energy Rush Tour live... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lw5wx4UL3o8
1995 - Re-recorded Version of "Wait Till My Heart Finds Out" - Carol Medina & Billy Newton Davis (# 28 on The Record's National Pop Adult Chart / # 78 on RPM's National Hit Radio Chart) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6t-y_4MSq4
1996 - "I'll Just Say Goodnight" - Carol Medina (Written by James Collins & Dave Pickell *Released on the 20,000 selling I'm Coming Out" #51 RPM's Adult Contemporary Chart. compilation - Nationally charted selling Top 100 album) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSVenMvW65g
1996 - "Can I Get Close" - Gavin Hope (Written by James Collins & Dave Pickell) # 12 - The Record National Pop Adult Chart / # 24 on The Record's National CHR chart / # 23 RPM's National Top 100 Singles Chart / # 21 RPM's Top 100 Adult Contemporary Chart. On Quality Record's Slow Jams compilation.
1996 "The Tears I Cry" - Gavin Hope (Written by James Collins & Carol Medina) # 16 - The Record National Pop Adult Chart / # 72 The Record's CHR chart
1997 - "One Day Of Kisses - Carol Medina (Written by James Collins, Dave Pickell & Carol Medina) # 52 on The Record's National CHR chart / # 60 on RPM's National Top 100 Hit Singles Chart / Top 30 RPMs Urban Dance Chart Carol Medina - One Day Of Kisses (Original Radio Mix) - YouTube
1997 - "And The Song Goes...(Doo Dit)" - Code 5 (Written by James Collins & Don Breithaupt) # 24 RPM's National Top 100 Hit Singles Chart / # 37 The Record's National Hit Singles Chart / Top 40 Airplay Switzerland
1997 - "It's Just My Luck" - VIP (Written by James Collins, Dave Pickell & VIP) # 21 The Record's National Hit Singles Chart / # 23 RPM's Top 100 Hit Singles Chart / # 13 RPM"s Dance Chart # 2 Maritimes. National Video Play./ On the 25,000 selling debut album "Do You Think You're Ready.
1998 - "Do You Think You're Ready" - VIP (Written by James Collins & VIP) Top 60 on The Record's Top 75 CHR Chart
1998 - "Michael" - VIP (Written by James Collins & VIP) Extensive Video Play YTV / MuchMore / Playlisted on numerous stations in Canada
1998 - "I Know What You Did" by Code 5 (Written by James Collins & Dave Pickell) Released as a single in Canada and Switzerland. Received national airplay.
1997 - "Since Tomorrow" - The Collins / Pickell Project (Written by James Collins & Dave Pickell) Top 60 onThe Record and Top 50 on RPM's National Adult Contemporary Charts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfKn1rfSBC8
1997 - "It's Ok, It's Alright (I Understand)" - Gavin Hope (Written by James Collins & Dave Pickell) # 22 The Record's National Pop Adult chart / #55 The Record's National CHR Chart / # 25 RPM's Top 100 Hit Singles chart https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2sZ7m6y4Xg
1997 - "Are You Tempting Me" - Carol Medina (Written by James Collins, Dave Pickell & Carol Medina) *Bubbling Under Top 75 Pop Adult Chart The Record (BDS)
1998 - "I Wish You Were Here" - The Collins / Pickell Project (Written by James Collins & Dave Pickell) #42 RPM's Adult Contemporary Chart Top 50 The Record's National Pop Adult Chart / Top 50 Year End Most Played Songs at Pop Adult Radio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RDI_jR4RLY
1999 - "The Ultimate Love Song" - Gavin Hope (Written by James Collins & Dave Pickell) - # 7 The Record's National Pop Adult Chart / # 10 RPM's National Pop Adult Chart https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35NZ85_sWAQ
1999 - "Anything Like Mine" - Gavin Hope (Written by James Collins, Dave Pickell, Gavin Hope & Carol Medina) - #56 The Record's National Pop Adult Chart / # 68 RPM Top 100 Adult Contemporary
1999 - "I Caught You Crying" - Jason Allan (Written by James Collins, Dave Pickell & Jason Allan) # 30 RPM's National Top 100 Adult Contemporary Chart / # 54 The Record's Pop Adult Chart / # 50 RPMs Top 100 Hit Singles Chart
1999 - "If You Don't Know" - Temperance Featuring Lorraine Reid (Written by James Collins & Nick Fiorucci) # 13 RPM's Top 100 CHR Singles / # 72 BDS CHR Chart. / National Top 10 Dance / Best Dance Juno Nominee / MuchMusic Video Award Nomination https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRdi0GG4bPg
1999 - "On A Rainy Day" - Kati Mac (Written by James Collins & Anthony Vanderburgh)
1999 / 2000 - "Since Tomorrow" - Emily Jordan (Written by James Collins & Dave Pickell) Emily covered "Since Tomorrow" after The Collins Pickell Project received a fair amount of airplay with the song. Emily's version did receive some national airplay, including 98.1 CHFI's "Lovers And Other Strangers"
2000 - "As If" - Jason Allan (Written by James Collins, Dave Pickell & Jason Allan) #38 RPM's National CHR Chart. Included on Mucho Mombo compilation
2000 - "Before You Never Call Me Again" - Temperance (Written by James Collins & Dave Pickell) Top 75 Pop Adult chart BDS.
2000 - The Tears I Cry (Chinese Version) by Daniel Chan *Released on Top 5 selling (Hong Kong) Daniel Chan album
2000 - "Frozen In Time" - Jason Allan (Written by James Collins & Anthony Vanderburgh) # 70 RPM's Top 100 Adult Contemporary chart
2002 - "Do You Mind If We Talk About Bill - Collins Pickell /James Collins (Written by James Collins & Dave Pickell) - # 31 The Record's National Hot AC chart / # 49 National CHR chart / # 5 Quebec's Top 100 Correspondent Anglophone Chart / Extensive video play MuchMore / OUTTV
2003 - "The One" - Vanessa Olivarez (Written by James Collins, Dave Pickell & Vanessa Olivarez) # 9 National Single Sales Chart / # 28 The Record National CHR Chart (BDS) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52oXdyp82YA
2003 - "I'm In Love With My Best Friend's Ex (Written by James Collins & Dave Pickell)
2003 - "Good Enough (To Love)" - The Nylons - Bubbling Under Top 50 BDS Pop Adult Chart / Released on The Nylon's album "Play On"
2004 - "As Vain As You" - Vanessa Olivarez (Written by James Collins, Dave Pickell & Vanessa Olivarez) Extensive Canadian Airplay Placed on Sony Music's "Girl's Night Out" compilation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MONt-goHcm4
2004 - "Good Enough (To Love) - James Collins (Written by James Collins & Dave Pickell) # 2 on Quebec's Top 25 Pop Adult chart for 5 weeks / # 6 on Quebec's Top 50 Hit Singles chart / # 5 on The Wave Smooth Jazz station in Hamilton / Extensive airplay in Slovenia
2004 - "Missing You At Christmas - James Collins (Written by James Collins & Brett Rosenberg) Top 30 on Canadian National BDS / Mediabase Pop Adult
2005 - "It's Christmas" - Jon Peter Lewis (Written by James Collins & Jon Peter Lewis) #13 National BDS Top 50 Pop Adult Chart Placed on EMI/Warner's Gold selling Now Christmas 2 / Released on Smooth Jazz compilations in Canada (The Wave 94.7) & various compilations in Germany It's Christmas by Jon Peter Lewis (written by JPL & James Collins) - YouTube
2006 - "Since Tina Moved In" - James Collins (Written by James Collins & Dave Pickell) *National airplay
2006 - "Missing You At Christmas (That's All) Re-recording - James Collins - # 17 National BDS Top 50 Pop Adult Chart / Placed on Sony Music's Platinum III Compilation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xszIKF5Aqo
2006 - "My Christmas Song For You" - Melissa Manchester - #21 National BDS Top 50 Pop Adult Chart / Also placed on Sony Music's Platinum III Compilation as well as Sony's "A Soft Rock Christmas" in the USA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbqHVdZnX2Q
2007 - "Frozen In Time (The New Wedding Song) - James Collins (Written by James Collins & Anthony Vanderburgh) *Top 50 on Quebec's Top 100 Correspondent Anglophone Chart. Millions of views/listens on YouTube. Major airplay on Philippines national HOT FM radio chain. Popular wedding song in the Philippines. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vdhR-iC1E8
2007 - "I Just Can't Wait Till Christmas Time" - James Collins - # 17 National BDS Top 50 BDS Pop Adult Chart
2007 - Spellbound" by Sherrie Lea (Written by James Collins & Nick Fiorucci) Bubbled Under Top 75 Hit Radio Chart BDS (The Record) / Top 10 Dance *Featured in a Degrassi episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TifeTy7jTKw
2007/2008 - "Deeper Into You" by Johnny Hazzard (Written by James Collins, Rob DeBoer and Tony Grace) *Licensed for an episode of "True Blood.
2009 - "Cyndi Lauper Said No" - James Collins (Written by James Collins & Dave Pickell) # 1 on Quebec's Top 25 Pop/Rock Chart for 5 weeks./ Presented a Socan Award for this achievement https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cw6mfaiyxSs
2009 - "Christmas With You" - James Collins (Written by James Collins & Dave Pickell) # 37 on the national Top 50 BDS Adult Contemporary Chart
2012 - "Johnny D" - Caro Medina (Written by James Collins, Dave Pickell & Carol Medina) *Tribute to Johnny Depp
2013 - "Are You Messin' Around" - Carol Medina (Written by James Collins, Dave Pickell & Carol Medina #60 Quebec's Top 100 Anglophone Chart
2015 - "Open Spaces & Gas Stations" - Melissa Manchester (Written by James Collins & Melissa Manchester) Top 150 Quebec's Top Correspondant Anglopone chart.
2018 - "Gentle Road Back Home" - James Collins (Written by James Collins, Thom Bierdz & David Celia) Inspired by the book, "Forgiving Troy" by Thom Bierdz. Ex-Soap Opera star, Thom Bierdz (Young & The Restless) broached James about helping him write a song about his murdered mother at the hands of his younger brother.
Singer, actor collaborate on new single | The Oshawa Express
2018 - "Deeper Into You" by James Collins "Deeper Into You" (from "You Don't Know Dick") by James Collins - YouTube From the Movie "You Don't Know Kick," which James stars in. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Am28P6gKPuo
2019 - "I Saw The Devil" - Carlaw feat. James Collins & Stephanie Bleakley (Written by James Collins, Rob DeBoer & Tony Grace) #18 - Quebec's Top 100 Correspondent Anglohone Chart / Rock 94.9 in Oshawa - Lee Eckley featured as The Best of "Next Generation" for year end 2019
2024 - "Rules" - Carol Medina (Written by James Collins & Tommy Sakari) New single release. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AcX5YAWSI0