(Modern Electric Chicago Blues) Bobby Jones (feat. The Mannish Boys) - Comin' Back Hard - 2009, MP3, 320 kbps

In February 2007, The Mannish Boys were set to begin production on their third release “Big Plans” in a little studio located in North Hollywood. Accompanying pianist Leon Blue on his drive out from Las Vegas to California was a friend rumored to possess the ability to sing like B.B. King, Howlin’ Wolf, and Bobby “Blue” Bland. As the band went to work and the hours passed by, this mysterious guest patiently waited for his opportunity to reveal his well concealed talents. Later that evening when legendary Chicago blues guitarist Jody Williams arrived he exclaimed as he walked through the door, “Bobby Jones!” and Jones replied, “Jody Williams!” and a star was reborn.
Bobby Jones was raised on a 50-acre farm outside Farmerville, Louisiana and grew up singing gospel music in the church choir. At the age of sixteen he forged documents to pass for twenty in order to join the U.S. Army and escape life on the family farm. After receiving an honorable discharge at his father’s insistence he later relocated to Chicago in 1959, and it was there that his musical career began to materialize. Jones performed in many of the popular clubs of the day on the Southside of Chicago including Pepper’s Lounge, Theresa’s and the Trocadero, but his first big break came when he was asked to replace Junior Wells in the Aces after Wells’ swift departure was motivated by hitting it big with his song “Messin’ With The Kid.”
During the ‘60s and ‘70s Bobby Jones recorded sporadically for various labels in Chicago including Vee-Jay, U.S.A., Expo, Capri, and Lionel, and decades later enjoyed a brief resurgence on the Southern Soul market, changing the spelling of his last name from Jones to Jonz. But true success always seemed to elude him….that is until now. The material featured on “Comin’ Back Hard” was recorded during the very same sessions that produced the critically acclaimed release “Lowdown Feelin’” by The Mannish Boys, only this time the spotlight is focused squarely on Jones.

vocals: Bobby Jones, Finis Tasby (10)
harmonica: Al Blake (3, 6), Randy Chortkoff (4, 10), Lynwood Slim (9)
lead guitar: Kirk 'Eli' Fletcher (1, 8), Kid Ramos (4, 7, 9-11), Junior Watson (5), Frank 'Paris Slim' Goldwasser (2, 8)
rhythm guitar: Kirk 'Eli' Fletcher (2, 8), Frank 'Paris Slim' Goldwasser (1, 4, 8)
piano: Fred Kaplan (1, 3-6)
bass: Tom Leavey (4, 7), Ronnie James Weber (2, 3, 5, 6, 8-11)
drums: Richard 'Bigfoot' Innes
tenor sax: David 'Woody' Woodford (3, 5)
back vocals: Cynthia Manley, Jessica Williams