Day 444 - Darrell Mansfield - That's All Right

444. Darrell Mansfield - That's All Right
from the Album Higher Power
(Maranatha/A&S Records, 1979)

"Possessing a powerful testimony, a killer bluesed soaked voice, freakish harmonica skills and some of the best hair in Jesus Music, Darrell Mansfield has been a rocker, bluesman and evangelist for the better part of 40 years. He has released over 30 albums and played with the best the world has to offer. Through all that one thing has remained the same; Darrell Mansfield 'knows who he believes in, and is persuaded that He is able to keep him…'

After a brief stint with the short lived Jesus Music band, Gentle Faith, Darrell formed The Darrell Mansfield Band and began playing bars, churches and youth camps throughout Southern California. Much heavier musically than his former band, Mansfield's penchant for ZZ Top type blues rock and powerful ministry was gaining a large following. A survivor of suicide (he still has the scars on his wrists as a reminder), Mansfield's passion for the lost has propelled and challenged him to make a difference in the world around him. Humble and sweet-natured off stage, it was always amazing to see the passionate and fierce rocker on stage.

Mansfield’s first solo project is the album in question here and remains one of the truly classic rock releases in the genre. Released at a time when the simplicity of the Jesus Music movement was waning and the CCM genre was being birthed, Higher Power was the perfect transitional album. Legitimate rock numbers with strong production and progressive musical influences are balanced by straight ahead Gospel messages and the consistent 'Second Coming' themes of an earlier time.
…
That’s All Right would be the biggest song from the album and remain a mainstay in Mansfield’s live repertoire to today. A great bluesy number that builds and builds throughout. An apologetic of sorts, the song examines evolution and world religions and throws the post-modernist penchant for relativism back at the opposition. The songs guitar and harmonica work creates a killer bridge and finale. Mansfield would, for several years, peform the song wearing a monkey mask in mockery of the evolutionary theory. He would then throw the mask off (sometimes into the crowd) when he sung the line, 'Not gonna let no scientist make a monkey out of me.' It worked extremely well back in the day.
…
Mansfield would go on to experiment with more blues rock (Get Ready), pop (The Vision) and even heavy metal (Revelation), but his strength and lasting prowess would be the acosutic and traditional blues that would fill the majority of his career. Albums with guitarist Eric Turner and Resurrections Band’s Glenn kaiser are all top notch, but Higher Power would not only remain his finest rock outing, it remains one of the best rock albums the genre has ever produced." (Source: CCM's Greatest Albums)

Here is the original album version of the song: