American Son | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1980 | |||
Studio | Bradley's Barn, Mount Juliet, Tennessee | |||
Genre | Country rock | |||
Length | 35:20 | |||
Label | MCA | |||
Producer | Fred Carter, Jr. | |||
Levon Helm chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [1] |
Rolling Stone | favorable [2] |
American Son is a studio album by American country rock musician Levon Helm, who is most famous for his work as drummer for the rock group the Band. It was released in October 1980 on MCA Records and was Helm's third studio album. It had generally been considered Levon Helm's best solo work until the release of Dirt Farmer in 2007.
Helm played the part of Loretta Lynn's father in the 1980 film Coal Miner's Daughter and was asked to record a version of Bill Monroe's "Blue Moon of Kentucky" for the film's soundtrack. The session went well, and producer Fred Carter, Jr., decided to cut more tracks. Using a band of veteran Nashville session players, Carter and Helm recorded 20 tracks over two weeks, half of which ended up on American Son. [3]
Billboard's reviewers noted that the album was more rock-like than country-like and pleasant to listen to. The authors also suggested that due to the success of the film, which starred Levon Helm, sales of the disc would be high. [4]
Chart (1980) | Peak position |
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Canadian RPM Country Albums | 24 |
The Band was a Canadian-American rock band formed in Toronto, Ontario, in 1967. It consisted of Canadians Rick Danko, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel, Robbie Robertson, and American Levon Helm. The Band combined elements of Americana, folk, rock, jazz, country, and R&B, influencing musicians such as George Harrison, Elton John, the Grateful Dead, Eric Clapton and Wilco.
The Last Waltz is the second live album by the Band, released on Warner Bros. Records in 1978, catalogue 3WS 3146. It is the soundtrack to the 1978 film of the same name, and the final album by the original configuration of the Band. It peaked at No. 16 on the Billboard 200.
Jericho is the eighth studio album by Canadian-American rock group the Band. Coming seventeen years after their "farewell concert", it was released in 1993 and was the first album to feature the latter-day configuration of the group, as well as their first release for the Rhino subsidiary Pyramid Records.
High on the Hog is the ninth studio album by Canadian-American rock group the Band, released in 1996. As with its predecessor, 1993's Jericho, it relies heavily on cover versions; only two tracks are original. Songs include Bob Dylan's "Forever Young", a live recording of Richard Manuel performing "She Knows", and the closer "Ramble Jungle".
Jubilation is the tenth and final studio album by Canadian/American rock group the Band. Recorded in the spring of 1998 in Levon Helm's home studio in Woodstock, New York, it was released on September 15, 1998. For the first time since the group reformed without guitarist and songwriter Robbie Robertson, there were more originals than covers. Songs include "Last Train to Memphis", featuring guest guitarist Eric Clapton, Garth Hudson's solo instrumental closer "French Girls", Rick Danko's "High Cotton" and the ode to Ronnie Hawkins, "White Cadillac".
Fred F. Carter Jr. was an American guitarist, singer, producer and composer.
Rockabilly Blues is an album by American country singer Johnny Cash, released on Columbia Records in 1980. Highlights include "Cold Lonesome Morning," which had some minor chart success, "Without Love," by his son-in-law, Nick Lowe, and a cover of the witty "The Twentieth Century Is Almost Over." The first two of the aforementioned songs were the only singles from the album, though "Without Love" hardly enjoyed any chart success, peaking at No. 78. "The Twentieth Century is Almost Over" was re-recorded five years later by Cash and Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson, collectively known as The Highwaymen, on their first album entitled Highwayman, though it was, in essence, a duet with Nelson.
Kenny is the eighth studio album by American singer Kenny Rogers, released in 1979. It includes the singles "Coward of the County" and "You Decorated My Life."
It's About Time is the twelfth studio album released by American singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins. Released in 2003, it was his first non-Christmas, non-children's album since 1997's The Unimaginable Life as well as his first following termination from Columbia Records while working on the album. Besides Loggins, several other noteworthy musicians co-wrote and performed on the album. These include frequent Loggins cohort Michael McDonald, as well as fellow soft-rocker Richard Marx and country singer Clint Black.
How About Now is the thirteenth studio album by American singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins. Released in 2007, its key tracks include "A Love Song" and the title track, "How About Now." To date, it was his most recent album composed of entirely original material.
Tell Me Why is the second solo studio album by American country music artist Wynonna, released on Curb / MCA Records in 1993. It produced the hit singles "Only Love", "Is It Over Yet", "Rock Bottom", "Girls with Guitars", and the title track, all top ten hits on the Billboard country music charts. "Let's Make a Baby King" also charted at #61 based on unsolicited airplay. The title song also charted on the Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts.
Something to Say is the third full-length studio album by Contemporary Christian music artist Matthew West. It was released on January 15, 2008 through Sparrow Records. The album's first single, "You Are Everything", was the most-played song on Christian AC radio in 2008. Other singles from the album include the title track "Something to Say", and West's third #1 single, "The Motions".
When Love Finds You is the sixth studio album from American country music artist Vince Gill. It was released in 1994 on MCA Nashville. It features the singles "Whenever You Come Around," "What the Cowgirls Do," "When Love Finds You," "Which Bridge to Cross ," "You Better Think Twice" and "Go Rest High on That Mountain."
I Prefer the Moonlight is the twentieth studio album by American country music singer Kenny Rogers released in 1987. The album was Rogers' final studio album for RCA Nashville. It peaked at number 18 on the country charts and number 163 in the Billboard 200. It contained three top five singles: the title track, the Grammy-winning duet with Ronnie Milsap, "Make No Mistake, She's Mine" and "The Factory".
There's No Gettin' Over Me is the thirteenth studio album by American country music artist Ronnie Milsap, released in 1981 by RCA Records. The album produced two No. 1 hits for Milsap, including the title track, which also peaked at No. 2 on the Adult Contemporary chart and No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. "I Wouldn't Have Missed It For the World," the other #1 single, also reached No. 20 and No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts, respectively.
The Spirit's in It is the fifth studio album by American singer Patti LaBelle. It was released by Philadelphia International Records on August 28, 1981, in the United States, her first with the label.
Let It Rock is a Juno Award-nominated album that documents American-Canadian singer Ronnie Hawkins's 60th birthday celebration and concert at Massey Hall in Toronto, Ontario. The concert took place on January 8, 1995, and featured performances by Hawkins, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, the Band and Larry Gowan. Jeff Healey sat in on guitar for most, if not all, of the performances. Hawkins's band, the Hawks, or permutations of it, backed most, if not all, of the acts. All of the musicians performing that night were collectively dubbed "the Rock ‘N’ Roll Orchestra". The concert is among the last recorded of both Perkins and Rick Danko of the Band. An eponymous video of the concert was also released.
Todd David Cerney was an American songwriter and musician.
Ramble at the Ryman is a 2011 live album recorded by American rock multi-instrumentalist Levon Helm during his September 17, 2008 performance at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium. The performance kicked off the beginning of the Americana Music Festival & Conference. The album features six songs by The Band and other cover material, including songs from previous Helm solo releases. Helm's band is led by multi-instrumentalist Larry Campbell and Helm's daughter, vocalist and mandolinist Amy Helm.
So Many Roads is a 1965 studio album by John P. Hammond, backed by several musicians who would go on to form The Band.