"Just Like Jesse James" is a song recorded by American singer and actressCher for her nineteenthalbumHeart of Stone (1989). It was released as the third North American and second Europeansingle in October 1989, byGeffen Records. The song was written byDesmond Child andDiane Warren, and produced by Child. It was a December 1989[1] top-ten hit. The song's title is a reference to legendary Wild West banditJesse James. The title phrase previously appeared inLinda Ronstadt's hit “Poor Poor Pitiful Me”.
"Just Like Jesse James" peaked at No. 8 on theBillboard Hot 100 chart in December 1989,[1] becoming Cher's third top ten single fromHeart of Stone in the US. It reached No. 9 on theBillboardAdult Contemporary chart.[2] The song was released in the UK in December 1989 and settled at No. 11 on theUK Singles Chart in February 1990.[3]
Cher has stated during concert performances that she personally never much liked the song despite its successful chart performance.[4]
AllMusic's Gary Hill later noted that this song isn't like the rest of the songs on the album, and called it an "effectiveballad."[5] The Daily Vault's Mark Millan described it as "country-tinged", adding that Cher "clearly reveled in singing, and although it's very 'wordy,' it recalls the days when Cher had great success in recording songs that told a story like 'Half-Breed', 'Dark Lady,' and 'Gypsies, Tramps And Thieves'."[6] David Giles fromMusic Week commented that it's "a better song thanIf I Could Turn Back Time. This is Cher in her 'no nonsense' frame of mind as she lambasts her man. Forceful and dramatic; another big hit."[7]
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