The Mannish Boys
Lowdown Feelin'
Delta Groove (2008) DGPCD 122



17 tracks, 73 minutes. Highly recommended. Although The Mannish Boys hasn't been a working unit all that long, there is still a wealth of collective experience when you consider how long the individual members have kicked the blues around. Scott Dirks points out in his liner notes that things "started as a one-off studio project." However, Lowdown Feelin' now marks their fourth effort, and like their three previous recordings, it makes for some seriously good listening. Finis Tasby returns to the fold, and although he only delivers three vocals this time around (his fewest to date), he's potent and powerful on Something's Wrong, the broodingly slow Lowdown Feeling and If The Washing Don't Get You, The Rinsing Will. Bobby Jones, a Chicago mainstay, marks his second appearance and tackles the vocal chores on seven numbers including Howlin' Wolf's Chocolate Drop, Big Walter Horton's Need My Baby and a fine Randy Chortkoff original, Searchin' Blues, with searing slide guitar from Paris Slim. Jones is at the peak of his powers, however, on the gritty Dead Letter Blues. As if that's not enough already, Johnny Dyer is back again on Willie Dixon's The Same Thing and Shakey Jake's Good Times. Little Sam Davis also appears on two self-penned items, Fine Lookin' Woman and When I Leave. The stellar guitar duties are handled by Kirk "Eli" Fletcher, Franck "Paris Slim" Goldwasser and the inimitable Kid Ramos - isn't he about due for another solo project? Junior Watson steps in to contribute his skills on a small handful of cuts, including an absolutely devastating guitar break on Dead Letter Blues. Then toss in special guest appearances by Lynwood Slim, Big Al Blake and Fred Kaplan along with the deadly rhythm section of Richard "Big Foot" Innes and Ronnie James Weber, and you've got what could be one of the best records of the year. The Mannish Boys not only hold their ground with the great blues masters of yesteryear, they somehow manage to break new ground with each and every recording they deliver. Lowdown Feelin' ranks as a top-shelf blues effort. But that's no surprise, it's simply what these guys do best.

Delta Groove Productions

© 2008 by Craig Ruskey