Like-minded revered roots guitarists and in-demand producers Colin Linden and Luther Dickinson collaborate on an album of sentimental, romantic love songs that eminently define Americana music. On Amour, produced by Linden, they play with a backing band dubbed “The Tennessee Valentines:” Dominic Davis – bass; Bryan Owings – drums; Fats Kaplin – violin and accordion; and Kevin McKendree – keyboards.
As they’ve both done on other projects, Linden with Kings & Queens, in 2011, and the Kings and Kings album in 2016; and Dickinson with The Wandering in 2012 and his forthcoming all-female Sisters of the Strawberry Moon in March, they’ve assembled an array of guest vocalists. The legendary Billy Swan sings lead on “Lover Please” (a song he wrote, which was recorded and became a classic hit for Clyde McPhatter). Females Rachael Davis and Ruby Amanfu are featured as well as two of Linden’s “Nashville” TV series buddies – Sam Palladio (“Crazy Arms”) and Jonathan Jackson (“I Forgot to Remember to Forget”). You’ll recognize most of these classic tunes but it’s fair to say that they’ve never been rendered with these kinds of guitar sounds and such a stellar cast of musicians.
Linden describes the repertoire this way, “They come from country (“Crazy Arms”), blues (“Honest I Do”), rock ‘n’ roll (“Lover Please”), rhythm and blues (“What Am I Living For”) and folk music (“Careless Love”). I think that is a pretty good read on what Americana really is. ‘Careless Love’ {done both instrumentally and sung by Rachael Davis} is the ‘id’ of the record—a traditional song of love, longing and regret. I view the entire album as a soundtrack for romance and romantics everywhere, bound together by melody and atmosphere.”
As mentioned above, both Linden and Dickinson are naturals for this type of project, excited about the opportunity to collaborate and plug in their guitars together. In fact, Dickinson explains the sound they aimed to create, ”Colin and I both plugged into a shared guitar amp that you can hear in the middle. Our individual amps are spread out, and though you can hear the different guitars popping thru here and there, it’s hard to tell who is playing what, and that only adds to Colin and my Amour fest.” Specifically, Linden plays either an electric guitar or electric dobro while Dickinson plays either an electric or nylon string guitar.
Aside from the linchpin track, “Careless Love,” Ruby Amanfu goes beyond sultry with her breathy take on Kristofferson’s “For the Good Times,” Billy Swan and Rachael Davis sound like two genuine lovers on “Lover Please,” and Linden takes a bluesy vocal on Bo Diddley’s “Dearest Darling.”
This is the first collaboration between Linden and Dickinson. The future likely has them working together again. Although the music seems mostly serious, some of bantering and musical exchanges between the two clearly indicate a good time was had by all. These songs are often slowed in tempo, making each word resonate in true sentimental style. Yes, enjoy this Valentine’s Day with this gorgeous Americana music.
