Jim Dickinson died in August 2009. His music resonates just as much now as it did when he was alive. His well-known resume includes working with Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Sam Phillips, The Rolling Stones, The Replacements and Ry Cooder to only name a few.
My book–Insured Beyond the Grave–contains one of Dickinson’s final interviews. This music collection retains the same name as Dickinson’s new autobiography. It’s an essential volume in Dickinson’s prestigious discography.
Album notes reveal these ten songs were recorded on June 2, 2006 at the New Daisy Theatre on Beale Street. Two of the tunes–”Ubangi Stomp” and “I Forgot To Remember To Forget” were recorded at the 1983 Beale Street Music Festival. Those tracks feature legendary Sun Records rhythm section band members Roland James, Stan Kessler, Cowboy Jack Clement, Billy Lee Riley and J.M. Van Eaton.
The other songs feature Dickinson’s talented sons, Luther & Cody, from the North Mississippi Allstars. In the liner notes, Luther (who appears in Insured Beyond The Grave Vol. 2) wrote about the first time the family played in public. “Dad booked a show as Jim Dickinson and the Hardly Can Playboys in the summer of 1987.”
The opening number, “Redneck, Blue Collar”, nails the story for every hard working 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. Dickinson 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 soulful thread runs through these songs. Dickinson covers Gregg Allman’s classic “Midnight Rider” with a gritty and glorious intention enhanced 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 version. 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 rebellion, ensemble improvisation and family fire.”
Although Jim Dickinson passed away years ago, this incandescent collection proves his music will always be alive…and kicking.