Jim Dickinson, RIP
Back in 1991, Primal Scream were making excited noises about some upcoming sessions in Memphis with Jim Dickinson. I was vaguely aware of the name and the connection with Alex Chilton and Big Star. Jim's pedigree also involved the Rolling Stones, The Replacements, Aretha Franklin and even the legendary Sun record label.
As ever, the Scream Team were wise to an intense force in rock and roll, and in time a couple of Jim's own albums, 'Dixie Fried' and 'Free Beer Tomorrow' became valued items in my music collection. More recently, he worked with Amy Lavere, who also knew that he was one of the true keepers. Sadly Jim died on Saturday after some problems with his heart. You'll read some fond obituaries in the coming days, and all of them will confirm that he was pure rock and roll and that he was wise to the mysterious, magnificent pulse of Memphis.
Comment number 1.
At 14:06 17th Aug 2009, dennisjunior1 wrote:Stuart:
My heartfelt condolences & prayers are being sent to all who knew, Mr. Jim Dickinson....
=Dennis Junior=
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Comment number 2.
At 16:52 18th Aug 2009, Rumbaba wrote:I got into Jim's music when I noticed he was cowriter of 'Across the borderline ' on Ry Cooder's 'Get Rhythm' album, which he also produced. There was a thirty year gap between his first album 'Dixie Fried'(1972) and the follow up. However, since then it seemed like he was getting stuff out as fast as possible because he knew he didn't have much time left. The latest album 'Dinosaurs run in circles' is typically uncompromising and not really like any of the previous stuff.
The Solo albums were;Dixie Fried,Free Beer Tomorrow,Jungle Jim and The Voodoo Tiger,Killers from Space,Dinosaurs Run in Circles
In addition, there was an album of Jim reading his favourites pieces of prose called 'Fishing with Charlie' ( not a man chasing commercial success)
There were loads of collaborations, too numerous to mention, his work with Mudboy and the Neutrons as well as a ton of production credits.
He was a terrific character who was always his own man and I recommend Robert Gordon's book 'It came from Memphis', which does a good job of explaining the environment that shaped Jim's life and music. He was a great supporter of Memphis bluesmen like Furry Lewis and Sleepy John Estes.
The world will be a less colourful place without Jim as a person and musician. He never made any money (there was a benefit gig recently, headlined by Johhn Hiatt, to raise money for his medical expenses; he died following surgery) but he did what he wanted and he had a hell of a time doing it.
God bless you Jim. I hope you had on your collar and T.I.E when you went
quote from 'K.C. Jones on the road again' by Furry Lewis (covered by Jim and just about everyone who was anyone in Memphis)
"If you want to go to Heaven when you D.I.E
put on your collar and your T.I.E
If you want to get the rabbit out the L.O.G
got to cause a commotion like a D.O.G"
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