Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers – I’m Not Your Man

I have to thank deKE for this one. After posting Barney Bantell, he mentioned that this song was on the radio around the same time. Sometimes a song hits hard, loud, and ready to throw its weight around. It is a no-apology bar song, full speed ahead. 

What hooked me up was the opening guitar riff. This was built for FM radio in the late 80s, big guitars, bigger hooks, and just enough power to make you roll the windows down and sing along at a red light. This song isn’t meant to change the world, but just to enjoy yourself. 

The song itself is pure swagger. Conwell doesn’t mince words; he’s telling you upfront that he is a bad boy, and it’s wrapped with a crunchy riff, with the Rumblers behind him turning on the gas. Since it was the 1980s, it was given a polish for that era by Rick Chertoff, the same producer who helped shape The Hooters at the time. 

They went on big tours with acts like Robert Palmer and Stevie Ray Vaughan. And while mainstream fame didn’t happen, this song remains their signature song. The song peaked at #1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks and #74 on the Billboard 100 in 1988. 

I’m Not Your Man

Baby before hang around this old moldy
Mildewy ‘n’ crappy scene holding hands with you
There’s a whole list of things you’re gonna have to do

Jump off the Empire State in a paper sack
Talking lovey-dovey to a camel scare the hump off his back
Get the Queen of England’s golden shoes
Put ’em on your feet and sing the St. Louis blues
Look here

Seven days a week with you is more than I can handle
Seven nights of love and dirty laundry on your floor
Baby, I can see this whole thing heading into trouble
I’m out the door

I’m not your man
‘Cause you’re looking for a hero
Baby, it ain’t me, I’m not your man
I ain’t nothing to hold on to
Baby, I ain’t what you need

It’s easy being here but I’ve got ground to cover
There’s nothing you can do to make me wanna stay
Though I’ve been here awhile don’t think that
I’ve stopped moving, I’m on my way

…

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

29 thoughts on “Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers – I’m Not Your Man”

  2. Pingback: Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers – I’m Not Your Man – MobsterTiger

  5. Deke must have a better memory than mine- Barney Bentall I remember, not this one by name nor sound. Of course, I was largely listening to alt rock then. Not a total winner to me but can see how it might’ve done fine on rock stations then, with those tours might have expected they’d go further

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    1. Oh that guitar riff won me over…I love hearing guitar driven songs around this time…kinda like Jon Butcher…. his song If Wishes Were Horses. It was again the riff.

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      2. Thank you…the one that got me the most excited was the Pete Johnson and Joe Turner one… we both love finding new things…Just like that first version of Summertime you posted…THAT was interesting!

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  8. Well, this was cool to see! They should have really kicked into another gear with this track and album but it happens. It was good to see they did get some chart action with this tune.

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    1. I thought of you when I heard that riff that opens it up…it seems familiar to me and evidently it got played after being #1 on the mainstream rock charts…

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