The genius of More Dirty Laundry: The Soul of Black Country resides in defying musical prejudices. This 24-song collection obliterates any stereotypes. More Dirty Laundry features black R&B artists recording country songs.
Many of these R&B musicians admit country radio influenced them growing up. In some ways, the poor blues musicians identified with downtrodden country songwriters. Sometimes they played the same parties. It is amazing to hear how these R&B luminaries incorporated blues, gospel and soul into country tunes. R&B great Johnny Adams always included country songs on his albums. His version of “Hell Yes I Cheated” sounds like an original soul song. Lou Johnson’s cover of George Jones’ “She Thinks I Still Care” soars. Margie Johnson covered Dolly Parton’s “Touch Your Woman” when Jerry Wexler still worked at Atlantic Records.
Joe Tex, synonymous with southern soul, once said, “My recipe for a crossover hit? I always used one half soul musicians, and the other half country musicians.” Tex’s version of “Trying to Win Your Love” could be branded country-funk. His version of Roger Miller’s “King of the Road” also appears on More Dirty Laundry.
Arthur Alexander wrote songs with Donnie Fritts, Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham. A gifted songwriter, Alexander was from Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and his version of “Everyday I Have to Cry” indicates why Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones and The Beatles covered his songs.
My favorite tune on this compilation is an inimitable composition written by Ike Turner. Turner represents a R&B master, but this song verifies his strong grasp of country music. Ike and Tina Turner singing “Don’t Believe Nothing” alone pays for this album.
The country legend Bob Wills gave the hard luck soul-man Stoney Edwards an opportunity to serve as Wills’ opening act. Edwards’ songs always found their way into the country charts. His version of “Honky Tonk Heaven” transcends any musical category. Bobby Womack nails Jim White’s “Point of No Return”. Womack once said: “Country and Western is my roots. It’s deeply rooted in all my songs and lyrics. My people came from the hills of Virginia and played a lot of it.”
Most people do not know the Godfather of Soul—James Brown—recorded country music, even an unreleased country album. Porter Wagoner’s keyboard player was once a member of James Brown’s band. Brown got invited to play The Grand Ole Opry where he played a medley of “Your Cheating Heart”, “Georgia On My Mind” and “Tennessee Waltz” before plunging into his deep funk set. On More Dirty Laundry, Brown covers the Pennington/Thompson number “Three Hearts in a Tangle”.
Junior Parker wrote “Mystery Train”. Parker recorded at Sun Records and served as a member of Howlin’ Wolf’s band and covers Ernest Tubb’s “Walking the Floor” with astonishing success. The final track, Andre Williams’ “Pardon Me (I’ve got Someone to Kill)” resonates in a way that inspired white blues bands like the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion and the White Stripes to expose Williams to a new audience of music lovers.
Add More Dirty Laundry: The Soul of Black Country to your collection.