Jesse James
Jesse James, born James Herbert McClelland on October 3, 1943, in El Dorado, Arkansas (or possibly nearby Louisiana), is an American soul singer known for minor R&B hits spanning decades. He relocated to California's Bay Area as a child and began performing in Richmond nightclubs during his late teens while working in a chemical factory, adopting his stage name after a club announcer struggled with his real one.
He started recording in the early 1960s as Jessie James on the Shirley label, later moving to Hit where Sly Stone contributed guitar on some tracks. His breakthrough came in 1967 with "Believe in Me Baby, Pt. 1," reissued by 20th Century Fox, peaking at No. 42 on the Billboard R&B chart and No. 92 on the pop chart.
In 1970 on Uni (via his own Zea label), "Don't Nobody Want to Get Married" hit No. 18 R&B, followed by "I Need You Baby" at No. 47. Other successes included a 1972 cover of "At Last" (No. 25 R&B on Zay) and 1975's "If You Want a Love Affair" (No. 73 R&B on 20th Century). His last chart entry was 1987's "I Can Do Bad By Myself" at No. 61 R&B on TTED.
James released albums like It Takes One to Know One (TTED, as Mr. Jessie James) and multiple on Gunsmoke Records starting in 1988, including I Can Do Bad by Myself (1988), Looking Back (1990), Operator Please Put Me Through (1993), Versatility (1998), It's Not So Bad After All (2006), Get in Touch with Me (2009), Do Not Disturb (2012), and I Lost My Baby on Facebook (2014). He remains active in soul music and is distinct from the Philadelphia songwriter of the same name.
Looking Back
Written-By – Bradford Craig, H.B. Barnum, Ron Carson 3:38
A2 I Don't Want It To End
Written-By – Sam Dees 2:53
A3 Don't Take Away Your Love
Written-By – Sam Dees 3:01
A4 I Never Meant To Love Her
Written-By – Ron Carson, Terri McFadden 3:38
B1 More Than A Friend Of Mine
Written-By – Sam Dees 3:09
B2 Love Vibes
Written-By – Scales, Griffin 5:07
B3 At Last
Written-By – Warren, Gordon 3:22
B4 You Ought To Be Here With Me
Written-By – James Bluminberg, Lee Charles 3:14
Label: Gunsmoke – SMO-002
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1990
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Southern Soul
Jesse James’ 1990 album Looking Back is a cornerstone of his discography, particularly noted for its contribution to the Southern Soul and R&B genres during the early 1990s.
The album is characterized by a "deep soul" sound, often compared to the work produced by the Malaco Records roster. It features a blend of gritty mid-tempo tracks and heartfelt ballads, often accompanied by classic soul-style monologues.
Standout Tracks:
"I Can Do Bad By Myself": One of James’ most famous hits, which became an anthem in the Southern Soul circuit and was later the inspiration for a Tyler Perry play and film.
"Looking Back": The title track, which sets a nostalgic tone for the record.
"I Got a Problem": A track noted for its emotional depth and traditional R&B arrangements.
Reviews often highlight the album as a defense against the claim that "authentic" Southern soul was dead in the 1990s. It is praised for its "soul as it was and soul as it should be".
James is frequently commended for his "rough-edged yet smooth" vocal delivery, which carries the emotional weight required for his storytelling-heavy songs.
While Jesse James remained a cult figure in mainstream pop, this album solidified his status as a legend in the "Chitlin' Circuit," where he continued to be a top performer for decades.
For those interested in exploring his more recent work, he released "Back On Top Again" in 2024 via Soul Junction Records, which continues his legacy of classic Southern Soul.