The Dirty South (album)
Encyclopedia
The Dirty South is the fifth album
by Alabamian
alternative country
/Southern rock
group Drive-By Truckers
, released in 2004. The Dirty South is Drive-By Truckers' third concept album
. Like its two predecessors, the album examines the state of the South, and unveils the hypocrisy, irony, and tragedy that continues to exist.
Patterson Hood's "Tornadoes" was originally written in 1988 in reaction to the closing concert for the Adam’s House Cat Nightmare Tour. The Nightmare Tour set list was composed almost exclusively of songs containing metaphors or imagery of trains, but the lack of the tour’s success forced Hood and his band to abandon the concept and start afresh. Hood read an eyewitness account of the tornado in the local paper the next day and wrote "Tornadoes" after reading her statement that "it sounded like a train."
Isbell's "The Day John Henry Died", retells the story of John Henry
.
"Puttin’ People on the Moon", written by Hood, tells the story of a town downriver of Huntsville and their "rocket envy" or economic depression due to the negative environmental and economic effects of NASA
’s Marshall Space Flight Center
.
Mike Cooley’s "Carl Perkins' Cadillac" recounts the celebrated Sun Records
, Sam Phillips
, and the music industry in general.
"The Sands of Iwo Jima" recounts Hood's experiences with his great uncle while growing up in North Alabama. Questioning the veracity of the movie
, his uncle answers ironically that John Wayne
was never there at the time.
Isbell's second track on the album, "Danko/Manuel", is a departure from the usual southern gothic lyrical style written by Cooley and Hood. Originally Isbell tried to tell the story of Rick Danko
, Richard Manuel
, and The Band
's demise, but found the scope of the concept too difficult to actually do justice to their story, and instead shifted the concept to a telling of life of a musician through the eyes and actions of Danko and Manuel. Isbell stated that the horn parts for the song came to him in a dream.
The Dirty South contains a three song suite ("The Boys From Alabama", "Cottonseed", and "The Buford Stick") about Sheriff Buford Pusser
. "The Boys From Alabama" was inspired by the misconceptions and “really bad movies” of the Redneck Mafia
and recounts the movie Walking Tall
from a "different point of view". Hood felt that telling the story from "the bad guy's" point of view would be more interesting. Cooley's "Cottonseed" tells a story of corruption, crime, killing, greed, fixed elections, guns, drugs, prostitution and alcohol and uses subtle imagery to provide a very negative interpretation of Pusser. Hood's "The Buford Stick" completes the suite by providing examples of the negative effects of Pusser's actions while offering a less glorified view of the mythology surrounding Pusser.
Cooley's last song on the album is a story about a father who instills a love of racing in his son. Interestingly, "Daddy's Cup" is the only song on The Dirty South that does not revolve around a negative experience, instead offering a lighter touch to the overall 'dirty' feel of the album.
Isbell has explained that "Never Gonna Change" is simply about a stubborn North Alabama
man who "refuses to live in fear," which Isbell goes on to explain are rather rare.
"Lookout Mountain" was written around 1990 by Hood, and can be heard in its original incarnation on Adam's House Cat's LP Town Burned Down. It was a last minute addition to the album, beating out another Hood song entitled "Goode's Field Road." "Goode's Field Road" was eventually rerecorded for 2008's Brighter Than Creation's Dark
, however the cut that was dropped from The Dirty South managed to see the light of day on The Fine Print: A Collection of Oddities and Rarities
. The version as it appears on The Dirty South was recorded in one take.
The Dirty South ends with Isbell's "Goddamn Lonely Love." Though described by Isbell as a love song, "Goddamn Lonely Love" heavily and painfully delves into the loneliness associated with love. Isbell wrote the song for Shonna Tucker.
As of February 2008, The Dirty South is Drive-By Truckers' best-selling album.
The Dirty South was recorded at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by Alabamian
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
alternative country
Alternative country
Alternative country is a loosely defined sub-genre of country music, which includes acts that differ significantly in style from mainstream or pop country music...
/Southern rock
Southern rock
Southern rock is a subgenre of rock music, and genre of Americana. It developed in the Southern United States from rock and roll, country music, and blues, and is focused generally on electric guitar and vocals...
group Drive-By Truckers
Drive-By Truckers
Drive-By Truckers are an alternative country/Southern rock band based in Athens, Georgia, though three out of six members are originally from The Shoals region of Northern Alabama, and the band strongly identifies with Alabama. Their music uses three guitars as well as bass, drums, and now...
, released in 2004. The Dirty South is Drive-By Truckers' third concept album
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
. Like its two predecessors, the album examines the state of the South, and unveils the hypocrisy, irony, and tragedy that continues to exist.
Background
"Where The Devil Don't Stay" was inspired by a poem by Mike Cooley's uncle Ed Cooley, and was recorded in one take.Patterson Hood's "Tornadoes" was originally written in 1988 in reaction to the closing concert for the Adam’s House Cat Nightmare Tour. The Nightmare Tour set list was composed almost exclusively of songs containing metaphors or imagery of trains, but the lack of the tour’s success forced Hood and his band to abandon the concept and start afresh. Hood read an eyewitness account of the tornado in the local paper the next day and wrote "Tornadoes" after reading her statement that "it sounded like a train."
Isbell's "The Day John Henry Died", retells the story of John Henry
John Henry
The most notable use of the name John Henry is in a ballad, "John Henry", describing the folk figure John Henry as a "steel-driving man".John Henry may also refer to:-People:* John Flournoy Henry , U.S...
.
"Puttin’ People on the Moon", written by Hood, tells the story of a town downriver of Huntsville and their "rocket envy" or economic depression due to the negative environmental and economic effects of NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
’s Marshall Space Flight Center
Marshall Space Flight Center
The George C. Marshall Space Flight Center is the U.S. government's civilian rocketry and spacecraft propulsion research center. The largest center of NASA, MSFC's first mission was developing the Saturn launch vehicles for the Apollo moon program...
.
Mike Cooley’s "Carl Perkins' Cadillac" recounts the celebrated Sun Records
Sun Records
Sun Records is a record label founded in Memphis, Tennessee, starting operations on March 27, 1952.Founded by Sam Phillips, Sun Records was known for giving notable musicians such as Elvis Presley , Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, and Johnny Cash...
, Sam Phillips
Sam Phillips
Samuel Cornelius Phillips , better known as Sam Phillips, was an American businessman, record executive, record producer and DJ who played an important role in the emergence of rock and roll as the major form of popular music in the 1950s...
, and the music industry in general.
"The Sands of Iwo Jima" recounts Hood's experiences with his great uncle while growing up in North Alabama. Questioning the veracity of the movie
Sands of Iwo Jima
Sands of Iwo Jima is a 1949 war film that follows a group of United States Marines from training to the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II. It stars John Wayne, John Agar, Adele Mara and Forrest Tucker. The movie was written by Harry Brown and James Edward Grant and directed by Allan Dwan...
, his uncle answers ironically that John Wayne
John Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
was never there at the time.
Isbell's second track on the album, "Danko/Manuel", is a departure from the usual southern gothic lyrical style written by Cooley and Hood. Originally Isbell tried to tell the story of Rick Danko
Rick Danko
Richard Clare "Rick" Danko was a Canadian musician and singer, best known as a member of The Band.-Early years :...
, Richard Manuel
Richard Manuel
Richard George Manuel was a Canadian composer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist, best known for his contributions to and membership in The Band....
, and The Band
The Band
The Band was an acclaimed and influential roots rock group. The original group consisted of Rick Danko , Garth Hudson , Richard Manuel , and Robbie Robertson , and Levon Helm...
's demise, but found the scope of the concept too difficult to actually do justice to their story, and instead shifted the concept to a telling of life of a musician through the eyes and actions of Danko and Manuel. Isbell stated that the horn parts for the song came to him in a dream.
The Dirty South contains a three song suite ("The Boys From Alabama", "Cottonseed", and "The Buford Stick") about Sheriff Buford Pusser
Buford Pusser
Buford Hayse Pusser was the Sheriff of McNairy County, Tennessee , from 1964 to 1970. Pusser is known for his virtual one-man war on moonshining, prostitution, gambling, and other vices on the Mississippi-Tennessee state-line. His story has directly inspired several books, songs, movies and at...
. "The Boys From Alabama" was inspired by the misconceptions and “really bad movies” of the Redneck Mafia
Dixie Mafia
The Dixie Mafia is a criminal organization based in Biloxi, Mississippi, and operated primarily in the Southern United States, in the 1970s. The group uses each member's talents in various crime categories to help move stolen merchandise, illegal alcohol, and illegal drugs...
and recounts the movie Walking Tall
Walking Tall
Walking Tall is a 1973 semi-biopic of Sheriff Buford Pusser, a former professional wrestler-turned-lawman in McNairy County, Tennessee. It starred Joe Don Baker as Pusser...
from a "different point of view". Hood felt that telling the story from "the bad guy's" point of view would be more interesting. Cooley's "Cottonseed" tells a story of corruption, crime, killing, greed, fixed elections, guns, drugs, prostitution and alcohol and uses subtle imagery to provide a very negative interpretation of Pusser. Hood's "The Buford Stick" completes the suite by providing examples of the negative effects of Pusser's actions while offering a less glorified view of the mythology surrounding Pusser.
Cooley's last song on the album is a story about a father who instills a love of racing in his son. Interestingly, "Daddy's Cup" is the only song on The Dirty South that does not revolve around a negative experience, instead offering a lighter touch to the overall 'dirty' feel of the album.
Isbell has explained that "Never Gonna Change" is simply about a stubborn North Alabama
North Alabama
North Alabama is a region of the U.S. state of Alabama, generally considered to include 12 counties: Cherokee, Colbert, DeKalb, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marshall, Morgan, and Winston, with a combined population of 958,247, or 20.84% of the state's population as...
man who "refuses to live in fear," which Isbell goes on to explain are rather rare.
"Lookout Mountain" was written around 1990 by Hood, and can be heard in its original incarnation on Adam's House Cat's LP Town Burned Down. It was a last minute addition to the album, beating out another Hood song entitled "Goode's Field Road." "Goode's Field Road" was eventually rerecorded for 2008's Brighter Than Creation's Dark
Brighter Than Creation's Dark
Brighter Than Creation's Dark is the seventh studio album released by Drive-By Truckers. It was released on January 22, 2008 in the United States. Recorded during and after the acoustic Dirt Underneath Tour, the album features a more stripped down, and country based sound not seen since their...
, however the cut that was dropped from The Dirty South managed to see the light of day on The Fine Print: A Collection of Oddities and Rarities
The Fine Print: A Collection of Oddities and Rarities
The Fine Print is a collection of unreleased material by the Drive-By Truckers mostly recorded throughout the making of their albums Decoration Day and The Dirty South; a highly prolific period for the band...
. The version as it appears on The Dirty South was recorded in one take.
The Dirty South ends with Isbell's "Goddamn Lonely Love." Though described by Isbell as a love song, "Goddamn Lonely Love" heavily and painfully delves into the loneliness associated with love. Isbell wrote the song for Shonna Tucker.
As of February 2008, The Dirty South is Drive-By Truckers' best-selling album.
The Dirty South was recorded at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.
Track listing
- "Where the Devil Don't Stay" (Cooley)
- "Tornadoes" (Hood)
- "The Day John Henry Died" (Isbell)
- "Puttin' People on the Moon" (Hood)
- "Carl Perkins' CadillacCarl Perkins' CadillacA song from the Drive-By Truckers' 2004 album The Dirty South, Carl Perkins' Cadillac sympathetically tells the story of one of the giants of rock and roll, Sam Phillips of Sun Records, and the respect shown to him by his stable of artists in the mid-1950s. One of the lines in the song states, "Mr...
" (Cooley) - "The Sands of Iwo Jima" (Hood)
- "Danko/Manuel" (Isbell)
- "The Boys from Alabama" (Hood)
- "Cottonseed" (Cooley)
- "The Buford Stick" (Hood)
- "Daddy's Cup" (Cooley)
- "Never Gonna Change" (Isbell)
- "Lookout Mountain" (Hood)
- "Goddamn Lonely Love" (Isbell)
Personnel
- Mike Cooley – guitar, vocals
- Patterson Hood – guitar, vocals
- Jason IsbellJason IsbellJason Isbell is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Greenhill, Alabama, near Muscle Shoals.-Background:Almost all of Isbell's family, except his parents, were musicians, and his father was an avid music listener...
– guitar, vocals - Brad Morgan – drums
- Shonna Tucker – bass
Chart performance
| Chart | Provider(s) | Peak position |
Certification | Sales/ shipments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... (U.S.) |
Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... |
147 | Not certified | N/A |
| Billboard Top Independent Albums (U.S.) | 14 | |||
| Billboard Top Heatseekers (U.S.) | 5 |