Dickey Betts & Great Southern

by Dickey Betts & Great Southern

Overview

Three years after the issue of his landmark solo recording, Highway Call (and countless inbred brawls and unholy wars among the Allman Brothers), guitarist, singer, and songwriter Dickey Betts released the debut by his "other" band, Great Southern. Attempting to capture the loose, easy feel of Highway Call and combine it with the more blues-driven sound of the Allmans, Betts was largely successful though the record does suffer a tad from overly slick production. Evident from "Out to Get Me," the very first track, is Betts' trademark slide guitar burning a hole through the center of the mix. The undertone of the album is the shuffle, both country and blues, aided in large part by Topper Price's harmonica and the able second guitar of Dan Toler. But the feel is all Betts. He stretches out the stinging boogie of "Run Gypsy Run," with dual leads, a killer pre-verse riff, and a solid "Ramblin Man"-style melodic line in the heart of his blues. Perhaps the hinge piece on the album in on its third track, "Sweet Virginia" (not a cover of the Rolling Stones' track). Here, Betts' slide work is easily and lilting as it undergirds a sleepy country tune with a killer backbeat. Nostalgia, or at least the previous, is the backbone of Betts' sentiment as his vice rings through the guitars and rhythm section with conviction and a sureness that only comes out of the finest country-rock music (think Creedence Clearwater meets the Allmans). Ultimately, this album, with its funky New Orleans basslines and second-line percussions, is another restless country-soul set from Betts. And though more guitar driven than Highway Call (fiddle god Vassar Clements is not Betts' foil here), its songs hold as much soul and aplomb if not the same deeply held convictions that made the previous album the classic it is. Nonetheless, Great Southern is a very fine album that despite its polish holds a wealth of fine songs and truly astonishing playing within its grooves. ~ Thom Jurek

Product Details

Release Date:	04/18/2025
Label:	Music On Vinyl
UPC:	8719262037267

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Dickey Betts & Great Southern   Primary Artist
Dickey Betts   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals,Slide Guitar,Guitar (Electric)
Great Southern   Primary Artist
Dan Toler   Vocals,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background),Guitar
Jerry Thompson   Drums,Percussion
Tom Broome   Vocals,Keyboards,Vocals (Background)
Kenny Tibbetts   Bass
Topper Price   Harp,Harmonica
Ken Tibbets   Bass (Electric)
Donald Johnson   Vocals
Donnie Sharbono   Drums,Percussion
Don Johnson   Vocals (Background)
Mickey Thomas   Vocals,Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Dickey Betts & Great Southern   Performer
Johnny Sandlin   Remixing
Dickey Betts   Composer,Lyricist,Producer
James Lowell Paramore   Composer,Lyricist
Curtis Buck   Composer,Lyricist
David Richman   Redesign,Project Coordinator
Benno Friedman   Photography
Steve Klein   Engineer,Assistant Producer
Bob Heimall   Design,Art Direction
Mike Ragogna   Reissue Director
Elliott Federman   Mastering
Buddy Thornton   Remix Assistant
Don Johnson   Lyricist,Composer
D. Johnson   Composer