Son of Skip James
Son of Skip James | ||||
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Studio album by Dion | ||||
Released | November 6, 2007 | |||
Studio | Sounds Great Production | |||
Genre | Blues[1] | |||
Length | 43:35 | |||
Label | Verve Forecast | |||
Producer | Dion[1] | |||
Dion chronology | ||||
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Son of Skip James is the thirtieth album by American singer/songwriter Dion. It was released on November 6, 2007 on the Verve Forecast Records label.[1] The album stayed on the Billboard Blues Albums chart for twelve weeks, peaking at No. 4 on November 24, 2007.[2]
The album serves as a follow-up to Dion's 2006 Grammy-nominated blues album, Bronx in Blue.[3] The majority of tracks on Son of Skip James are cover versions of well-known blues songs, some of them classics.[1] The album's title references blues legend Skip James, a friend of Dion's. Dion described the use of James's name for the album as "a kind of mission statement for the project".[4]
Critical reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic[1] | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
PopMatters[3] | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Standard-Speaker[5] | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Philadelphia Inquirer[6] | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The album was generally positively received by critics, who called out its authenticity,[1] simplicity,[7] and emotional depth.[3] The original tracks, particularly "The Thunderer", were considered to stand on equal or even superior footing to the cover tracks.[1][3] Most critics agreed that Dion had effectively personalized the covers,[1][8] although Tony Sclafani of PopMatters disagreed, calling the track selection "too familiar", and his recordings "too reverent" to bring the project fully to life.[3] Martin Halo of JamBase highlighted Dion's dedication to researching the origins of the cover songs as part of what made the album distinctive among other blues cover albums.[8]
Joel Selvin of SFgate.com called it "another landmark in a career littered with them".[9] Thom Jurek, writing for AllMusic, called it "one of the best records of the year".[1] Chris Jones of BBC Music called it "every inch the equal of its predecessor".[7] Nick Cristiano of The Philadelphia Inquirer found it "exceptionally warm and intuitive".[6] Despite his criticism of the track selection, Sclafani said the album "does not fall short when it comes to ass-kicking".[3] Halo felt that the album featured "master musicianship and stunning vocals", but called it "nothing we haven’t heard before."[8]
Track listing
Except where noted, credits are adapted from AllMusic.[1]
No. | Title | Original artist | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Nadine" | Chuck Berry | 3:33 |
2. | "My Babe" | Willie Dixon | 3:12 |
3. | "Hoodoo Man Blues" | Junior Wells | 2:45 |
4. | "Drop Down Mama" | Sleepy John Estes[5] | 4:12 |
5. | "Hoochie Coochie Man" | Willie Dixon | 4:00 |
6. | "Baby I'm in the Mood" | Bob Dylan | 3:30 |
7. | "I'm a Guitar King" | Tommy McClennan | 3:19 |
8. | "The Thunderer" | Dion | 4:34 |
9. | "Interlude – Spoken Word" | Dion | 0:38 |
10. | "Son of Skip James" | Dion | 3:29 |
11. | "Preachin' Blues" | Robert Johnson[5] | 3:34 |
12. | "If I Had Possession (Over Judgement Day)" | Robert Johnson[5] | 3:50 |
13. | "Devil Got My Woman" | Skip James | 2:59 |
Personnel
Adapted from AllMusic.[1]
Musicians
- Bob Guertin – audio engineer, organ, percussion
- Dion DiMucci – audio production, guitar, harmonica, producer, vocals
- Rick Krive – piano
Additional personnel
- Bill Bush – photography
- Susan DiMucci – photography
- Michael Friedman – photography
- Richard Gottehrer – executive producer
- Hollis King – art direction
- Emily Lazar – mastering
- Kazumi Matsumoto – graphic design
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Son of Skip James - Dion | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-11-19.
- ^ "Dion Son Of Skip James Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-11-19.
- ^ a b c d e f "Dion: Son of Skip James". PopMatters. 2007-12-18. Retrieved 2018-11-19.
- ^ "'The Wanderer' Has Got the Blues". NPR.org. Retrieved 2018-11-19.
- ^ a b c d Tarone, L.A. (13 Jan 2008). "Soul-baring 'Skip James' helps Dion add to legacy". Standard-Speaker. Hazleton, Pennsylvania. p. 33. Retrieved 2019-06-27.
- ^ a b Cristiano, Nick (25 Nov 2007). "New recordings: Country/Roots". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2019-06-27.
- ^ a b Jones, Chris. "BBC - Music - Review of Dion - Son Of Skip James". Retrieved 2018-11-19.
- ^ a b c "Dion: Son of Skip James". JamBase. 2008-02-11. Retrieved 2018-11-19.
- ^ "CD review: 'Son of Skip James'". SFGate. 2007-12-02. Retrieved 2018-11-19.
- v
- t
- e
- Runaround Sue
- Lovers Who Wander
- Suite for Late Summer
- Born to Be with You
- Streetheart
- Return of the Wanderer
- Yo Frankie
- Son of Skip James
- "Lonely Teenager"
- "Runaround Sue"
- "The Wanderer"
- "Lovers Who Wander"
- "Little Diane"
- "Love Came to Me"
- "Ruby Baby"
- "Sandy"
- "Come Go with Me"
- "Donna the Prima Donna"
- "Drip Drop"
- "I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man"
- "Shout"
- "Johnny B. Goode"
- "Abraham, Martin and John"
- "Purple Haze"
- "And the Night Stood Still"
- "Sea Cruise"