Track Listing

1. Tennessee Jed
2. Move Along Train
3. Growing Trade
4. Golden Bird
5. Stuff You Gotta Watch
6. White Dove
7. Kingfish
8. You Can't Lose What You Ain't Never Had
9. When I Go Away
10. Heaven's Pearls
11. I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #938 in Music
• Released on: 2009-06-29
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .14 pounds

CD Description
Not that anyone's keeping score, but as Band alumni recordsgo, Levon is pulling way ahead of the pack with his second keeper in as many tries in the '00s. ELECTRIC DIRT finds theArkansas legend building on its critically acclaimed predecessor, DIRT FARMER, and bringing the democratic ebullience of his weekly Midnight Ramble live sessions (held in his barn) to record. Ramble stalwarts Larry Campbell and Amy Helm (Levon's daughter) appear all over the album (Campbell as producer and multi-instrumentalist; Amy Helm providing genetically in tune harmonies), while a loose, New Orleans vibe pervades courtesy of Allen Toussaint's horn arrangements (covers of the Grateful Dead's "Tennessee Jed", Randy Newman's "Kingfish" and other album standouts). The album, naturally, belongs to Helm, who is in stunningly assured vocal form (remarkable for a throat cancer survivor) and whose slack rustic groove remains irresistible (who else can make a mandolin sound like funk instrument). Helm--never considered one of the Band's chief songwriters--reveals his songcraft chops with ELECTRIC DIRT'S emotional centerpiece, "Growing Trade," an instant classic co-written with Campbell that rates with the Band's best.

Customer Reviews

Levon delivers again
On the back of 2007's excellent Dirt Farmer, Levon Helm delivers another hugely enjoyable album. If you were a fan of the Band (like me)you will love this and wonder why it took him so long to record an album that more than pays homage to one of the greatest groups ever.
That unmistakeable voice is in fine form as he delivers a heady mixture of folk, bluegrass and the blues.
Richard Manuel and Rick Danko would be proud(RIP).

Can you dig it?
Following on from his recent mainly acoustic "Dirt Farmer" this excellent record carries on the Americana and bluegrass themes but also adds blues - we get two Muddy Waters songs "Stuff You Got To Watch" and "You Can't Lose What You Ain't Never Had" (Electric Mud?). There are also a number of songs that sound very much like the Band - "Growing Trade", "White dove" and "Heaven's pearls" - the last two with wonderful harmonies from Levon's daughter Amy. There are also other nice covers - the Grateful Dead's "Tennessee Jed", Randy Newman's New Orleans-flavoured "King Fish" and the Staples Singers' "Move Along Train". And keeping with the gospel theme the record finishes with a rousing version of "I Wish I Knew How It Feels to Be Free" normally associated with Nina Simone.

Levon is in great voice throughout and particularly on "Growing Trade" I found his voice very moving with memories of his Band-mates who have passed and gone. The record, recorded at his own Woodstock studios and produced by Larry Campbell, sounds brilliant - with a nice relaxed and loose feel. In some ways it sounds similar to Bob Dylan's "Together through life", in that there are electric guitars and horns but also mandolins, fiddles and accordions etc. I think this is a better record than the Grammy-winning "Dirt Farmer" and it deserves to be a big hit.

Electric Dirt - Levon Helm. Stuff you gotta listen to!
When I reviewed Levon Helm's previous album, 'Dirt Farmer', I rashly awarded it 5 stars as I thought it was one of the best albums I'd ever heard. That was a mistake, as this is even better, and I hove no way of giving it higher marks than its predecessor!

Dirt Farmer was an album of country/folksy, mainly acoustic tracks. Here the musical palette has been expanded to include blues, gospel and Cajun. It all fits together into a coherent whole though. The stand out track for me is the rousing cover og Muddy Waters' 'Stuff You Gotta Watch', one of two Waters covers on this album. It's hard to pick a standout though; the standard is pretty darned good throughout.

Levon's voice is in fine fettle, with that trademark clarity and soaring style still in evidence even after the throat cancer. The backing musicians are a decent bunch, and work well together. Backing vocals are once again provided by Helm's daughter Amy, and again their voices mingle to perfection. A foot tapping record, everyone involved seemed to be having a lot of fun, which is the way it should be.

A thoroughly enjoyable album which deserves to pick up lots of awards. recommended to anyone who likes good music.