Luther Dickinson’s New Single Asks ‘Who Do You Love’ With Help From Datrian Johnson

Luther Dickinson readied a new solo album inspired by the delta blues and the Grateful Dead, Dead Blues Vol. 1, which will be released on October 17 via Strolling Bones Records. The North Mississippi Allstars co-founding guitarist provided the latest preview of the forthcoming album via the new shared cover of Bo Diddley’s “Who Do You Love,” featuring Datrian Johnson.

The nine-track LP sees Dickinson and Johnson joined by Dickinson’s NMAS bandmates – his brother, drummer Cody Dickinson, and bassist Rayfield “Ray Ray” Holloman – along with Grahame Lesh and Steve Selvidge (The Hold Steady).

Raised on the Mississippi Delta Blues, Luther Dickinson was introduced to the Grateful Dead’s music by Grahame Lesh’s father, Grateful Dead co-founding bassist Phil Lesh. Both Luther and Cody Dickinson participated as members of Lesh’s evolving Phil Lesh & Friends project many times after first appearing in the lineup in 2013.

“The more we performed together, the more I realized how many great old blues songs the Dead had played in their time, which led to the Dead Blues concept,” Dickinson added. “Phil changed my life. He welcomed me into his crew, taught me his repertoire, shared his improvisational approaches, and introduced me to a whole new community of musicians. This record reflects Phil’s wild musical spirit and approach to re-interpretation.”

The nine-song Dead Blues Vol. 1 consists of songs written by Bo Diddley, the Mississippi Sheiks, Willie Dixon, Tommy Tucker, Slim Harpo, Blind Lemon Jefferson and others that were part of the Grateful Dead’s live repertoire.

Premiered by PopMatters, Dickinson told the outlet about his approach to “Who Do You Love”:

“This Bo Diddley classic is built on a track I wrote on bass and keyboards and finished with my Memphis friends, Mem_Mods (Steve Selvidge and New Memphis Colorways). Their contributions and Datrian Johnson’s vocals fit so naturally and felt so good, I knew we were on a like-minded endeavor showcasing some of my closest friends as well as scratching an aesthetic and stylistic itch of mine.”

Stream Dickinson’s “Who Do You Love” cover featuring Datrian Johnson below: