DION

SON OF SKIP JAMES

2007-11-27

Best known for early rock and roll hits like "The Wanderer," "Run Around Sue" and "Abraham, Martin & John," Dion is way off the radar screen of the average blues fan. He sought to change that with his 2006 release, Bronx in Blue. This disc should move him further along the path. With covers by the likes of Chuck Berry, "Nadine," Willie Dixon, "My Babe", Junior Wells, "Hoodoo Man Blues", Sleepy John Estes, "Drop Down Mama", Robert Johnson, "Preachin’ Blues" and "If I Had Possession (Over Judgment Day)" and Skip James, "Devil Got My Woman", lending an air of familiarity to the proceedings, Dion slips into the role of blues singer as if he’s been doing it all his life. While the fit is comfortable, there is nothing particularly revelatory about his versions of these well worn classics that will cause anyone to pick them over the original or even other, more inspired, versions. Dion’s own "The Thunderer" and the title track fare better with Dion shining as his own man rather than trying to grab the reflected glow of his blues heroes. Smitty

Quick Links:

• Dion's Web Site
• Verve Web Site