Doc’s Juke Joint

“Lowdown Feelin’” (Delta Groove Music) is the fourth release by The Mannish Boys and quite possibly the best new cd I’ve had the pleasure to listen to so far this year. “Lowdown Feelin” plays out like a compilation of different artists since The Mannish Boys’ sound comes from so many different vocalists. The Mannish Boys’ sound comes from a great mix of older and younger talents that meet in the middle for a blues sound that is real and true to its roots. Every track on “Lowdown Feelin” is a keeper. Chicago Blues veteran Bobby Jones is a welcomed new vocalist addition to the group and he doesn’t disappoint. Jones knocks down the vocals on seven of the albums seventeen tracks, including my favorite song “The Woodchuck.” Finis Tasby, a mainstay in the group performs his serious vocal stylings on just three tracks including the title track. Vocalist Johnny Dyer is also back and performs the lead vocals on two tracks. Frank “Paris Slim” Goldwasser provides the vocals on one track and brings a mean slide guitar to “Searchin’ Blues.” Other guitar work on “Lowdown Feelin” is handled by Kid Ramos, Kirk “Eli” Fletcher, Fred Scribner and Junior Watson. Randy Chortkoff, the co-producer and driving force behind The Mannish Boys, provides lead vocals and harmonica on “Rude Groove” a seven minute plus blues groove. Its all here, slow ones, fast ones and serious down and dirty blues jams. A guest on the cd is legendary singer/harp man Little Sammie Davis. In the early days Sammie played with guitarist Earl Hooker. More recently Davis has been performing with Levon Helm. Little Sammie still has it and he really shines on his two tracks. Other guests on this blues revue include: Lynwood Slim (harp), Al Blake (harp), Fred Kaplan (piano & B-3), Scott Steen (trumpet), David “Woody” Woodford (tenor & baritone sax), Cynthia Manley (background vocals) and Jessica Williams (background vocals). Rounding out the usual fine backing band that makes up The Mannish Boys’ sound is Richard “Big Foot” Innes (drums), Ronnie James Weber (upright & electric bass) and Tom Leavey (electric bass). For a more in depth look at The Mannish Boys I highly recommend Living Blues Magazine’s Issue #195, which contains a ten page cover story on the band. Run don’t walk to your local record store on this one. Greg “Doc” Lefebre