Customer Reviews

Son Of Skip James

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Fans of Dion's previous acoustic blues album Bronx In Blue will certainly want to check out his new CD: Son Of Skip James. Sticking to a similar formula as that aforementioned record, this time around we're treated to a broader palette of musical instruments to help flesh out the the sound of the tracks within. Here, harmonica, organ and piano--both electric and acoustic--spice up the guitar and percussion backing to great effect. Highlights include a fairly straight cover of Chuck Berry's "Nadine," one of the few tracks on the album that strays slightly from the traditional blues format; "My Babe"--written by Willie Dixon and made famous by Little Walter--with its infectious riff; a stripped-down take of Bob Dylan's "Baby, I'm In The Mood For You," which Dion himself first recorded for Columbia in 1965; and a searing, dueling-acoustics version of Robert Johnson's "If I Had Possession (Over Judgment Day)," probably my own personal fave on the CD!

Another surprise here is The Thunderer--a song based on a Phyllis McGinley verse that tells the story of Catholic Saint Jerome, the man who "translated the Bible." It has the same melodic feel as some of Dion's best work, primarily due to a tasteful--almost 70's style--electric piano backing. And, for those who might normally bristle somewhat at the thought of a record that contains an overt religious stamp or two (i.e. usually me!), fear not, it all works here, standing side-by-side with the broader themes of faith and redemption that permeate the framework of the blues in general. Furthermore, it's simply another side of the same artist who previously recorded a string of gospel albums during the 1980's.

Special mention needs to be made once again regarding Dion's (underrated IMO) acoustic guitar playing and timeless vocals. His finger-picking is front and center on songs such as Tommy McClennan's "I'm A Guitar King," while his overall range and effortless phrasing show him to be as vocally nimble as ever--bending, turning and soaring at every curve with the greatest of ease! At age 68, he's showing no signs of wear or tear.

Overall, an even stronger record than the Grammy® nominated Bronx In Blue, with richer colors and more variety. Highly recommended!

I saw this in a local store and, based on his last album, snapped it up. This "blues" run of albums is similar to the late Muddy Waters' set on Blue Sky with Johnny Winter during the '70s. Why? Because, although the sound is different, in both cases you have a great singer revisiting older songs and, in the process, rejuvinating himself. In the case of Dion, its even more striking (and magical). The liner notes describe how Dion was always influenced by acoustic blues and how he would begin his sound checks with a Robert Johnson number. Hearing this, one should, indeed, go back to his early recordings with the Belmonts (it, indeed, might be a short jump from Delta Blues to manhattan do-wop and '50s vocal groups). Interesting! I must admit I liked Bornx in Blue better (more instruments on this one makes it less special). However, apart from a few questionable war horses (do we REALLY need another version of Hoochie Coochie man? - and Johnson's "Judgement Day" sounds too much like Slowhand's version of a few years ago). These small points aside (the answer in this case is, YES, we can stand to hear additional versions of both of those songs, if sung by someone like Dion). He hits a home run again! Tasteful acoustic guitar, springled with blues piano and a crack rhythm section, Dion has a talent for evoking a mood and making it endure the entire length of an album. In spite of what I said above about "war horses", you gotta love his rendition of "Nadine"! Hey, Dion, cut another one (live, in a club?), and make it a trilogy!!! Well done!!!!!!!!!!

In 1991 I picked up Dion's latest CD at the time titled "Bronx Blues: The Columbia Recordings". It is a collection of his songs from 1962-1965. Yes it includes "Ruby Baby" and "Donna the Prima Donna" but toward the end of the 20 song CD I found myself listening to Dion sing the blues on "Spoonful" and "The Seventh Son". So this dude with the Bronx chops (who sang with the "Belmont's" in the late 50's) has been singing the blues since he picked up the guitar? This was a new revelation for me.

Fast forward to 2006, finally, Dion records a blues album titled "Bronx in Blue". It's a masterpiece. And we are talking acoustic blues not electric. Just read the reviews on it. And now, I finally bought and listened to "Son of Skip James". I thought, how could "Bronx in Blue" be topped? Well let me tell you, Dion topped it.

Dion Dimucci, his vocals have never sounded better and his acoustic guitar playing brings life to the blues. "Son of Skip James", this is the real deal here.

What a surprise! I've always been a Dion & the Belmonts fan, since I was born in the Bronx. I've been a blues fanatic since I heard Lightnin' Hopkins singing "Rocky Mountain Blues" on WWRL while sitting in my car in Brooklyn in 1965.

Lately, I've drifted off into jazz, primarily the seminal bop of Thelonious and Miles and Bird. Made me wish the Beatles and the Stones hadn't come on when they did, so I might have been able to focus on those giants of jazz when they were still playing in the NY clubs (well, not Bird, but so many of the rest.)

Back to Dion. I still get a charge in my heart when I hear the opening beats of "Wanderer." And I'll always recall the dirty lyrics we substituted for parts of "Runaround Sue."

I didn't know about Dion's previous blues album, which is why I was so dam surprised when "Son of Skip James" showed up. I am so stoked by that record I'm going to take it to California tomorrow and give it to my 23 year old guitar-playing son and hope he gets a charge out of it. Would I love it if, when he comes home from school in a few weeks, he was playing one or two of the songs from the record.

"The Thunderer" is a magnificent piece of religious music. I can tell you for sure that the Catholic churches would be a lot more crowded if that was the kind of music you could hear at Mass on Sunday.

Now I got to get the earlier record. What a turn-on for me and everyone who is lucky enough to hear this terrific artist from the streetcorners of New York.

Dion's Son of Skip James...all I can say is WOW !! Love the blues, and he does it right! I am 62 years old, and this album gets me up and dancing again! The voice, the EVERYTHING..Dion, why didn't you do this before? It's perfect, a really great C.D., you won't be sorry you ordered it !!

Listening to Dion confirms and affirms my faith in God and in Jesus; this is done with style implied from the rythm of the music (blues?). My buying experience from amazon was good. Got the CD without problems in the amount of time they said I'd get it.

I'll keep this short and sweet. I like rock and roll. I'm a bit of an immature blues boy, with my tastes more towards the blues-rockers. Purists, barbarians, big people, little people, you name it: everyone needs this album. My darlin' wife, who is not a blues collector, has it tucked tightly in her car CD changer. There is truly not one single cut that's not worth listening to, and most are tremendous. If I owned this label, I'd offer a money back guarantee.
Time to go so I can beg my wife to eject the cd..... at least for today.
John Sommer
HardLuck Cafe, KHPU-fm

This cd is as good as Bronx in Blue, as a matter of fact I love it. Highly recomended.

The SON OF SKIP JAMES is Dion's latest foray with the blues. Dion DiMucci that is, not the boring Canadian chanteuse. She is a reason that finding Dion's output on places like Amazon is time consuming. There is no separation of the two names. It's a shame because Mr. D. has put some good music out there.
His long career begins near the genesis of rock 'n' roll. As a member of the Belmonts he first charted in May of 1958 with "I Wonder Why". Within a year, the ubiquitous "Teenager in Love" was released. That song along with "Runaround Sue" probably are the extent of most people's knowledge of him. That's too bad.
He has had a genre crossing career that has met with early success chartwise. As referenced above, he started as one of the street corner doo wop groups and both with and without the Belmonts experienced a good chart run. Those. of course, were the days when the 45 was what was promoted and lps were mainly a couple of hits and filler. After scoring the early success in rock's nascent stage, an attempt was made to get him into the lounge (a la Bobbys Darin & Rydell). Songs such as "Where or When" and "When You Wish upon a Star" are listenable but forgetable.
Then, without the Belmonts, he is reborn. He runs around, he wanders and he leaves Laurie for Columbia. For me this is the first great period for Dion. Again the early 60s were not the years for albums, just Top 40 radio hits. Yet those chart hits show him really getting into the blues. An execellent recap of those years can be found on DION BRONX BLUES. It's a 5 star disc.
Then he fades away and comes back in what I view as his weakest personna. The folkie. Alright, I grant you his "Abraham, Martin & John" far outshown Moms Mabley's version, but "Purple Haze" and the rest of the lp DION was somewhat brutal. So much so that he fades away again. This time for many more years. On Lifesong he returns as a member of "The Mid-town American Main Street Gang". This era was largely, and sadly ignored. It's still available on THE RETURN OF THE WANDERER and is also highly recommended. It's a cross of blues and mainstream rock. So is his last charting lp, YO FRANKIE. He then languishs for a while. See for example DEJA NU.
He roars back (unfortunately again largely ignored) with what I consider the best album for albums sake of his career. The outstanding BRONX IN BLUE (hereinafter BRONX). 100% blues. I still frequently listen to it two years later.
This gets to the present SON OF SKIP JAMES. It follows BRONX down the blues path. It certanly has wonderful moments starting with the lead song, a bluesier slow downed version of Chuck Berry's "Nadine".He has a hand in writing 2 of the songs and again takes a shot at a Dylan tune: "Baby I'm in the Mood for You". The weak link is the speaking interlude of 37 seconds. For me, I've copied the CD and gotten rid of that for listening enjoyment. As albums made to be albums, it is sitting just beind BRONX. If you like blues and if Dion's voice is a pleasing one for you, this disc should be in your collection. And if you're hesitant buy BRONX first. You'll then find your way to sit with the SON OF SKIP JAMES and exchange notes.

My favorite song of the month is "St. Jerome the Thunderer," by Dion. I'm not even a Christian, only a curmudgeon, yet I find this piece uplifting. Plus I can't stop grinning every time I listen to it.

Yes, Dion is that same Dion DeMucci who recorded such ancient hits as "The Wanderer" (1961) and "I Wonder Why" (1958)--then and more recently). Now in his 70s, he rocks, totally--better than ever, an inspiration to anyone approaching old-crockdom, not me for example.

I'd recommend* Son of Skip James*. Hey, it's so good I didn't even pirate it. (Plus Dion must also be some kind of non-musical genius, because I couldn't find this album anywhere online, aside from the Amazon store.) I hate to admit it, but I've played "The Thunderer" over and over again till I can't get it out of my head even when I wrench the earphones out and moan and clasp my head with both hands.

Apparently Dion based his lyrics for "The Thunderer" on a poem by Phyllis McGinley. This will give you a hint of what to expect:

THE THUNDERER

God's angry man,

His crotchety scholar

Was Saint Jerome,

The great name-caller

Who cared not a dime

For the laws of Libel

And in his spare time

Translated the Bible.

Quick to disparage

All joys but learning

Jerome thought marriage

Better than burning;

But didn't like woman's

Painted cheeks;

Didn't like Romans,

Didn't like Greeks,

Hated Pagans

For their Pagan ways,

Yet doted on Cicero all of his days.

A born reformer, cross and gifted,

He scolded mankind

Sterner than Swift did;

Worked to save

The world from the heathen;

Fled to a cave

For peace to breathe in,

Promptly wherewith

For miles around

He filled the air with

Fury and sound.

In a mighty prose

For Almighty ends,

He thrust at his foes,

Quarreled with his friends,

And served his Master,

Though with complaint.

He wasn't a plaster sort of a saint.

But he swelled men's minds

With a Christian leaven.

It takes all kinds 'to make a heaven.