THE MANNISH BOYS "LIVE & IN DEMAND" Source: Blues & Rhythm Date: 11/2005 Writer: Phil Wight

Kid Ramos starts proceedings with a sparky original instrumental titled ‘Kid’s Jump’ then guitarist Goldwasser and vocalist/ harp blower Chortkoff join the band for Willie Dixon’s ‘I’m Ready’. This version is not performed in the usual Muddy Waters style, instead it’s done Slim Harpo fashion, different but it works! Veteran of the Albert, Freddie and B.B. King bands, pianist/ singer Leon Blue is up next with a knock down-drag out reading of Tampa Red’s ‘Sell My Monkey’ with plenty of audience sing along.

Johnny Dyer is next up to the vocal mike: ‘Mannish Boy’ is rendered straight ahead Muddy fashion with Chortkoff on harp, ‘You’re Sweet’ features two choruses of trademark Dyer harp and Goldwasser gets out the slide behind Johnny’s vocal on a red-hot reading of Muddy’s ‘Howling Wolf’.

Main man Finis Tasby follows, kicking off with a cracking version of Jimmy Anderson’s swamp classic ‘Goin’ Crazy Over T.V.’ with Ramos getting that Excello guitar sound spot on. ‘Mystery Train’ is next followed by Freddie King’s ‘It’s Too Bad’ with Goldwasser and Ramos alternating leads on this cut.

Tasby’s take on Jimmy Wilson’s Latin tinged ‘Strangest Blues’ is a real stomper with a whole bunch of deadly guitar playing from Ramos and Goldwasser; followed by Deadric Malone’s slowie ‘As The Years Go Passing By’, not quite surpassing Albert King’s version but running it a close second! ‘Walkin’ And Walkin’ closes proceedings with Leon Blue getting an all too brief piano chorus on this doom-laden tale of woe.

The Mannish Boys as a collective outfit have only been around for a short period but they have already kicked ass at festivals and clubs all over the USA and Europe and I sure hope they make it to the UK. Recordings this good are thin on the ground nowadays, this is the real deal blues played by a bunch of seasoned professionals, long may they continue. This is definitely a CD to get!!