wrote about the first time the family played in public. I attended that show with Dickinson’s old friend Stanley Booth: “Dad booked a show as Jim Dickinson and the Hardly Can Play- boys in the summer of 1987.” The opening number, “Redneck, Blue
Collar”, nails the story for every hardworking American--each day is a struggle. “Lazarus” emits a spooky backwater swamp vibe, and when Dickinson sings in his powerful voice “the Sheriff shot Lazarus with a goddamn number 45”, you know he’s not kidding. “All Out Of Blue” stands as a sad, emotive, laid back tune that mentions Ray Charles, Robert Johnson and Jesus Christ. “Hadacol Boogie” sounds like it’s being played in mean barrelhouse in Memphis...or Chicago. Dickin- son introduces “Fraulein” as his favorite song, and it saved his life on several times. “You had to be able to play this song in Texas in 1961. It didn’t matter what kind of gig it was.” “Somewhere Down The Road”, a Chuck Prophet song, is rendered beautifully. A soul- ful thread runs through these songs. Dickin- son covers Gregg Allman’s classic “Midnight Rider” with a gritty and glorious intention en- hanced by Luther’s blistering slide. “Ubangi Stomp” captures Dickinson in all of his Memphis glory as he rivals Jerry Lee Lewis on the piano during this wide-open ver- sion. The final cut, “I Forgot To Remember To Forget”--a Stan Kessler composition--ends this collection on an upbeat, but bittersweet note.
Luther’s liner notes also contain a sad
finality when he wrote: “Dad says he’s ‘...just dead, I’m not gone.’ But the music we “3D” Dickinsons made together is gone from this earth and that’s for damn sure. Without Jim Dickinson present these songs will never be played with the same sense of rock ‘n’ roll re- bellion, ensemble improvisation and family fire.”
Although Jim Dickinson passed away
years ago, this incandescent collection proves his music will always be
alive...and kicking.
-James Calemine
Percy Fairweather & The Storm With the Winters Brothers Band Reign of Blues (Southstar Records) Dennis Winters and
The Winters Brothers
Band have teamed up with Percy Fairweather and the Storm to deliver a smoking hot blues album. There are twelve tracks, twelve good songs, plus a bonus live track. These guys work really well together, as evidenced by this set of tunes. Dennis Winters is in fine voice and Percy is red hot on the guitar. The blues flow smoothly on “Baby Hates to Love Me” and “When You Love Somebody,” two fine openers to an album filled with great songs. “One More Time” rocks the blues in style, and I was especially glad to see the spiritual acap- pella tune “One Fine Day” included. I had seen Dennis Winters sing this at one of the Winters Summer Jams, and loved it. Besides the studio version, there is a bonus track of the song live from 2011 in Plattsburgh, New York. It’s a good one. “Don’t Get Me Started” touches on the
classic Winters Brothers Southern rock sound, and Dennis’ daughter Casey takes lead vocals on “Lesson Learned.” The nearly 9- minute title track, “Reign of Blues,” is another highlight, a slow, heartfelt blues tune that fea- tures some fine guitar playing. Reign of Blues is truly an enjoyable
album that begs to be listened to again and again. Truly the good stuff. Don’t miss it, folks.
-Michael Buffalo Smith
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