By first album Dixie Fried (1972), Dickinson’s legendary status as Sun Records/Atlantic sessioneer was assured. Having cut sides with Aretha, Sam & Dave and the Stones, subsequent years producing Big Star, Ry Cooder and The Replacements only compounded the mystique. Six years in the making, Free Beer Tomorrow finds the grizzled old ‘gator re-immersing himself in cajun swamp, fringed with honking sax and barrelhouse piano. There are echoes of Dr John in the N’awleans funk of Eddie Hinton’s “Well Of Love”, but Dickinson?as befits his Mississippi residency?is a Southern soul bluesman at heart. Spicier than hot wings in Tabasco.
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