James Luther Dickinson – Dixie Fried
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Posted On July 1, 2003
Jim Dickinson’s 1972 solo debut Dixie Fried had a shelf life only slightly longer than a snowball in 80-degree heat. At long last, Dixie Fried is finally available on CD in the U.S., its wild and unpredictable charms still sounding fresh.
Working with his former bandmates in the Dixie Flyers (Charlie Freeman, Mike Utley) and his future colleagues in Mud Boy & the Neutrons (Sid Selvidge, Lee Baker), Dickinson drew on the Memphis music that inspired him to be a musician.
On “Wine”, a variation of “Drinkin’ Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee”, Dickinson seems to be channeling the spirit of Jerry Lee Lewis, who had a top-20 country hit with the song a year later. The title track captures the rockabilly abandon of Carl Perkins’ original. Bob Frank’s “Wild Bill Jones” turns into a rueful singalong with its tale of love and murder, while “Casey Jones (On The Road Again)” pays tribute to bluesman Furry Lewis.
This reissue has no bonus tracks, but the package includes an informative six-page essay by Stanley Booth that offers perspective and insight on the making of the album.
