Jim Dickinson – A Thousand Footprints in the Sand

People tend to use the term “legend” a bit too loosely for my money, but if you needed an example of a true legend, look no further than ol’ Mr. Dixie Fried himself, Jim Dickinson. Known primarily as a producer of folks such as Ry Cooder (Boomer’s Story), Big Star (Sister Lovers), Alex Chilton (Like Flies On Sherbert), the Replacements (Pleased To Meet Me), the True Believers (self-titled), Jason & the Scorchers (Fervor) and the the Texas Tornados, to name-drop just a few of his better known credits, his legendary status is largely due to his work as a session player. On works as diverse and classic as the Stones’ Sticky Fingers, the Flamin’ Groovies Teenage Head, Aretha Franklin’s Spirit In The Dark, Toots and the Maytals’ Toots In Memphis … well, you get the idea. This man could be the Forrest Gump of rock ‘n’ roll.

On this French import, Dickinson is backed by his old pal and Frisco native Chuck Prophet and his band at Slim’s in San Francisco, as well as performing solo at McCabe’s in Los Angeles. The outcome is a joy to behold, something akin to being in a Southern honky-tonk on a sticky hot evening, buzzing on good bourbon and swinging from side to side as night dwindles into hazy day. Dickinson’s style is not all that distant from Dr. John, perhaps a bit more Memphis than Crescent City, but who cares. Whether he’s cranking out the classic Jimmy Cox roller “Down and Out”, the J.B. Lenoir swamp-blues standard “Down in Mississippi” or a Dan Penn nugget “Pain and Strain”, Dickinson’s best attribute is his whiskey-and-tobacco-laced vocals. He is a master stylist who knows the material he tackles inside and out. Most charming is Dickinson’s solo take on the T. Texas Tyler tale “Memories of France”, sounding not unlike a more wistful Jerry Lee Lewis at closing time.

Unless some U.S. label decides to take a chance, this one is going to be hard to find. It’s too bad, because people just don’t make music like this anymore.