Vinnie James Stays in ‘Locomotion’ as Opening Act

While trying to find a new record company to give his stalled career a new head of steam, Vinnie James has been having fun doing the “Locomotion” on tour with Carole King.

Playing solo-acoustic, the singer-songwriter from Huntington Beach is the opening act on King’s 12-city national tour, which ends Sunday at the Universal Amphitheatre.

“Vinnie has been doing an encore duet (with King) on ‘Locomotion,’ ” his manager, Jonathan First, said Thursday. “They’re getting along amazing.” Earlier this year, James toured as the opening act for Sade in the Southeast.

James won critical acclaim in 1991 for his debut album, “All American Boy” on RCA Records, but a follow-up has been delayed by business snags. First said James is unhappy with the way RCA promoted his album and is seeking a new label for his next one (scouts from several record companies are expected to be on the lookout at the Universal show).

Last year, James recorded an entire album, “Mojo,” which didn’t find a home. Taking a more lush, adult-contemporary pop approach than on his fiery, folk-rocking debut, he worked with such studio pros as the members of Little Feat, Robbie Blunt (formerly Robert Plant’s guitarist), former Mahavishnu Orchestra violinist Jerry Goodman, and string arranger Paul Buckmaster.

First said that James’ next album will probably combine some of the “Mojo” tracks with new songs James has been writing.