ting tribute to blues legend Blind Willie John- son is one of the finest I have heard of late. The title track is delivered with apt heart and soul by Lucinda Williams, who also does an excellent, slide guitar backed “Nobody’s Fault But Mine.” Tom Waits brings his absolutely unique
voice to the gospel rave up “The Soul of a Man” and “John The Revelator,” and our friends Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi shine brightly on “Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning.” Susan could sing the phone book and I would love it, and don’t get me started on Derek’s guitar skills. It was a very pleasant surprise to hear Cowboy Junkies de- liver “Jesus is Coming Soon.” I had not heard Margo’s smooth vocals in far too long. One of my ‘90’s favorites. And speaking of favorites, former Lone Justice singer Maria McKee tops that list, and her rendition of “Let Your Light Shine On Me” is as good as it gets, praise the Lord! Another artists I had not heard from in a
while is Sinead O’Connor who sings “Trouble Will Son Be Over.” Good stuff. The Blind Boys of Alabama are as excellent as you’d expect, harmonizing on “Mother’s Children Have a Hard Time,” and Rickie Lee Jones croons “Dark was the Night – Cold was the Ground.” North Mississippi Allstar Luther Dickinson
delivers “Bye and Bye I’m Going to See the King, backed by the Rising Star Fife and Drum Band, and featuring some of his fine slide guitar work. God Don’t Change is, simply stated, a pure
joy. Gospel and blues interwoven into a true roots music celebration.
-Michael Buffalo Smith
Dion New York is My Home (Blue Horizon Records) Boy howdy, has Dion
had a great career so far. With a dozen hits during
the late 1950’s and early ‘60’s, starting with two huge hits in 1961, “Runaround Sue” and “The Wanderer,” and I loved him as a folkie back in the 1960’s, with “Abraham, Martin and John.” His various musical phases and stages have always been great. With his latest blues album, New York is
My Home, coming a mere 55 years after his first album, Dion DiMucci delivers an out- standing blues set that showcases his great voice on songs including “Ace Up Your Sleeve,” “The Apollo King,” the excellent “I’m All Rocked up,” and perhaps the finest track on the record, the title track, “New York is My Home.” You can hear the honesty in that one. Dion has always raved about his love for New York City. The album clocks in at a little over 40 min-
utes and leaves you wanting more. This record begs to be played over and over. It ‘s pleasing to these older ears, but with enough rock and roll passion to keep a smile plas- tered across ones face.
- Michael Buffalo Smith
Foghat Under The Influence (Foghat Records) Say kids, say you like to
rock and roll? Just drop the needle on the latest release from the classic rock band
Foghat, and get your dancin’ shoes to shuf- flin.’ I am honest when I tell you, Under the In-
fluence is one of the best, rockingest records I have heard by Foghat, or by anybody. I mean, dude! From the title track all the way through 12 great songs, it is balls to the wall sonic bombast. Check out Bryan Bassett’s red hot guitar work on “She’s Got a Ring in His Nose!” Not to mention the fact that the lyrics are fantastic. For any of you brothers who have experienced a “ball and chain” relation- ship, you will identify. As if it was planned,
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