Steve Howell & the Mighty Men – Yeah Man
Out of the Past Music OOTP 0020
12 songs – 47 minutes
A master finger picking guitarist who fell in love with country blues at age when he first heard Mississippi John Hurt in 1965, Texas native Steve Howell has built his career on breathing new life into the classic music from the past. And he and his Mighty Men continue on their mission with this easy, breezy set.
And there’s a surprise around every corner with his choice of songs, which ranges from gospel and blues standards from the ’20s to rock, doo-wop, Windy City and jazz, too. Steve’s love for jazz, in fact, imprints it into his light-and-steady single-note runs. And his warm, albeit weathered tenor is slightly behind the beat, adding steady swing to the mix, too.
Howell’s veteran lineup include three musicians who were mentored by legendary producer/musician Jim Dickinson and have been playing with Steve for years when not working in other projects. Electric guitarist Chris Michaels and drummer Dave Hoffpauir both got their starts in Shreveport, La., where Chris played bass behind Cab Calloway, Martha & the Vandellas and other touring acts.
Now based out of Little Rock, Ark., as is bassist Jason Weinheimer, Dave worked and recorded with a host of top talent. And Jason, who holds down spots in multiple other bands, operates Fellowship Hall Sound in Little Rock, where this disc was engineered, mixed and mastered. All three provide backing vocals.
Howell gives Blind Lemon Jefferson’s “Long Lonesome Blues” a warm-and-fuzzy update to open. And it slides easily into the soulful cover tune, “Yeah Man,” which was penned by tunesmith Eddie Hinton, best known for his work as lead guitarist in the Memphis Shoals Rhythm Section. Steve turns it into an acoustic burner as it encourages a friend to live life to the fullest and to go after whatever goals he has.
J.B. Hutto’s driving stop-time boogie, “20% Alcohol,” takes on new appeal through Howell’s funky attack and a rock-steady beat. Then he seamlessly turns back the clock to the ’50s for a laid-back, soulfully instrumental version of The Clovers’ monster hit, “One Mint Julep.” The loping, country-flavored “Little Ol’ Wine Drinker Me” — which was a hit for actor Robert Mitchum in 1967 – follows before giving way to a Texas two-step version of “I’m Glad for Your Sake.” It’s an interesting version, considering the tune first appeared in 1937 and was a chart-topper for the Sir Douglas Quartet in 1968.
Howell stays in the ’60s and puts a down-home spin on “Just Like Romeo and Juliet,” a doo-wop crowd pleaser for The Reflections, before delivering an instrumental take on sax player Cannonball Adderley’s “Mercy Mercy Mercy,” which flows steadily from note to note.
Bo Diddley would be surprised with what Steve does with his “Dearest Darling” while keeping his seminal, but slowed rock-steady beat. The tempo turns to two-four time for a sprightly reading of Clyde McPhatter’s “Lover Please” before a reading of the familiar gospel number, “Wade in the Water.” The album closes with a bright, instrumental take on Bob Dylan’s early hit, “Chimes of Freedom.”
Give it a listen and you’ll be saying Yeah Man. It’s familiar, pleasing and mellow, too.
