Track Listing

1. False Hearted Lover Blues
2. Poor Old Dirt Farmer
3. Mountain
4. Little Birds
5. Girl Left Behind
6. Calvary
7. Anna Lee
8. Got Me a Woman
9. Train Robbery
10. Single Girl Married Girl
11. Blind Child
12. Feelin' Good
13. Wide River To Cross

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9231 in Music
• Released on: 2007-10-22
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

CD Description
Though the Band are often discussed in terms of their contributions to musical Americana, drummer Levon Helm was in fact the only American-born member of the group, and his Dixie-fried, high lonesome lilt was one of the keys to their protoalt-country sound. On his 2007 solo release, DIRT FARMER, Helm returns to his roots and indulges in the bedrock American music on which the Band based their legendary sound. Joined by his daughter Amy, she of Ollabelle fame, and studio aceLarry Campbell (among others), Helm works his way through arelaxed yet sturdy set of bluegrass rave-ups, country slow-dances, and bluesy shuffles from across the centuries. And though Helm battled throat cancer prior to this recording, ithasn't diminished the power of his voice a drop--rather, itlends the album a steely sense of endurance and resolve.

Customer Reviews

Highly recommended
I bought this on a whim while it was playing in a record store yesterday. Definitely money well-spent though as the disc is full of gorgeous, spare harmonies, subdued guitar playing and the sort of thoughtful and rich songs that are unlikely to trouble the charts any time soon (more's the pity).

Remarkable album from a remarkable survivor
Normally I would hesitate to give an album 5 stars since - somehow it goes against the grain to say that any record ticks all the boxes and couldn't be improved upon. However I am delighted to make an exception for Dirt Farmer which is so good in every respect that to award it anything less than 5 stars seems curmudegeonly. That Helm has produced such a great record is all the more remarkable since he has recovered from surgery for throat cancer to make it. And the voice, though maybe a little rougher than it used otm be is in fine shape, whether singing alone or in harmony with his daughter Amy. The material is a mixture of folk, hillbilly and gospel with some R and B flourishes, played with great flair and sensitvity by Helm and his fellow musicians. At nearly 70 years of age Helm is already an American legend and judging by Dirt Farmer has a lot more good music in front of him.

Fantastic stuff!!!
This is the best CD that I have had the pleasure of listening to in the last 10-15 years or so. Levon's vocals are as powerful and expressive as ever, and that considering his recent battle with throat cancer! Wonderful songs! wonderful musicianship! Wonderful CD!