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version, Billy Swan’s catchy ‘Lover Please’ provided Clyde McPhatter with a hit in
1962, and ‘Mercy Mercy Mercy’ was written by future Weather Report keyboardist
Joe Zawinul for jazzman Cannonball Adderley, and a hit in 1967. Steve’s version is
a fine guitar instrumental.
It's not often that a history lesson is so informative and entertaining. Well worth
your time and money!
Norman Darwen
Steve Howell & The Mighty Men—Yeah Man—
Out of The Past Music OOTP 0020
Steve; lead vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, is
back with his Mighty Men, Chris Michaels; Guitar,
Dave Hoffpauir; drums and Jason Weinheimer;
keyboards and bass, he also, produced the album.
It was recorded at The Fellowship Hall Little Rock,
Arkansas.
The first of twelve numbers is Blind Lemon
Jefferson’s ‘Long Lonesome Blues’, which
effortlessly spills out from the speakers. The
unhurried, purring, warming and dulcet vocals are entwined with crisply picked
echoing, burring and twanging guitars, supported by a delicately burning organ.
Eddie Hinton’s ‘Yeah Man’, is a delightful, soulful organ and guitar slow burn. J.B.
Hutto’s ‘20% Alcohol’, is advice against over imbibing. This gentle, walking blues
contains slapping drum work and bubbling burning guitar. The Clovers, ‘One Mint
Julep’, is turned into a floating, gossamer instrumental, with a raw rising, twanging
finish.
Originally, a hit for Robert Mitchum (sic, Ed), ‘Little Ole’ Wine Drinker Me’, is stripped
down, into a gently swinging country foot-tapper. Andy Kirk and His Clouds of Joy’s
‘I’m Glad For Your Sake’, is a splendidly lilting and affectingly mournful ballad.
Doo-woppers The Reflection’s ‘Just Like Romeo and Juliet’, is an inviting and gently
swinging hope filled, optimistic love ballad. Julian “Cannonball” Adderley’s ‘Mercy,
Mercy, Mercy’, is a gossamer fine slow instrumental, with gentle rich guitar and organ
blissfully entwining.
Bo Diddley’s ‘Dearest Darling’, is a gently inviting, irresistible, swirling toe-tapper.
Clyde McPhatter’s ‘Lover Please’, is a splendidly sad sing-along lovelorn pleader.
‘Wade In The Water’, is stripped of its classic “Mod” connotations and returned to
its true, meaningful spiritual, gospel home, by Steve and the boys. Splendid!