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THE
MANNISH BOYS "THAT REPRESENT MAN"
Source: Blues in Britain
Date: 02/2005
Writer: Mick Rainsford |
If
you like what Smokey Wilson would describe as “real
deal” blues, and if you follow Harmonica Slim’s
advice and walk those “black bottom” blues,
then the three CDs under consideration here will be
essential purchases for you.
The Mannish Boys are Finis Tasby (vocals), Kirk Fletcher
and Frank Goldwasser (guitars), Leon Blue (piano), Ronnie
Weber (bass) and June Core (drums), with a stellar list
of guests comprising Roy Gaines, Johnny Dyer, Mickey
Champion, Paul Oscher and Randy Chortkoff; and with
a line-up like that you can have no doubts that you
are in for a real blues treat.
The set opens with the loping swamp/Jimmy Reed styled
shuffle “Going Crazy Over TV”, which is
accentuated by Chortkoff’s harp, Goldwasser’s
shimmering chords, Fletcher’s Eddie Taylor styled
guitar riffs, all underpinning Tasby’s hard-edged
blues vocals; before moving into a wonderfully downtrodden
rendition of Smokey Smothers’ “Come On Rock
Little Girl”, with it’s pulsing bass lines
and scintillating guitar fills.
Jimmy Nolan’s “You Been Goofin’”
finds Leon Blue taking centre stage, his rocking piano
and deep blues vocals, plus a hard riffing horn section,
adding a strong Jimmy McCracklin influence to the mix;
David “Woody” Woodford’s sax also
adds a broodingly hypnotic feel to Goldwasser and Tasby’s
tough guitar and vocals on a menacing rendition of Mighty
Joe Young’s “Easier Said than Done”;
whilst Roy Gaines’ buzz-saw guitar and hard-hitting
vocals propel the jumping sax-fired R&B of “I
Had A Dream Last Night” in glorious fashion.
Johnny Dyer’s laconic vocals and harp are resplendent
on two Little Walter covers, “Temperature”
and “You’re Sweet”, the latter given
a strong Muddy feel, harp bass and guitar meshing seamlessly
in classic Chi-Town ensemble fashion. “The Eagle
Is Back” is a tough unadulterated blues featuring
the brassy vocals of the great blues chanteuse, Mickey
Champion, whose tough delivery is underpinned by deep
rolling piano and Fletcher’s “chicken-scratch”
guitar; Leon Blue also adding some fine barrelhouse
piano to Goldwasser’s buzzing guitar as they underpin
Tasby’s insistent vocals on Curtis Jones’
“Lonesome Bedroom Blues”.
Paul Oscher’s vicious slide and Tasby’s
declamatory vocals on Oscher’s “Blues And
Trouble”; Chortkoff’s exhilarating harp
on the frantic “I’m A Lover Not A Fighter”;
the vintage BB King feel of the moody “Partin’
Time”, and Fletcher’s wild and strident
licks in stark contrast to Tasby’s mournful vocals
on Jimmy Wilson’s “Strangest Blues”,
are further highlights of a set that has no weaknesses.
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