Keeping the Blues Alive Records
Keeping the Blues Alive RecordsDion DiMucci‘s star-studded new studio album, Blues with Friends, got its release Friday. Along with its arrival, the rock ‘n’ roll and doo-wop legend also premiered a lyric video for one of the tracks, a collaboration with Stray Cats singer/guitarist Brian Setzer titled “Uptown Number 7.”
The song, which features Dion on vocals and a classic rockabilly-style solo from Setzer, boasts lyrics that use a subway train ride as a man’s journey toward spiritual enlightenment.
As Dion explains in a press release about the album, “I wanted to write an old-fashioned gospel number…I wanted this one to be about moving forward in the spiritual life…having a goal…facing temptations along the way. So, I put it all on a train, because that’s what New Yorkers do if they want to get anywhere: they take the train.”
He adds, “I can never leave well enough alone, so one day I tried the melody in a minor key. I loved the way it turned out and that’s what you’re hearing.”
The accompanying video, which you can check out at Dion’s YouTube channel, features a montage of footage of subway trains and stations.
As previously reported, Blues with Friends also features collaborations with Bruce Springsteen and wife Patti Scialfa, Paul Simon, ZZ Top‘s Billy Gibbons, Van Morrison, Jeff Beck, E Street Band guitarist Steven Van Zandt, blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa and more. Bob Dylan wrote the album’s liner notes.
Here’s the full Blues with Friends track list:
“Blues Comin’ On” — featuring Joe Bonamassa
“Kickin’ Child” — featuring Joe Menza
“Uptown Number 7” — featuring Brian Setzer
“Can’t Start Over Again” — featuring Jeff Beck
“My Baby Loves to Boogie” — featuring John Hammond
“I Got Nothin'” — featuring Van Morrison & Joe Louis Walker
“Stumbling Blues” — featuring Jimmy & Jerry Vivino
“Bam Bang Boom” — featuring Billy Gibbons
“I Got the Cure” — featuring Sonny Landreth
“Song for Sam Cooke (Here in America)” — featuring Paul Simon
“What If I Told You” — featuring Samantha Fish
“Told You Once in August” — featuring John Hammond & Rory Block
“Way Down (I Won’t Cry No More)” — featuring Stevie Van Zandt
“Hymn to Him” — featuring Patti Scialfa & Bruce Springsteen
By Matt Friedlander
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