THE MANNISH BOYS "LOWDOWN FEELIN" Source: Elmore Magazine Date: 07/2008 Writer: Jim Hynes

The Mannish Boys are today’s reigning blues supergroup, a stunning collection of talent that tackles almost every style of the blues. For this, their fourth release, they bring aboard Chicago blues vocalist Bobby Jones, who handles lead on six of the 17 tracks, and Little Sammy Davis of the Levon Helm Band, who delivers harp and vocals on two self-penned tunes. Additionally, label-mates Paris Slim (guitar/vocals), Lynwood Slim (harp), Fats Kaplan (keys), Al Blake (harp) and producer Randy Chortkoff (harp, vocals) all contribute to this album, as do West Coast guitarist Junior Watson and Davis’ guitarist Fred Scribner. Core vocalists Finis Tasby and Johnny Dyer and guitarists Kid Ramos and Kirk“Eli” Fletcher are backed by bassists Ronnie James Weber and Tom Leavey and drummer Richard “Big Foot” Innes, the only one who can lay claim to every single track. The lengthy effort (just shy of 73 minutes) begins with a strange Mariachi introduction that quickly segues into 12-bar blues for “These Kind of Blues,” featuring Jones, Kaplan, and Chortkoff. “Searchin’ Blues” with Paris Slim on slide is a Robert Johnson “Walkin’ Blues” derivative. The Texas blues title track is reminiscent of T-Bone Walker’s “Cold, Cold Feeling.”“Chocolate Drop” is a nod to Howlin’ Wolf, and they also cover Willie Dixon’s “Same Thing,” Willie Cobb’s “You Don’t Love Me,” and Walter Horton’s “Need My Baby.” The major highlights are the originals: Davis’“Fine Looking Woman” and “When I Leave” and Chortkoff’s B3-fueled “Rude Groove.” Other standouts include Dyer, Blake and Watson on “Good Times” and the Big Joe Turner-styled vocal of Bobby Jones on the horn-laden closer “Dead Letter Blues.” Dig in and enjoy this rich, hearty bowl of blues stew.