Up and Rolling

Last updated
Up And Rolling
North Mississippi Allstars Up And Rolling cover.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 4, 2019 (2019-10-04)
Studio
Genre Blues rock
Length44:50
Label New West
Producer
North Mississippi Allstars chronology
Prayer for Peace
(2017)
Up And Rolling
(2019)
Set Sail
(2022)

Up and Rolling is the tenth studio album by American band North Mississippi Allstars. It was released on October 4, 2019, through New West Records, making it their first album for the label.

Contents

Production was handled entirely by Cody and Luther Dickinson, assisted by Kody Harrell, except for the song "Living Free" co-produced by Lawrence "Boo" Mitchell. It features contributions from Tierinii and Tikyra Jackson of Southern Avenue, Cedric and Garry Burnside, Charles Hodges, Mavis Staples, Jason Isbell, Othar Turner, Duane Betts and Roosevelt Collier.

In the United States, the album made it to several Billboard charts, peaking at No. 66 on the Current Album Sales, No. 78 on the Top Album Sales, No. 2 on the Top Blues Albums, No. 24 on the Independent Albums, No. 3 on the Heatseekers Albums and No. 15 on the Tastemakers.

In 2020, the album was nominated for a Blues Music Award for Blues Rock Album at the 41st Blues Music Awards and for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, but lost to Albert Castiglia's Masterpiece and Fantastic Negrito's Have You Lost Your Mind Yet? respectively.

Recording

The record was partially inspired by old photographs taken by Texan photographer Wyatt McSpadden in 1996, who visited the Dickinson brothers around the time of formation the North Mississippi Allstars to document the hill country blues scene in the Magnolia State. The images inspired the Dickinsons to revisit the sound of regionally renowned artists like Otha Turner and Junior Kimbrough ("Lonesome in My Home") that were hugely influential on their band. [1]

Unlike the previous album, 2017's Prayer for Peace, this one saw an increase in the band's lineup. The Dickinson brothers duo were joined by bassist Carl DuFrene, fife player Shardé Thomas and vocalist Sharisse Norman. Previously, DuFrene was one of the guest musicians on the 2015 album Freedom & Dreams, while Thomas and Norman were featured on Prayer for Peace.

Main recording sessions took place at Zebra Ranch Studios in Independence, Mississippi with Kevin Houston. Mavis' vocals were recorded March 11, 2019 at Chicago Recording Company by engineer Mat Lejeune, assisted by Jonathan Lackey. "What You Gonna Do?" and "Mean Old World" were recorded at Sputnik Sound in Nashville by Vance Powell, assisted by Mike Fahey. "Take My Hand, Precious Lord" and additional drums were recorded at Checkerboard Lounge in Southaven by Cody Dickinson. "Out on the Road" was recorded at Harmony Hill Recordings in Nashville by Luther Dickinson, at Brooklyn Recording in New York by Andy Taub and at Checkerboard Lounge in Southaven by Cody Dickinson. Betts' guitar part was recorded at Pacific View Studio in Los Angeles by Stoll Vaughan.

On June 26, 2019 Paste magazine premiered the first single from then-upcoming album - a cover of The Staple Singers’ "What You Gonna Do" from their 1965 album Freedom Highway . [2] Along with the song, release date, track listing, cover art, and tour dates were revealed.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 84/100 [3]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [4]
American Songwriter Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [5]

Up and Rolling was met with universal acclaim from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 84, based on four reviews. [3]

AllMusic's Thom Jurek said that the album "clears away decades of cobwebs, dust, and wisteria vines from the doorway to the past: It's a family reunion offering that looks to the Hill Country's history and mystery for both its inspiration from the past and guidance to its present". [4] Hal Horowitz of American Songwriter praised the album saying: "It's an album that both looks backward and forward, reprising the dusky feel of the music that first inspired the Dickinson brothers to start their band while pushing it into electric boogie and even psychedelic directions its founders might not have imagined". [5] Doug Collette of Glide found the album "decidedly tighter and more focused piece of work than their last two albums". [3] Uncut reviewer stated: "a passionate and muscular record that oozes cool in every note". [3]

With four out of five star rating given, the album was chosen as one of AllMusic's 'Favorite Blues Album's. [6]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Call That Gone"
4:44
2."Up and Rolling"L. Dickinson5:03
3."What You Gonna Do?" (featuring Mavis Staples) Roebuck Staples 3:21
4."Drunk Outdoors"L. Dickinson3:37
5."Peaches" R. L. Burnside 5:17
6."Mean Old World" (featuring Jason Isbell and Duane Betts) Walter Jacobs 6:32
7."Out on the Road" (featuring Cedric Burnside)R. L. Burnside2:18
8."Lonesome in My Home" David Kimbrough 3:06
9."Bump That Mother"
3:11
10."Living Free"
3:56
11."Take My Hand, Precious Lord" (featuring Cedric Burnside) Thomas A. Dorsey 3:07
12."Otha’s Bye Bye Baby" (featuring Othar Turner)
  • L. Dickinson
  • Turner
0:38
Total length:44:50

Personnel

Charts

Chart performance for Up And Rolling
Chart (2019)Peak
position
US Current Album Sales ( Billboard ) [7] 66
US Top Album Sales (Billboard) [8] 78
US Top Blues Albums (Billboard) [9] 2
US Independent Albums (Billboard) [10] 24
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard) [11] 3
US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard) [12] 15

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Staple Singers</span> American gospel, soul, and R&B singing group

The Staple Singers were an American gospel, soul, and R&B singing group. Roebuck "Pops" Staples, the patriarch of the family, formed the group with his children Cleotha, Pervis, and Mavis. Yvonne replaced her brother when he was drafted into the U.S. Army, and again in 1970. They are best known for their 1970s hits "Respect Yourself", "I'll Take You There", "If You're Ready ", and "Let's Do It Again". While the family name is Staples, the group used "Staple" commercially.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marty Stuart</span> American musician

John Marty Stuart is an American country and bluegrass music singer, songwriter, and musician. Active since 1968, Stuart initially toured with Lester Flatt, and then in Johnny Cash's road band before beginning work as a solo artist in the early 1980s. His greatest commercial success came in the first half of the 1990s on MCA Records Nashville. Stuart has recorded over 20 studio albums, and has charted over 30 times on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. His highest chart entry is "The Whiskey Ain't Workin'", a duet with Travis Tritt. Stuart has also won five Grammy Awards out of 16 nominations. He is known for his combination of rockabilly, country rock, and bluegrass music influences, his frequent collaborations and cover songs, and his distinctive stage dress. Stuart is also a member of the Grand Ole Opry and Country Music Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">R. L. Burnside</span> American blues musician (1926–2005)

R. L. Burnside was an American blues singer, songwriter and guitarist. He played music for much of his life but received little recognition before the early 1990s. In the latter half of that decade, Burnside recorded and toured with Jon Spencer, garnering crossover appeal and introducing his music to a new fan base in the punk and garage rock scenes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Mississippi Allstars</span>

North Mississippi Allstars is an American blues and southern rock band from Hernando, Mississippi, founded in 1996. The band is currently composed of brothers Luther Dickinson and Cody Dickinson. Their most recent album Set Sail was released in 2022.

The Word is an American instrumental/sacred steel/gospel blues jam band. The supergroup includes well-known musicians: Robert Randolph, John Medeski (keyboards), both members of North Mississippi Allstars- Luther Dickinson, Cody Dickinson, and ex-North Mississippi Allstars bassist Chris Chew.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mavis Staples</span> American singer

Mavis Staples is an American rhythm and blues and gospel singer and civil rights activist. She rose to fame as a member of her family's band The Staple Singers, of which she is the last surviving member. During her time in the group, she recorded the hit singles "I'll Take You There" and "Let's Do It Again". In 1969, Staples released her self-titled debut solo album.

<i>Master of Disaster</i> 2005 studio album by John Hiatt

Master of Disaster is an album by American singer-songwriter John Hiatt. It was released on June 21, 2005 via New West Records. Recording sessions took place at Ardent Studio "C" in Memphis, Tennessee. Production was handled by Jim Dickinson. It features contributions from the North Mississippi Allstars, David Hood, Jim Spake, Jeff Callaway, Scott Thompson, Joe Sallmanberger, "T-Bone" Tommy Burroughs and Jim Dickinson. The album peaked at number 126 on the Billboard 200 and number 10 on the Independent Albums in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luther Dickinson</span> American guitarist and singer

Luther Andrews Dickinson is the lead guitarist and vocalist for the North Mississippi Allstars and the son of record producer Jim Dickinson. He is also known for being a guitarist for The Black Crowes. He hosts Guitar Xpress on the Video on Demand network Mag Rack.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ian Siegal</span> Musical artist

Ian Siegal is a British blues singer and guitarist.

<i>Hernando</i> (album) 2008 studio album by North Mississippi Allstars

Hernando is the fifth studio album by American band North Mississippi Allstars. It was released on January 22, 2008 through Songs of the South Records. Recording sessions took place at Zebra Ranch Studio in Coldwater, Mississippi. Production was handled by Jim Dickinson. It features contributions from Jimbo Mathus, Jimmy Davis, East Memphis Slim, Kurt "KC" Clayton and Amy LaVere. The band briefly toured the album across America in 2008.

Southern Avenue is an American five-piece blues and soul blues band from Memphis, Tennessee, United States. Formed in 2015, they took their name from a street in Memphis running from the easternmost part of the city limits to "Soulsville", which was the original home of Stax Records. Rock 103 described them as "the most talked about band in Memphis." Southern Avenue reached the finals of the International Blues Challenge in 2016.

<i>We Are</i> (Jon Batiste album) 2021 studio album by Jon Batiste

We Are is the sixth studio album by Jon Batiste. It was released on Verve Records on March 19, 2021. In April 2022, the album won Album of the Year at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards; it earned Batiste eleven nominations in total, with five wins.

<i>Shake Hands with Shorty</i> 2000 studio album by North Mississippi Allstars

Shake Hands with Shorty is the debut studio album by American band North Mississippi Allstars. It was released on May 9, 2000, through Tone-Cool Records. It features contributions from Cedric and Garry Burnside, Othar Turner, Jim Dickinson, Jimmy Crosthwait, Richard "Hombre" Price, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Steve Selvidge, Jimbo Mathus, Tate County Singers, Stu Cole and Greg Humphreys. Recording sessions took place in 1999 at Zebra Ranch Studios in Tate County, Mississippi, except for Price's bass part on the song "K.C. Jones " was recorded at House of Bob. Production was handled by Cody and Luther Dickinson.

<i>51 Phantom</i> 2001 studio album by North Mississippi Allstars

51 Phantom is the second studio album by American band North Mississippi Allstars. It was released on October 9, 2001 through Tone-Cool Records. Recording sessions took place at Zebra Ranch Complex in Tate County, Mississippi. Production was handled by Jim Dickinson. It features contributions from Ben Nichols and John C. Stubblefield of Lucero, Brenda Patterson, Jackie Johnson, Susan Marshall, Othar Turner and Jim Dickinson.

<i>Prayer for Peace</i> (North Mississippi Allstars album) 2017 studio album by North Mississippi Allstars

Prayer for Peace is the ninth studio album by American band North Mississippi Allstars. It was released on June 2, 2017 via Songs of the South Records, making it their final record for the label. Recording sessions took place at Royal Studios in Memphis, Brooklyn Studios in New York City, Harmony Hill in Nashville, Music Shed Studio in New Orleans, Zebra Ranch Studios in Independence, Sawhorse Studios in St. Louis, Weights and Measures in Kansas City, and Arly Studios in Austin. Production was handled by Cody and Luther Dickinson with co-producer Lawrence "Boo" Mitchell.

<i>Electric Blue Watermelon</i> 2005 studio album by North Mississippi Allstars

Electric Blue Watermelon is the fourth studio album by American band North Mississippi Allstars. It was released on September 6, 2005, through ATO Records. Recording sessions took place at Ardent Studios and at Sam Phillips Recording Studio in Memphis, Tennessee and at Zebra Ranch in Independence, Mississippi. Production was handled by Jim Dickinson. It features contributions from Lucinda Williams, Robert Randolph, Al Kapone, Othar Turner, Jimbo Mathus, Ben Nichols, Jimmy Davis, Jim Crosthwait, Jim Spake, Steve Selvidge, Susan Marshall, Mary Lindsay Dickinson, John C. Stubblefield, R.L. Boyce, Sharde Turner, Aubrey Turner, Rodney Evans, Otha Andre Evans, Whitney Jefferson, Robert "Tex" Wrightsil, Harold "Sundance" Thomas, Roger Lewis, Kevin Harris, Efrem Towns, Terence Higgins, Julius McKee, Revert Andrews, Jamie McLean and Jim Dickinson.

<i>World Boogie Is Coming</i> 2013 studio album by North Mississippi Allstars

World Boogie Is Coming is the eighth studio album by American band North Mississippi Allstars. It was released on September 3, 2013 via Songs of the South Records. Recording sessions took place at Arlyn Studios in Austin and at Zebra Ranch Studios in Independence. Production was handled by Cody and Luther Dickinson.

<i>Keys to the Kingdom</i> (album) 2011 studio album by North Mississippi Allstars

Keys to the Kingdom is the sixth studio album by American band North Mississippi Allstars. It was released in 2011 through Songs of the South Records. It features contributions from Mavis Staples, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Spooner Oldham, Gordie Johnson, Ry Cooder, Jim Spake and Jack Ashford. The album peaked at number 175 on the US Current Album Sales, number 46 on the Top Rock Albums, number two on the Top Blues Albums, number 27 on the Independent Albums, number four on the Heatseekers Albums and number 14 on the Tastemakers.

<i>Wild Heart</i> (Samantha Fish album) 2015 studio album by Samantha Fish

Wild Heart is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Samantha Fish. It was released on June 14, 2015.

<i>Set Sail</i> (North Mississippi Allstars album) 2022 studio album by North Mississippi Allstars

Set Sail is the thirteenth studio album by American band North Mississippi Allstars. It was released on January 28, 2022, through New West Records, making it their second album for the label. Recording sessions took place at Applehead Recording Studios in Woodstock, New York, at Wilbe Studios in Atlanta, and at Royal Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. Production was handled entirely by Cody and Luther Dickinson, except for one song, "Never Want To Be Kissed" produced with William Bell. It features contributions from William Bell, John Medeski, Wizard Jones, Phyllislorena Smiley, Lucia and Isla Belle Dickinson. The album peaked at No. 51 on the Top Current Album Sales and No. 1 on the Top Blues Albums in the United States.

References

  1. Ferris, Jedd (June 26, 2019). "North Mississippi Allstars Preview New Album With Cover of Staple Singers' 'What You Gonna Do'". Rolling Stone . Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  2. Russell, Scott (June 26, 2019). "Exclusive: North Mississippi Allstars Are Up and Rolling with Mavis Staples on "What You Gonna Do"". Paste . Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Critic Reviews for Up and Rolling". Metacritic . Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  4. 1 2 Jurek, Thom. "Up and Rolling - North Mississippi Allstars | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic . Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  5. 1 2 Horowitz, Hal (October 4, 2019). "North Mississippi Allstars: Up and Rolling". American Songwriter . Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  6. "Favorite Blues Albums | AllMusic 2019 in Review". AllMusic . Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  7. "North Mississippi Allstars Chart History (Current Album Sales)". Billboard . Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  8. "North Mississippi Allstars Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  9. "North Mississippi Allstars Chart History (Top Blues Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  10. "North Mississippi Allstars Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  11. "North Mississippi Allstars Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  12. "North Mississippi Allstars Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 4, 2021.