Bobby Jones - You Ain’t Got No Proof

Desest Sounds Records

www.cdbaby.com/cd/jonesbobby

12 tracks

Most of you have lately heard Bobby Jones and his great work with the Mannish Boys over at Delta Groove. What we have here is the Southern soul singer returning to his roots. This is a smooth and suave set of tunes, done in a sort of sexy, juiced up, R-rated way. Bobby gets it on, wants to, or talks about how he used get in on in most of these cuts that get into relationships, both good and bad. There is a South meets North sound to the CD, with a lot of retro Philly and Detroit R&B and soul sound to it. It is not the blues he’s released with Delta Groove here- this is soul music done by a guy who has his funk, feeling and groove on.

The lyrics range from getting a restraining order from his sister who ran away with his wife, being conned by a hooker whom he thought just had the hots for him, and the title track where he boldly states his woman ain’t got know proof that he’s been cheatin’ on her. These are deep, soulful, fun songs, done up by a man who seems to have been there and done that.

The title track opens the CD and it is a funky an grooving song that also gets reprised as an instrumental (with only female background vocals on the response lines). It’s a great cut; the instrumental could have been left out, but the title track really sets the table for a fine soul CD. He sings and coos about how “This Is Your Night” where it’s his woman’s birthday and how he’s gonna treat her right. “Little Sally Walker” is the track about his “friend” that costs him $200; even though he was conned he seemed to think she was worth it. He gets down and bemoans the end of a relationship in “Stick a Fork in Me”; every track here drips collard greens, corn bread and Southern soul done up with a little bit of that Nawthun and brassy sound. “Wife and Sister” closes the CD, and one has to wonder what the source for this one was. His sister and wife are lovers who run off to Georgia, get a restraining order against him.

From top to bottom this is not a CD for the family, but it is grown up, cool, fun and interesting. Bobby’s a great artist- he lays down track after track of original tunes that were sometimes sad, sometimes a little funny, and sometimes both. His singing is smooth and he makes you believe and feel what he feels. Blues fans who are soul music lovers will eat this CD up. I thoroughly enjoyed it!