THE MANNISH BOYS "LOWDOWN FEELIN" Source: Suncoast Blues Society Date: 09/2008 Writer: Evan Brodsky

With seventeen tracks and no fewer than twenty featured blues artists, this is less a CD and more a Blues Festival! You would not have to be a genius event promoter if you booked The Mannish Boys and stopped right there. This is one of Randy Chortkoff’s Delta Groove Productions, and you cannot go wrong with any I have ever heard (including recent CD’s by Sean Costello and harpmasters Jason Ricci and Mitch Kashmar).

Vocalists include Johnny Dyer, Finis Tasby, Bobby Jones and Little Sammy Davis (all “old-timers”). Each one of them brings a distinct style. Jones sings the most and goes equally well from smooth, to begging, to gritty. Finis Tasby has a higher voice that has that pleading quality. Johnny Dyer has been out in Los Angeles since the ‘50’s.

Many of our “new” generation of blues artists to include the Piazzas and Rick Holmstrom have worked with and appeared with him on his solo CD’s for Black Top and Blind Pig. Dyer is also an excellent harp player, but his Muddy Waters style vocals appear on only two tracks which include Willie Dixon’s “Same Thing”.

A special treat is two tracks featuring vocalist and harmonica player Little Sammy Davis. Both songs are written by him and guitarist Fred Scribner. “Fine Lookin’ Woman” is a classic blues with a distinct “Dust My Broom” feel. “When I Leave” is a cool soul-blues thing with a sweet little country sounding harp on the way out.

It is difficult to go much deeper into such an extensive project. Others appearing include Kid Ramos, Junior Watson, Ronnie James Weber; so many great names, it is hard to read the writing on the liner notes.

Are The Mannish Boys a band or a Blues Revue? It does not matter. This CD gets my highest recommendation. You can put it on any time you want to hear every style of Blues played to perfection.