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Levon Helm, iconic drummer and singer in The Band, is back with a miracle of an album. I don’t think that’s an exaggeration, and Helm would surely agree, as his liner notes attest. Helm almost lost his life to throat cancer a few years back. He most assuredly lost his voice. So the fact that he is singing at all is significant. The fact that he is singing this well is almost mind-boggling. The man is 67 years old, has been to hell and back, and he sounds as great as he did on “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.” The timbre has changed a bit (he’s more Ralph Stanley caterwaul these days), but there’s the same masterful phrasing. And he digs down deep into the loamy dirt.
Listening to Dirt Farmer, Helm’s first solo album in 25 years, it occurred to me that this is the album he’s been waiting to make all his life. Levon’s always had that hardscrabble southern grit and soulfulness that seems to be bred in the soil of Helena, Arkansas, his native town. Here he employs it on thirteen songs, many of them from his childhood. The Carter Family is represented here, and Steve Earle, and Buddy and Julie Miller. There’s an old blues tune from J.B. Lenoir, and a half dozen tracks from the ubiquitous “Trad.” Frequent Dylan sideman Larry Campbell produces and plays guitars and fiddles, Levon plays mandolin and drums and sings, and daughter Amy from Ollabelle adds some exquisite harmonies that help to soften dad’s feral howl. It’s great stuff, raw but very accessible, and it makes me want to revisit every note the man has ever sung. He’s a national (okay, for your Canadians who want to claim him, an international) treasure, and we should sing his praises while we’ve still got him.
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You are correct Levon is a national treasure and a master musician. Everyone who loves honest msic should get Dirt Farmer. Nice review
I cannot wait to get my hands on these songs...I hope it brings him the attention and money he deserves, totally agree a national treasure.
I saw Leon in July at the Bethel Performing Arts Center, and it was one of the best concerts I’ve seen in years. He had some talented, but not well known groups opening; then he played for more than two hours. He really loves the music, and has the energy (and voice) of a newcomer trying to make it big in the business. I’m really happy to see the great reviews for this CD, and I hope it brings him the acclaim for this later stage of his careet that he truly deserves.
Levon is Americana- he is listed as ‘Roots’ on music sites. I ma listenign to this CD- and it is Roots, country and the life of a man who loves his music.
Open your ears and hearts to this man, he wont let you down. A true national treasure.
I am a loyal and devoted fan of Mr Helm. I believe he was the soul of The Band and I am so sorry for the way he was treated by the music business. Dirt Farmer is the music that Levon was born to make! I have supported all his efforts over the yrs such as his past recordings with The RCO allstars and his wonderful book “This Wheels On Fire”. My lifes ambition now is to attend a Midnight Ramble.
Great to see that Levon’s back singing, and playing live music, his love and passion is un matched, his dedication, and support of true muscian’s and his loyalty to the artists, both legends and newcomers, show what makes him a gentleman of the business, and the line ups at the rambles and the recent show in Nashville show that he’s finally getting the respect he earned 30 years ago as the true leader and talent of the first super group The Band.
Recently diagonsed with heart failure, Levon’s story and music gives me hope and joy. I’ve been a Band fan since the beginning. His “Dirt Farmer” was a Xmas gift to several friends this year. I, too, dream of attending a Ramble. I’ll be in the Catskills for the March 15 show and hope I’m well enough to attend. I’d love to thank Levon for all he’s given me.