Back when we first started doing reviews here at www.Mary4Music.com, most of the reviews were from relatively obscure bands. Over the years, although some quite famous people have also discovered us and have sought our help, we still pride ourselves in being a source for the Indie and local bands to get a little press. The bands think this is the greatest thing since amplifiers, but on the other hand, we also enjoy it. The best part of the whole thing is we get to hear music that a lot of the people may never get to hear, and lots of it is good stuff. Such is the case with "BALTIMORE ON TAP", a twelve track CD featuring twelve of Baltimore's best blues bands.

The opening track is an original by AUTOMATIC SLIM & HIS SENSATIONAL BAND.....now there's a catchy name. "DON'T COME KNOCKIN" is a little funky, very bluesy, hot way to open the CD. The vocals are top notch blues and the harp and guitar are great. About midway through the cut there is a harp solo that turns into a guitar solo and the switch was absolutely amazing. I backed this up several times. It was clearly easy to see how this band got it's name. This truly sensational band consists of AUTOMATIC SLIM on vocal and guitar, JACK DIPIETRO on bass, SCOTT STUMP on drums and LAZY LENNY on harp.

"LOVE IN VAIN", by KEENAN WELLS, opens up with one of those sultry sax solos that you swear came out of an old TV show or mystery movie. I immediately pictured "Mr Lucky", or some character being played by Bogart, standing on a dark steamy street corner, wearing a top hat and trench coat, with a cigarette dangling from his lips as the blues is played in the background. This is a classic that sounds like it came from one of the classics. The song is sung just at it should be, with lots of feeling as it tells it's story. This may very well be the best track on the CD - everyone excels simultaneously. I'd love to hear more from this band, which consists of KEENAN WELLS on vocals and guitars, BILL WATSON on sax, WHITE LIGHTNING HOPKINS on bass and JOHN THOMAKOS on drums. If anyone in this band ever reads this, please send me more of your material.

"WHO'S BEEN TALKING", by RUDE DOG'S RHYTHM REVUE is another goodie. This track was very hard to sit still to, but a lot of fun to type along with. Everyone's heard of "letting your fingers do the walking", but to this track, mine were doing the rumba. At just over three minutes long, this track was way too short. In the old days of albums, when the records had sides, this one could be a whole side and I'd love it. This talented bunch include: RUDE DOG, vocals and acoustic guitar; BARRY "B-FUNK" TURNER, drums; CHARLES "REDS" ATKINS, bass; BOB OURLIAN, Fender Rhodes piano; NAMES THOMPSON, congas and percussion.

"CAN'T KILL MY HEART", an original by P J ELLIS and the B-MORE MEN, features some really good, sultry vocals by P. J. Her gospel roots show strong on this track. There's a lot that can be said for the B-MEN also. The band features P. J. ELLIS on vocals, JIMMY SEXTON on guitar, BOB OURLIAN on organ, DAVE EVANS on bass and MIKE KUHL on drums.

"YOU BEEN WARNED", by DETROIT SLIM AND THE CITY SLICKERS, is a slick song about some of my favorite things......Blackjack, Craps, Let It Ride and Caribbean Stud. The singing is very well done and the sax is just right. This was a great little number. The players include: DETROIT SLIM, vocals; PATRICK WELSH, guitar; BOB OURLIAN, organ; GENE MEROS, tenor sax; TOM KOLLARS, trombone; MIKE MARTINEX, alto sax; VINNY HUNTER, bass; JACK DUCHESNE, drums.

"TOO TALL TO MAMBO", is somewhat of an original. It's performed by LARRY DENNIS AND WILD RICE featuring MARK WENNER. The song was written by MARK and the NIGHTHAWKS. It's a no brainer to say that there is some smoking harp on this one, but the guitar work is hot also. This was a mover. WILD RICE consists of LARRY DENNIS on vocals and guitar, MARK WENNER on harp, DON BELLOW on bass and STEVE ONHEISER on drums.

Other tracks not mentioned, simply for the lack of room and time, are: "GOT MY MOJO WORKIN", by JIMMI SEXTON; "FORTY-FOUR", by W.C. SPENCER; "CHARM CITY SWING", by RED JONES; "CAN'T BE JUDGED", by DAVE GOFREED; "MESSIN' WITH ME", by DAVE EVANS; "BORN UNDER A BAD SIGN", by URSALA RICKS featuring TODD MILLER & LUCKY LEE.

Truthfully, picking out just a few songs off of "BALTIMORE ON TAP" was like looking for the heaviest crab on the table, although you know you'll like them all.