As usual I’ve been slack in keeping my eye on my vinyl collection. I missed at least two Ds. Here’s the first of them.
You may recall my delight with the work of The Detroit Cobras. Well here’s some more Michiganites with a love of old soul, and a propensity to get down and dirty.
The Dirtbombs don’t usually do covers, but this release is a bit of a tribute to icons of soul music.
Mick Collins has a fantastic soulful voice, but with a garage sensibility. He’s not concerned with perfect pitch or lusciousness. Instead it’s about the energy and party vibe. He’s more at the James Brown/Screaming Jay Hawkins end of the spectrum than that of his clear idol - Stevie Wonder.
The album highlights include a grungy version of Wonder’s Living in the City and Thin Lizzy’s Ode to a Black Man which is much more amped up than this acoustic version:
OK, here’ it is in full live band format:
As you can see it is four-to-the-floor fun. I love having these sort of records to spice a dull Thursday evening. Add these guys to the growing list of artists I should see when next they cross my path.
File under: Get your motor running…
