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Now Ain't the Time for Your Tears is the debut solo album by English singer-songwriter and  vocalist , released on 8 March 1993 by .

The album was conceived after  had a chance meeting with , drummer for Elvis Costello and the Attractions, during 's final tour. After asking Thomas if  might be able to help her with guidance or advice for a possible solo career, Thomas suggested she contact him. The album was then written in its entirety, in one weekend, by Costello, with several tracks co-written by his then-wife, . James told  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."

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. James briefly met Costello at a party after 's  concert on 31 May 1992. Now Ain't the Time for Your Tears was released by , Transvision Vamp's former label, which James signed with as a top priority solo act.

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." 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."

The album's title comes from a line in the chorus of 's song "". James chose the title as it was a bit of advice she gave herself.