Jesse Langford
Band members Related acts
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line up 1 (1964-2015) - Jasse Langford (aka Jesse Lankford) (RIP 2015) -- vocals
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- none known
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Genre: pop Rating: *** (3 stars) Title: We’ll Take Our Last Walk Tonight Company: Crazy Cajun Catalog: CCLP
1035 Country/State: Houston, Texas Grade (cover/record): NM/NM Comments: sealed copy Available: 1 Catalog ID: -- Price: $
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The late Jesse Lankford (aka Jesse Langford) is a perfect example of a talented artist who never broke out beyond regional recognition - in this case Houston, Texas.
His obituary provides a quick snapshot of his life:
"Jesse graduated from Pasadena High in 1960 where he was a gifted left handed pitcher and was well known for a 6 octave amazing voice. He attended Sam Houston State University and was a brother in Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity. Jesse left college in his junior year to pursue his singing career. For many years he was popular and famous in the Houston area for his ability to sing. He performed with some of the musical greats like Kenny Rogers, Mickey Gilley, B.J. Thomas and Roy Head. Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top and Dean Scott said Jesse was the best singer in Houston. He always brought great joy to his many fans with a voice that seemed to have no limits. He retired from his music career in 1990, but continued to sing for his family and friends. Jesse proudly sold cars and trucks at Weisner Buick in Conroe, Texas for 21 years where he could always be counted on for his wit and candor when needed."
As you'd expect, his recording career isn't well documented. The start of a lengthy, if sporadic relationship with record label owner/producer Huey P. Meaux, Lankford's debut came with a single on producer Huey P. Meaux's small Pablo label.
- 1964's "Without Love (There Is Nothing)" b/w "Young Boy" (Pablo catalog number 7011)
Over the next decade that was followed by a string of obscure 45s on a number of labels. The material ranged from pop crooner to Sir Douglas Quintet styled Tex-Mex garage.
- 1964's "Your Tender Words" b/w "Romeo and Juliet" (Cue catalog number 1055)
credited to Jesse Langford & the Symbols - 1965's "How's The World Treating You" b/w "Run Little Joey" (Musicor catalog number MU-1116)
credited to Jesse Lankford - 1966's "My Special Angel" b/w "I'll Play Dumb" (Tribe catalog number 45-8340)
credited to Jesse Langford - 1969's "We'll Take Our Last Walk Tonight" b/w "Where's Your Heart" (Pacemaker catalog number PM-800)
credited to Jesse Lankford - 1970's "What's A Matter Baby" b/w "We'll Take Our Last Walk Tonight" Polydor catalog number PD 2-14025)
credited to Jesse Lankford - 1975's "Take Your Time" b/w "I'll Have To Be With You Again" (Anerican Pla Boy catalog number AP 1984)
A decade and a half into his recording career Lankford saw the release of an album. Unfortunately the release was on Huey P. Meaux's Crazy Cajun imprint. Not only was the album credited to "Jesse Langford", but it was released on Meaux's tax scam label. With production credited to Meaux, 1978's "We’ll Take Our Last Walk Tonight" didn't sound like it had been recorded in 1978. Speculation on my part, but given the track listing included both sides of Langford's1969 single "We'll Take Our Last Walk Tonight" made me think the bulk of this material may had been recorded at roughly the same time - late-'60s and early-'70s. Given his short relationship with Polydor Records, perhaps it reflected material from sessions recorded for the label (which released the single). That would be in keeping with the business plan tax scam operations followed - acquire material as cheaply as possible, including shelved recordings. The ballads "What Might Have Been" and "So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad)" both sounded like they were older performances, perhaps rescued from shelves sessions. As a non-writer Langford's catalog was dependent on outside material which made it interesting to note that most of the ten tunes were credited to fellow Meaux-signed singer/guitarist Gaylon Latimer and his Heather Black band mate Tommy Christian. Exemplified by material like "It's You", "Another Girl" and "What Might Have Been" the album was heavy on country-tinged ballads. Just not a genre that did a lot for me. Far more attractive to my ears were atypical rockers like "Traveling Woman" and "Rainy Day Problem". Equally good were his forays into soul like "What's A Matter Baby" and (best song on the album) "Where's Your Heart". Very inconsistent, but better than many tax scam releases.
"We’ll
Take Our Last Walk Tonight" track listing: 1.) It's You (Gaylan Latimer) - 3:03 rating: ** stars Thank to the prominent pedal steel guitar most of "It's You" was a stark, country-tinged ballad. The shrill backing singers didn't help the song. 2.) Traveling Woman (Gaylan Latimer - Tommy Christian) - 2:59 rating: **** stars Opening up with some nice electric guitar (would like to have known who the player was), "Traveling Woman" was quite commercial. The album's most conventional rocker, the track also gave Langford a chance to stretch out his supposed six octave voice. The mid-song horn arrangement wasn't necessary, but was brief. 3.) What's A Matter Baby (Charles Harrison) - 2:38 rating: **** stars Backed by some punchy horns "What's a Matter Baby" was an awesome slice of blue-eyed soul. The track was also released as the "B" on his 1969 "We'll Take Our Last Walk Tonight" single. Not sure about the writing credit. Timi Yuro released the song as a 1962 single credited to the writing team of Clyde Otis, and Joy Byers. 4.) Another Girl (Gaylan Latimer) - 2:56 rating: *** stars "Another Girl" found Langford returning to an acoustic country-tinged ballad. The song was petty, but not particularly memorable. 5.) We'll Take Our Last Walk Tonight (Doug Sahm) - 2:56 rating: **** stars Langford's cover of The Sir Douglas Quintet's 1965 single "We'll Take Our Last Walk Tonight" had previously been released as a single. Musically his version wasn't all that different than the origina; perhaps a tad slower, but the melody was instantly recognizable. Pulling out one of his most soulful vocals, it was also one of the album highlights.
(side
2) Anyone interested in an acoustic country ballad with some storybook lyrics? 2.) What Might Have Been (Gaylan Latimer) - 2:55 rating: ** stars The ballad "What Might Have Been" sounded older than the rest of the material. If you've listened to some of Langford's earlier singles, this one sounded much like the first couple of pop crooner 45s he recorded. 3.) Rainy Day Problem (Gaylan Latimer - Tommy Christian) - 2:29 rating: **** stars Thankfully "Rainy Day Problem" found Langford returning to a harder rock sound. As exemplified by this one, he was much better when employing his tougher "rock" voice. An arrangement that boasted a great bass line and some tasty fuzz guitar didn't hurt. 4.) So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad) (Bobby Sharp - Gaylan Latimer) - 3:02 rating: *** stars Co-written with former Dawgs partner, "So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad)" was another track that sounded older. At least had some nice soul horns pushing it along. In spite of what the liner notes said, the song was actually written by Don Everly. 5.) Where's Your Heart (Thomas - McRee - Thomas) -1:56 rating: **** stars My pick for the album's best performance, "Where's Your Heart" was a near perfect slice of blue-eyed soul. Only complaint - it was too short.
© Scott R. Blackerby November 2025
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