Jessie James Finds Her Way Home with New Label, Single and Album

Back in August of 2010 I did a post on country pop singer Jessie James. The post was mostly centered around how the Italian born, Georgia-bread young singer was unhappy with the direction her label at the time (Mercury) was pushing her in.  Seems like the label was wanting James to go in a more pop direction, when James herself considered herself more of a country girl.  At the time, James Tweeted her love to fans and promised that new music was on the horizon.

"I know things are confusing right now...but some really big changes are happening right now for me. Music is still coming out."

"I'm a southern girl from Georgia and Louisiana and it's been tuff wearing this mask and pretending...I'm ready to take it off. I love you."

"Just not as soon as we thought...but I'm very happy about the changes....In the words of Alan Jackson, 'Gone Country, back to her roots.'"

 At the time of this Twitter rant, James had just released a new single (supposedly off of her sophomore album) called "Boys In The Summer."  The single was in the same country pop style that defined her self titled debut album, released back in August of 2009.  James' debut featured her only real hit to date, "Wanted," which peaked at #40 on the Billboard Hot 100.  The album itself also did modestly well, peaking at #23 on the Billboard 200 chart.  Follow up singles "I Look So Good (Without You)" and "My Cowboy" failed to chart altogether, leading, I'm sure, to more than a little frustration on James' part.  When "Boys In The Summer" came out in late June/early July, it was another chart failure, save for a #58 peak on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.  James also released a video for a song called "Dear John" in September but the song wasn't made available to download as a single.  Clearly, this country pop route wasn't doing her any favors so it was time for her and her label to agree on a new direction.

While James looks like a Top 40 pop star, her Southern roots, gentle twang - hell, even her name begged to differ!  Jessie James? Come on! If that name doesn't scream "COUNTRY MUSIC STAR" I don't know what would.  David Massey at Mercury saw the writing on the wall and reached out to his colleague Mark Wright, President of Show Dog/Universal Music, to see if he could help make James a country superstar.  Lucky for Massey and James, Wright remembered James from an early demo he had heard and jumped at the chance to work with the young singer.  According to Wright on allaccess.com:

"I remember hearing a demo on Jessie a few years ago and being very impressed with what a big voice she had for such a young girl. I followed up, only to find that Mercury in New York had signed her."

I'm beyond thrilled that James is now singing in her comfort zone.  It's awesome that she was able to speak up and even more awesome that her label didn't drop her for being "difficult."  I can't even imagine how many artists out there are singing whatever they're told, thanking their lucky stars that they even have a deal with a major label.  James is currently at work on her new album, entitled Sweet American Dreams.  Her new single, "When You Say My Name," just came out on January 31st and was produced by Mark Wright.  According to James on allaccess.com:

"It was an honor to work with such a legend like Mark Wright. Everything came together so easily and so natural with him. He is such a fun guy and we had a blast making this record."

Looks like Jessie James is finally at home. Download "When You Say My Name" on U.S. iTunes HERE and watch the Kristin Barlowe-directed video below.  The video is super cutesy (like most country videos) and features a flawless-looking James prancing around in short shorts, hanging from the neck of a gorgeous southern gentleman. Nothing flashy, just lighthearted and sweet - much like Jessie James herself (as I'd imagine her to be, anyway).

Check out Jessie James on the web:

Official Site//MySpace//Facebook//Twitter//VEVO

Country/Pop Singer Jessie James Goin' 'Back To Her Roots', Tweets Her Frustrations

Looks like I'm not the only one confused by singer/songwriter Jessie James' musical identity crisis. The country/pop sweet heart from Georgia took to her Twitter last Thursday, venting frustations about her forthcoming second album, Daughter of a Gypsy, due for release on September 28th.  The singer tweeted three messages in ALL CAPS, mentioning that "music is still coming out..."

The Italian-born/Georgia-bread singer released the first single, "Boys In The Summer" off of 'Gypsy' at the end of June, where it stalled at #116 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at #58 on the Billboard Country chart.  Not exactly an amazing showing but previous singles didn't really chart much higher. Her debut single, "Wanted" only peaked at #40 on the Billboard Hot 100 while her self titled debut album managed to make it all the way up to #23 on the Billboard 200.  She's had MODERATE mainstream success I'd say, which is more than some up and coming artists can say.

I'm not really sure what she's alluding to when she Tweeted, "I know things are confusing right now." Did a story break that I somehow missed? Did she leave her label, Mercury Records? What's going on behind the scenes? From the looks of things, James was at the mercy of her record label, like many young artists, putting out mainstream, radio friendly music that would do well across multiple formats.  With the chart failure of "Boys In The Summer" perhaps she's ready to quit straddling that country/pop line and jump head first into country.  It'll be interesting to see what "big changes" she's referring to, but whatever it is I wish her the best.  She's a beautiful, talented young singer who hasn't even come close to peaking.

Check out Jessie James on the web:

Official Site//MySpace//Facebook//Twitter//YouTube

Hot Video Alert: Jessie James - Boys In The Summer

Is Jessie James pop or is she country?   I've heard of country artists transitioning into pop (i.e. - Faith Hill, Leann Rimes,) and even the other way around (i.e. - Jessica Simpson, Jewel) but I don't know if I've heard of a brand new artist straddling the pop/country line so early on in their career. Usually an artist establishes his or herself in one genre of music before crossing over into another, but Jessie James has embraced both from the get go.

I don't think there's anything wrong with this. She's a talented and beautiful girl but, I swear, when I first heard her single "Wanted" I thought 'WHO is this new pop star?' Follow up single "I Look So Good (Without You)" had a strong POP BALLAD vibe (it was even co-penned by hitmaker Rodney Jerkins!) THEN with the release of her third single, "My Cowboy" she was drifting back to country.  Granted, all of her singles have had elements of country, whether it be instrumental or in her delivery so I guess it's no big surprise that her new single "Boys In The Summer" is decidedly more country than pop.

While James' debut single "Wanted" peaked at #40 on Billboard's Hot 100 (not to mention #18 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play Chart), follow up single "I Look So Good (Without You)" only managed to peak at #104 (although it did hit #4 on Billboard's Bubbling Under chart).  Due out June 29th, "Boys In The Summer,"  is the first single off her as of yet untitled second album, released through Mercury Records.  The song was produced by John Fields and co-written by James herself.  The OFFICIAL single mix is a pop mix, due to impact Top 40 Radio at the end of June as well as the country mix (which has already been released).  Roman White directed the video, which is playful and summery.  James is GORGEOUS in it. Kind of like a country-singer version of Megan Fox.

Check out Jessie James on the web:

Official Site//MySpace//Facebook//Twitter//YouTube