Track Listing

1. Shake (Yo Mama)
2. Keep The Devil Down
3. Soldier
4. Eaglebird
5. I'd Love To Be Happy
6. Mizzip
7. Blow Out
8. Come Go With Me
9. Rooster's Blues
10. Take Your Time, Rodney
11. Long Way From Home

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #48164 in Music
• Released on: 2008-01-22
• Number of discs: 1

Album Description
2008 release, the band's first studio album on their own label, Songs of the South Records. Hernando also marks the first release since 2005's critically lauded and Grammy-nominated Electric Blue Watermelon. Where EBW was a tribute to the tradition of the Hill Country Blues legacy that has always influenced the band, the brothers Dickinson, Luther (guitars, vocals) and Cody (drums) and bassist Chris Chew, decided to cut the lines from the past with the new record and create their most personal sonic statement to date. To celebrate this newfound unity in independence, they called the record Hernando, which is the name of the town the trio grew up in together.

Amazon.com
Combine the fatback guitar tone of Eric Clapton during his Cream days with the slap-back rhythms of the delta, and you’ve got the spontaneous combustion that fires through the best of Hernando. After excursions into psychedelic jamming, this Mississippi trio returns to its roots, titling the CD after its hometown and drawing deeply from blues and early rock & roll. The results showcase the virtuosity of guitarist Luther Dickinson more prominently than ever, though drummer and brother Cody takes a vocal on "Mizzip," a celebration of good times in their home state, and bassist Chris Chew sings "I Would Love to Be a Hippy," where the borderline novelty lyrics contrast with the sweet subtlety of Luther’s guitar. Producer-pianist-patriarch Jim Dickinson lets the interplay develop organically. While the first four cuts bring out the band’s juke-joint best, the aptly titled "Long Way from Home," a harmony-laden ballad, shows that the Allstars still have fresh territory to explore. --Don McLeese

Customer Reviews

Shakin' What Their Mamas Gave 'em
Here the Allstars are getting back to basics, after a badly cluttered album (Electric Blue Watermelon) that was weighed down by too many guest stars having an unfocused and inefficient party. Hernando returns us to the mean swamp blues as delivered by just the Dickinson Brothers and Chris Chew, with help from only a couple of guest singers and with East Memphis Slim occasionally chipping in on piano. This has encouraged the three Allstars to focus their attack, in the process creating some of their heaviest and lowdownest grooves yet. Longtime fans will be pleasantly surprised by the sinister swampfests in "Keep the Devil Down" and "Rooster's Blues," while the band has significantly darkened their lyrical outlook in "Soldier" and "Long Way from Home." But rest assured that there is some fun on this album as well, with a joyous carnival dance vibe in "Mizzip" and a rollicking rave-up in "Blow Out." Here the Allstars show us what they're really good at - lean and mean southern blues rock with a minimum of adornments. The nastier, the better... and here we have the Allstars at their nastiest and best. [~doomsdayer520~]

Good 'ol swampy blues rock...
This is the best NMA effort since 51 Phantom, IMO. The three guys are sticking to what they do best...rock blues with a southern swamp tinge! Luther straps on a Strat this time around and lays down some dang cool Hendrix tone in his playing..dead on, man! As a result, this album has a little harder edge to some of the songs than Electric Blue Watermelon, and that's a good thing. A couple of live NMA mp3 albums from their website featured Luther doing his Hendrix stuff, and I'm glad he was able to carry that side of his playing to the studio this time...highly recommended for all NMA and blues/southern rock fans...and Hendrix fans!!

When are you coming back to Utah, guys????

outstanding!
THE NORTH MISSISSIPPI ALLSTARS are once again making the OLE BLUES current for those too young to appreciate it. the talent in this band just keeps getting stronger and fresh with each outing. this has to be my favorite band at this time. the cd starts quick and rocking but settles in for some groovin grooves. this is what good time music is all about. I CANNOT ENCOURAGE YOU ENOUGH TO PICK THIS UP. you youngsters who like blues would be wise to start with any of their releases and learn what its all about. this cd reminds of the best of J. GEILS band ever did. THESE GUYS ARE FOR REAL!!!!!