Doc’s Juke Joint

What if you could find a singer that can sound like B.B. King, Howlin’ Wolf and Bobby “Blue” Bland? Delta Groove Music has found one and it looks like they are going to keep him around for awhile.  Bobby Jones has been singing the blues since he hit the Chicago Blues scene in 1959.  Fresh out of the Army Bobby hit the Windy City in search of fame, fortune and fun like so many other Louisiana farm boys who were attracted to the new electric sound.  Bobby Jones found success right away as he replaced Junior Wells in the legendary band The Aces, featuring the founders/guitarists Dave and Louis Myers.  Well the story starts out good but like so many Chicago Blues Musician fame doesn’t come to all.

Fortunately for us and for Bobby he was rediscovered in February 2007 and began recording as part of The Mannish Boys.  While recording his 2nd CD with The Mannish Boys, Jones laid down a solid 11 tracks of his own featuring the same musicians that were working on one of 2008′s best releases, The Mannish Boys “Lowdown Feelin.”  The new solo release by singer Bobby Jones is entitled “Comin’ Back Hard”(Delta Groove Music).  Just like the Mannish Boys release of 2008, every track is rock solid.  I could pretty much name them all but my favorite tracks are: Two Headed Woman (Willie Dixon, LP Weaver), Come In Out of The Rain (Tom Leavey), Three Handed Woman (Ben Raleigh, Hilda Taylor) and How Long Will It Last (Ike Turner).

Unfortunately the West Coast based Bobby Jones & The Mannish Boys haven’t hit the East Coast lately.  I keep hoping we see a nice summer tour from Bobby Jones and The Mannish Boys.  I hope someone is listening!!!  In the meantime we have these great releases to listen to.  Greg “Doc” Lefebre  Doc’s Juke Joint

“Lowdown Feelin’” (Delta Groove Music) is the fourth release by The Mannish Boys and quite possibly the best new cd I’ve had the pleasure to listen to so far this year. “Lowdown Feelin” plays out like a compilation of different artists since The Mannish Boys’ sound comes from so many different vocalists. The Mannish Boys’ sound comes from a great mix of older and younger talents that meet in the middle for a blues sound that is real and true to its roots. Every track on “Lowdown Feelin” is a keeper. Chicago Blues veteran Bobby Jones is a welcomed new vocalist addition to the group and he doesn’t disappoint. Jones knocks down the vocals on seven of the albums seventeen tracks, including my favorite song “The Woodchuck.” Finis Tasby, a mainstay in the group performs his serious vocal stylings on just three tracks including the title track. Vocalist Johnny Dyer is also back and performs the lead vocals on two tracks. Frank “Paris Slim” Goldwasser provides the vocals on one track and brings a mean slide guitar to “Searchin’ Blues.” Other guitar work on “Lowdown Feelin” is handled by Kid Ramos, Kirk “Eli” Fletcher, Fred Scribner and Junior Watson. Randy Chortkoff, the co-producer and driving force behind The Mannish Boys, provides lead vocals and harmonica on “Rude Groove” a seven minute plus blues groove. Its all here, slow ones, fast ones and serious down and dirty blues jams. A guest on the cd is legendary singer/harp man Little Sammie Davis. In the early days Sammie played with guitarist Earl Hooker. More recently Davis has been performing with Levon Helm. Little Sammie still has it and he really shines on his two tracks. Other guests on this blues revue include: Lynwood Slim (harp), Al Blake (harp), Fred Kaplan (piano & B-3), Scott Steen (trumpet), David “Woody” Woodford (tenor & baritone sax), Cynthia Manley (background vocals) and Jessica Williams (background vocals). Rounding out the usual fine backing band that makes up The Mannish Boys’ sound is Richard “Big Foot” Innes (drums), Ronnie James Weber (upright & electric bass) and Tom Leavey (electric bass). For a more in depth look at The Mannish Boys I highly recommend Living Blues Magazine‘s Issue #195, which contains a ten page cover story on the band. Run don’t walk to your local record store on this one. Greg “Doc” Lefebre