THE MANNISH BOYS "BIG PLANS" Source: Real Blues Magazine Date: 11/2007 Writer: A. Grigg

As long as The Mannish Boys are around there’s going to be Hope for the Blues (and Good Music in general).  The first thing that grabs you about this disc is that these guys are having a ball.  Finis Tasby; what can you say – he’s the smoothest vocalist around and the whoopin’ and hollerin’ you can hear in the background (of track #1, “Border Town Blues”) I guess you could call it typical for being in the studio with this crew as everyone’s just rockin’ it out and enjoying each other’s company.  This is mighty fine dancin’ music and just like the previous 2 Mannish Boys albums, the line-up is an Allstar core group augmented by several awesome guests.  Throughout most of the album, we have the killer guitar Triumvirate of Kirk ‘Eli’ Fletcher, Kid Ramos and Frank Goldwasser.  Guests Rick Holmstrom (rhythm guitar 4 tracks) and Jody Williams (lead guitar, 2 tracks) add to first-rate picking.  Richard Innes, that very dependable timekeeper handles all drumming while bass duties are split between 3 of the Best in the West; Larry Taylor, Tom Leavey and Jeff Turmes (who also adds alto sax on one track).  Leon Blue, the L.A. veteran of more than 55 years of clubs & recording handles half the piano duties while Rob Rio hits the keys on 7 tunes. Producer/label owner Randy Chortkoff joins in for vocals on one tune and adds harp on a total of two tunes.  Los Angeles Legend Johnny Dyer contributes vocals to 2 tracks and harmonica to one whilst the very talented Mitch Kashmar blows on 2 songs.  A very special treat for us old-time Blues Lovers is the inclusion of former Chicago resident Bobby Jones as vocalist on 2 tunes.  Bobby was a highly regarded singer in the 1950s Chicago club scene and he fronted The Aces (featuring The Myers brothers) for a period of time.  We can hope that any more veterans of the 1950s/60s Blues scenes that are ‘rediscovered’ in the L.A. area will be given a chance to contribute on future Mannish Boys discs.  Finally, Woody Woodford in his usual creative and soulful fashion handles the tenor/baritone sax playing and horn arrangements.  When you stop to count, it ends up we have vocals from 7 different people so no chance of ‘boredom or sameness’ setting-in (not that it ever would with these voices!).  I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again, it’s such a winning concept to have a large ‘Revue’ of L.A. Blues talents that I wonder why it hasn’t happened with other cities.  (While Robert Spangler has succeeded admirably with Detroit’s Blues Legends we’re still waiting for Chicago, NYC/NJ, Miami, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Kansas City and Houston, to name a few).  Perhaps as The Mannish Boys continue to release killer albums and tear-up Festivals around the World, others will follow the example set.

Anyhow, back to “Border Town Blues” and Finis Tasby’s appealing voice.  Finis Tasby is one of the Very Best Blues singers alive and Kirk Fletcher just burns up the frets with his lightning fast runs – Joyous and joyful opening tune.  “I Can’t Stay Here” gives Frank ‘Paris Slim’ Goldwasser a chance to show off his slide work on a “Rollin’ & Tumblin’” sound alike.  Nice stuff and Frank’s a good singer too.  “I Get So Worried” has Jody Williams delivering a classic T-Bone/Pee Wee Crayton-styled slow Blues and it’s true; Jody Williams is just as deadly in 2007 as he was in 1957.  Beautiful stuff with Rob Rio laying down some fine tinkling.  Jody’s guitar solo is timeless and proof that the Great Blues is still alive!  Bobby Jones sings on “Mary Jane”, a nice medium-tempo dance-friendly number and Jones has a superb voice.  Randy C. adds some nice ‘Reedy harp’ to the tune.   Hopefully, Bobby Jones will come back full-time to The Blues.  Rob Rio contributes a very original “Carpetbagger Blues” to the album and Fletcher’s guitar work is brilliant and works perfectly in tandem with Rio’s rippling piano.  “Just To Be With You” is, of course, one of Muddy’s greatest Chicago classics and having Johnny Dyer sing it is a perfect choice.  No one else could roar it out like Johnny.  And, Johnny blows harp, which is an extra-special treat as Johnny was The Harmonica King of Los Angeles, in many people’s opinions.  Listening to his tone and swooping solo on “Just To Be…” is ample proof and exquisite pleasure and nobody can do Little Walter like Johnny can.  (Maybe we’ll get lucky and see a Johnny Dyer album soon?)  Nice guitar from Mr. Holmstrom also gives this Chicago classic lots of bite.  “Gotta Move” is the Homesick James’ signature tune and perfectly suited to Leon Blue’s down-home vocals.  Kid Ramos chugs along on the baritone guitar while Goldwasser delivers uncanny slide guitar work.  “Why Do Things Happen To Me?” is the old Roy Hawkins classic with Kid R. picking out sweet ‘King-style’ guitar and Woody Woodward lays down a nice baritone bottom.  Once again, Finis shows himself to be the vocalist who can-do-it-all.  Jody Williams returns for “Groan My Blues Away” and shows why he’s a triple threat on guitar, vocals and song writing.  Nice piano from Rio.  Randy Chortkoff stops by for an original tune with “Mine All Mine” and blows some more of that fine acoustic harmonica, while Ramos and Fletcher do a funky interplay thing that’ll have the dance floor full.  Of the remaining 5 tracks, all are excellent, with “California Blues” deserving special mention as everyone gets deep down and Bobby Jones delivers a Powerful Blues Sermon.  So, once again, The Mannish Boys define The Real Blues for us and set a standard for others to follow.  Saying that, 6 Big Bottles of Hadacol for the band with a mission.  May they spread their soul-fixin’ far and wide for years to come.