Dirty Side Down | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | May 25, 2010 | |||
Label | ATO/Widespread Records | |||
Producer | John Keane Widespread Panic | |||
Widespread Panic chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
Dirty Side Down is the eleventh studio album by American band Widespread Panic. The album signaled the return of John Keane as producer and was recorded in the band's hometown of Athens, Georgia, [2] in contrast to the previous two albums produced by Terry Manning at Compass Point Studios in the Bahamas. It is the fourth album released after the death of Michael Houser and the first for ATO Records
Songs on the album range from road-tested classics like Jerry Joseph's classic North, [3] Clinic Cynic, one of the few songs where Todd Nance sings lead vocals, [4] and Visiting Day [5] to new originals like Saint Ex, Shut Up and Drive and Cotton Was King. Also included is This Cruel Thing the latest of several Vic Chesnutt covers released by the band, and True to My Nature a collaboration with Daniel Hutchens of Bloodkin.
Widespread Panic’s John Bell on “Saint Ex”: My wife Laura and I are great fans of The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. It’s thought of as a children’s book but conveys some pretty heavy messages on many levels. A couple of years ago, my father sent me a New York Times article [6] about an eighty-five-year-old German World War II pilot who realized he was the guy that shot down Saint Ex (a French pilot) in 1944. The plane Saint-Exupéry was flying had been identified in 2004, ending the sixty-year-old mystery surrounding the author’s disappearance. Both pilots were on simple reconnaissance missions, and it was kind of a fluke that they happened upon each other. What I found intriguing about the situation is that the German pilot said Saint-Exupéry was one of his favorite authors, and claimed if he was aware of who was flying the French aircraft, he wouldn't have opened fire. I began reading more of Saint-Exupéry's works, and even though they’re translations, his insights about “Life During Wartime” are really profound and heartfelt – simultaneously caring about all humanity, while feeling compelled to fight for his country. Anyway, that’s what the song is about. [7]
This is the last Widespread Panic album to feature their original drummer Todd Nance.
Dirty Side Down debuted at No. 27 on the Billboard 200, [8] and No. 6 on Top Rock Albums, [9] selling 13,000 copies on the first week of its release. [10] The album has sold 72,000 copies in the United States as of September 2015. [11]
Guest performers
Personnel
Chart (2010) | Peak position |
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US Billboard 200 [12] | 27 |
US Independent Albums (Billboard) [13] | 2 |
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard) [14] | 6 |
US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard) [15] | 7 |
Widespread Panic is an American rock band from Athens, Georgia. The current lineup includes guitarist/singer John Bell, bassist Dave Schools, drummer Duane Trucks, percussionist Domingo "Sunny" Ortiz, keyboardist John "JoJo" Hermann, and guitarist Jimmy Herring. The band's original guitarist and sometime songwriter, Michael Houser, died of pancreatic cancer in 2002, and the original drummer, Todd Nance, left in 2016 and died in 2020.
Ball is the eighth studio album released by the Athens, GA based band Widespread Panic. It was released on April 15, 2003 and it was the band's first studio album with George McConnell on lead guitar. McConnell joined the band in 2002 after the death of founding member Michael Houser.
Don't Tell the Band, is the seventh studio album released by the Athens, GA based band Widespread Panic. It was released on June 19, 2001, in two forms, a single disc and a double disc release. It was the second release through the band's own label, Widespread Records, in conjunction with UK-based label Sanctuary Records. The album covered a wide variety of styles, from rock to Latin and grunge to soul, yet did not depart from this jam band's signature sound.
Live in the Classic City is the third live album released by American rock band Widespread Panic. The album was recorded over an April 2000 three-night run in their hometown of Athens, Georgia. It was released in June 2002 and features a mix of originals and cover songs, studded with guest performances from other star performers, including Derek Trucks, Bruce Hampton, and former R.E.M. drummer Bill Berry.
Ain't Life Grand is the fourth studio album by the Athens, GA-based band Widespread Panic. It was released by Capricorn Records and Warner Bros. Records on September 6, 1994. It was re-released in 2001 by Zomba Music Group. On July 3, 2014, the band announced that Ain't Life Grand would be reissued on vinyl in August 2014.
Everyday is the third studio album by the Athens, GA based band Widespread Panic. It was first released by Capricorn Records and Warner Bros. Records on March 3, 1993. It would later be re-released in 2001 by Zomba Music Group. On July 3, 2014, the band announced that Everyday would be reissued on Vinyl in August, 2014. The reissue will be distributed via ThinkIndie distribution and sold only at participating independent record stores.
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Another Joyous Occasion is the second live album released by the Athens, GA based band Widespread Panic. It was recorded over the Summer and Fall of 1999 when the band performed shows accompanied by The Dirty Dozen Brass Band. It was the first release on the band's own label, Widespread Records, after leaving Capricorn Records. It was released on June 6, 2000.
Night of Joy is the fourth live album released by the Athens, GA based band Widespread Panic. The album was recorded during a show in 2003 at the House of Blues in South Carolina. It was released on March 23, 2004 and features the Dirty Dozen Brass Band.
Über Cobra is the fifth live album released by the Athens, GA based band Widespread Panic. The album was recorded during a show in November 2003 in Myrtle Beach. It was released on July 12, 2004 and was the second of three live releases in 2004 by the band. The album is almost exclusively acoustic, with four guest tracks by John Keane on pedal steel.
Jackassolantern is the sixth live album released by the Athens, GA based band Widespread Panic. The album was recorded during various Halloween shows on which the band has performed. It was released on September 28, 2004 and was the third of the three live releases in 2004 by the band. The album is composed of cover songs that the band has performed. The album was released both on CD and as a limited-edition vinyl record.
Live at Myrtle Beach is the seventh live album released by the Athens, GA based band Widespread Panic. The album was recorded during a show in Fall 2003 at the House of Blues in Myrtle Beach, SC. It was released on February 22, 2005.
Brute was a side project band by guitarist Vic Chesnutt and members of Widespread Panic.
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Live in the Classic City II is the eighth live album released by the Athens, GA based band Widespread Panic. The album was recorded during a three-night run that took place April 1–3, 2000 at The Classic Center in Athens, GA. It was released on September 28, 2010.
Wood is the twenty-first album by the Athens, Georgia-based band Widespread Panic. It is their tenth official live album release. It was released on the band's Widespread Records imprint on October 16, 2012. Initially released on 2-CD, 2-LP and digitally, it features material recorded from the band's 20th anniversary Wood Tour in 2012. This is also the last album featuring Todd Nance on drums.
Live Wood is the twentieth album by the Athens, Georgia-based band Widespread Panic. It is their ninth official live album release and was released on the band's Widespread Records imprint on vinyl only for Record Store Day, April 21, 2012.
Oak Mountain 2001 – Night 3 is a live album by Athens, Georgia's Widespread Panic. This album features a multi-track recording of a performance by the band at Oak Mountain Amphitheater in Pelham, Alabama from 2001. The 3-disc set is the eighth multi-track release from the Widespread Panic Archives. The performance was recorded live on July 29, 2001. The album was released online and in local independent record stores on March 15, 2014 and is available on CD or as a digital download. The album features the six original members of the band: John Bell, John “JoJo” Hermann, Todd Nance, Domingo “Sunny” Ortiz, Dave Schools, and the late guitarist Michael Houser.
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