Somebody Loan Me a Dime

Fenton Robinson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 18, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Alligator Records
• ASIN: B0000009XB
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #54,407 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #15 in Music > Indie Music > Blues > Chicago Blues
  • #28 in Music > Indie Music > Blues > Texas Blues

Editorial Reviews

From Grove Press Guide to Blues on CD

Modest, literate, sensible, searching, integrity-bound-that's Fenton Robinson, the Mississippi-born modern blues singer and guitarist who doesn't get a tenth of the attention that smoke-and-verbiage poseurs do as a matter of course. This 1974 album's eleven songs, including the famous title one (swiped by Boz Scaggs), impart a warmhearted sensibility pushed forward by his sophisticated, fluent-with-jazz guitar playing and his engagingly imperfect vocal coloratura. Robinson and his backup musicians, the best known being second guitarist Mighty Joe Young, communicate romantic yearning and resilience with equal skill-memorably so. -- © Frank John Hadley 1993

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ESSENTIAL, March 19, 2005

By 

Sam Mosley "The Junkyard Junky" (Toronto, Ontario) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Somebody Loan Me a Dime (Audio CD)

Fenton Robinson was one of the most promising blues artists of the 70's. With a beautiful voice and guitar style he had it all to hit it big. But despite releasing several very fine albums his career never took off, mainly because his style did not appeal to the mass blues fan base who wanted it all to sound like SRV or Johnny Winter. Though he was based in Chicago, his style was jazzier and owed more to T-Bone Walker than Muddy Waters, making even more distinct. After releasing a pair of disappointing albums for 77 Records he went to Alligator Records to record this, his finest album and one of the best blues albums of the 70's. He co-produced with Bruce Igauler and they got the perfect sound and feel for what was needed for a Fenton Robinson. The backing band is terrific, which includes Mighty Joe Young, who contributes very fine and unobtrusive rhythm guitar. The song's are varied, including several terrific slow blues ("Somebody Loan Me A Dime", "Directly From My Heart To You") to more up-tempo numbers ("The Getaway", "You Don't Know What Love Is"). There are a few well chosen covers as well, including his friend Larry Davis's "Texas Flood" and the classic "Going To Chicago". Throughout Fenton's smooth guitar playing and rich vocals are out front, definitely making him the star of the album.
This is an essential blues album, though it has not garnered the attention it deserves despite being as good as it is. Fenton died in 1997, and so this album is the best way to remember this truly great and under-recognized blues master.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The real deal, June 27, 2005

By 

Jerry D. Rosen (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Somebody Loan Me a Dime (Audio CD)

Although I had heard of Fenton Robinson, I was not familiar with his music. Somebody Loan Me a Dime was indeed a great "find." People, listen, this is the real deal. This is classic Chicago blues. The vocals are amazing, the guitar playing is laid back and beautiful and the backing band is first rate. This is what blues should be and what it isn't, anymore. There is a great mix of minor key tunes, shuffles and swing and Fenton pullls off these different styles with class. He somehow perfected a sweet-gruffness to his singing - it is hard to describe, but it is very effective. He can, vocally, hold a note/line a long time and it sounds great. His guitar playing is a model of what should be done by a professional musician. It is understated, jazzy and very bluesy. There is no distortion, reverb or overdrive - just straight ahead playing. I've read a lot about how Buddy Guy can't get on mainstream radio, and that is very true. Guy's solution is to play a lot of rock and roll and with a lot of noise. Listen, Guy is entitled. But blues music, of any kind, will never get much mainstream radio support. It makes more
sense to stick to what is true to the art form. If there are any kids reading this, who are interested in playing electric blues, Buy this CD. Not to copy it, per se, but to see how it is done. All the Robillard's amd Earl's will never match this for originality and powerful vocals.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must Have!, October 13, 1998

By 

D. Lipetz (Philly, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Somebody Loan Me a Dime (Audio CD)

Fenton left us late last year - he will be sorely missed. Brilliant in his own right, masterful in both recordings and live venues (Fenton rarely performed live). This album is simply phenomenal. Want to feel the blues? Down to the deepest depths of your soul? Get this CD! A must have for any appreciator of music - blues or otherwise.