Soul Junction's Dave Welding makes no bones about his admiration of
Jesse James. Over recent years the label has put out several singles and
an album by the, perhaps, little known veteran outside of rare soul
circles. i.e. SJ508,
SJ511,
SJ543,
SJ544,
SJ546,
SJ552,
SJ1021, and an album in 2012 "Let Me Show You"
SJLP5005. They have another album lined by him of current and recent recordings
titled "Back On Top Again".
Jesse James is James Herbert McClelland from the west coast (Richmond,
CA,) and shouldn't be confused with another artist of the same name from
the east coast who also worked in the 60s and 70s in Philadelphia.
Legend has it that James got his name accidentally at a nightclub he was
performing at in the early 60s when the compere couldn't pronounce his
name and introduced him as Jesse James and the name stuck. He also got
his big break by accident when his aunt just happened to be dating West
Coast blues singer Jimmy McCracklin who, after being persuaded to listen
to James sing, wrote and produced "I Will Go", the B side of his first single on Shirley billed as Jess James &
The Royal Aces who included one Sylvester Stewart (Sly Stone) in its
ranks.
Another four singles would be released on Shirley under his own name
with the last in 1965, "Are You Gonna Leave Me", later being an in-demander on Northern Soul dancefloors and
was reissued by Soul Junction in 2011 (SJ511).
In 1967 he recorded two singles on Hit, the last one, "Believe In Me Baby" (as Jesse James & The Dynamic Four) was picked up by 20th Century
billed as just Jesse James. Two more singles on 20th Century and his
debut self-titled album, another on Hit and one on Uni followed before
he set up his own production and publishing company 'South Richmond
Music' releasing singles on his own labels South Richmond, Zea
(including the deep soul gem "I Need You Baby") and Zay. A return to 20th Century in 1974 for another two singles
produced the sought after double-sider with the modern soul favourite
"If You Want A Love Affair" and another deep soul masterpiece "I Never Meant To Love Her".
One more single materialised in the 70s, "The Same Thing Happens", which his producer at 20th Century, Ron Carson, got placed on the
Happy Fox label's blaxploitation album "Black Fist" and was released as
a single. He released around half a dozen more singles in the 80s all on
different labels.
In 1988 he formed Gunsmoke Records and has released around seven albums,
the last one in 2015. Now 81, he still performs live shows and is
actively writing, producing and recording fresh new material. Soul
Junction has now collated some of his most recent and new recordings to
release "Back On Top Again" on vinyl tomorrow (24 May) and available from
Soul Junction. One for the Southern Soul lovers in particular.
Click on image below for link to where you can buy from.
Click to enlarge
A1 - Back On Top
A2 - Another Love Lay Over (Featuring Shirley Diamond)
A3 - I Lost My Baby On Facebook (Featuring Donnie McKisic)
A4 - Keep It On The Hush Hush
A5 - Get In Touch With Me
B1 - What Happened To The Oo-Wee
B2 - Can I Still Be Your Friend
B3 - I Be A Fool 2 Fool Around On You
B4 - I Put A Clam On That Thang
| Rating: | 8.4 |
| Explicit: | N |
| Genre/Style: | Southern Soul |
| Format: | Album |
| Media: | Vinyl |
| Label: | Soul Junction |
| Cat No: | SJLP 5016 |
| Date: | 24/05/2024 |
| Price: | £24 |
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