Levon Helm: New Album

LEVON HELM RETURNS WITH ELECTRIC DIRT ON JUNE 30
NEW CD IS FOLLOW-UP TO GRAMMY WINNING RELEASE DIRT FARMER

Levon Helm

Legendary musician and rock icon, Levon Helm will be releasing his second solo recording June 30 entitled, Electric Dirt on Dirt Farmer Music/Vanguard Records. As with, Dirt Farmer (check it below), multi-instrumentalist Larry Campbell, took the reigns as producer, recorded at ‘The Barn’ – The Levon Helm Studios.

Electric Dirt again finds Levon steeped in tradition in his connection to the land and those who live by it and at the same time goes deeper and fuller in painting a musical canvas by incorporating some gospel, blues and soul with a wide range of original compositions and eclectic cover songs. “Our objective here was to take the honesty, innocence and purity of the Dirt Farmer record which represents a true element of what Levon is all about but also expand on that and explore deeper the goldmine of Levon’s musical artistry” states Campbell.

Electric Dirt starts off with a rousing rendition of The Grateful Dead‘s “Tennessee Jed” moving on to a beautiful stripped down version of Happy Traum’s “Golden Bird.” “Growing Trade”, written by Levon Helm and Larry Campbell tells a deeply heartfelt story of a farmer’s struggle to preserve his livelihood and the rousing horn arrangements by Allen Toussaint and the Levon Helm band on “Kingfish,” written by Randy Newman, brings the swagger of New Orleans to the forefront.

In 2007, after overcoming insurmountable odds, Levon released Dirt Farmer, his first solo recording in twenty five years, which went on to win a Grammy for “Best Traditional Folk Album.” The San Francisco Chronicle citied, “This album is nothing less than a return to form by one of the most soulful vocalists in rock history.” Rolling Stone went on further to hail Levon Helm’s Midnight Ramble’s as 2008’s Best Jam Session and the same year Levon was the recipient of the ‘Artist of the Year’ Award by the Americana Music Association.

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

Levon Helms’ next show is on April 16 in Uncasville, CT; his next Midnight Ramble is April 18. Details and tour dates available here.

Check out 2007’s Dirt Farmer here: