James Luther Dickinson – Free Beer Tomorrow
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Posted On November 1, 2002
Jim Dickinson’s career as a producer (Big Star, Replacements, Texas Tornados) and a sideman (Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan) has overshadowed his career as a solo artist. But he has re-emerged with Free Beer Tomorrow, his first solo studio album in 30 years, and it’s a welcome return. As on Dixie Fried, his 1972 debut, Dickinson proves adept at unearthing songs that suit his vocal style. He can sound like a southern hipster or a world-weary philosopher, dispensing hard-earned wisdom.
On Blaze Foley’s “If I Could Only Fly” (previously covered by Merle Haggard), he brings out the song’s themes of regret and wistfulness without being overwrought. By contrast, “Asshole” is a cheeky putdown that uses a lighter vocal and musical touch. “Last Night I Gave Up Smoking”, with its punchline of “tonight I’m giving up you”, is a Bob Frank song that’s tailor-made for Dickinson.
Clocking it at just under 9 minutes, “Ballad Of Billy And Oscar” by Dave Hickey is the album’s centerpiece, dealing with the lives of 19th-century icons Billy The Kid and Oscar Wilde. Dickinson’s performance makes it a “Desolation Row” for the 21st century.
Dickinson, who plays keyboards, gets strong support musically from sons Cody and Luther of the North Mississippi All Stars. A four-man horn section, dubbed the Tower of Sour, adds color and shading as Dickinson moves easily between blues, country, rock and jazz.
