THE MANNISH BOYS "LOWDOWN FEELIN" Source: Baltimore Blues Society Date: 06/2008 Writer: Bob Sekinger

With ten official Mannish Boys and ten guests the Boys are the definition of a blues revue. This revue is once again working overtime delivering this blues party with seventeen cuts on the disc. The formula is the same as the last three records, mostly lesser known tunes with a few standards. All conveyed by the assorted comboís of these modern blues masters. The Boys are led by Delta Groove-master producer, vocalist and harpist Randy Chortkoff along with singers Finis Tasby, Bobby Jones and Johnny Dyer to go along with guitarists Kid Ramos, Kirk Fletcher, and Paris Slim Goldwasser, bassists Ronnie James Weber and Tom Leavey with Richard Innes on the drum kit. Guests include Little Sammy Davis (harp/vocals), Lynwood Slim(harp), Al Blake(harp), Fred Scribner(gtr), Junior Watson(gtr) and a horn section of Woody Woodford and Scott Steen. Guest keyboardist Fred Kaplan appears on more cuts than some of the actual Boys. The best known cut here is Willie Dixon's "The Sam Thing," with Dyer on the vocal. "Dead Letter Blues" is given a lush treatment with horns fattening the sound around Watson's licks. Little Walterís "Need My Baby" has Lynwood on the harp and Jones on the vocal. A bit of New Orleans jump is provided with Deacon Johnís "Something's Wrong," with Tasby taking the vocal. Little Sammy provides two ends of the spectrum with the gritty blues of "Fine Lookin' Woman" and the smooth soul-blues of "When I Leave." Chortkoff pens the slide driven "Searchin' Blues" and "Rude Groove," which is dripping with Booker T grease accented with harp intro and outs. The Billy Emerson novelty boogie "The Woodchuck" will set your head and feet to boppin'. The underappreciated Emerson's "Figure Head" is also covered. You gotta love this stuff.