Horse of a Different Color (Willy DeVille album)
Encyclopedia
Horse of a Different Color is a 1999 album by Willy DeVille
. The album consists of original compositions and remakes
of traditional Black music titles such as Fred McDowell
's “Going over the Hill,” and Andre Williams
' "Bacon Fat."
The album was recorded at Ardent Studios
in Memphis
. It was produced by Jim Dickinson
, who brought along his son Luther
to play guitar and his son Cody to play drums.
Allmusic called the album "the most consistent and brilliant recording of Willy DeVille's long career":
DeVille recorded another version of “Across the Borderline“ with The Mink DeVille Band for a music video. This recording features Willy DeVille on vocals and guitar, Freddy Koëlla on guitar, David Keyes on bass, Boris Kinberg on percussion, and Dorene and Yadonna Wise on background vocals.
Willy DeVille
Willy DeVille was an American singer and songwriter. During his thirty-five year career, first with his band Mink DeVille and later on his own, Deville created original songs rooted in traditional American musical styles. He worked with collaborators from across the spectrum of contemporary...
. The album consists of original compositions and remakes
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of traditional Black music titles such as Fred McDowell
Fred McDowell
Fred McDowell known by his stage name; Mississippi Fred McDowell, was an American Hill country blues singer and guitar player.-Career:...
's “Going over the Hill,” and Andre Williams
Andre Williams
Andre Williams is an American R&B and punk blues musician who started his career in the 1950s at Fortune Records in Detroit.-Biography:...
' "Bacon Fat."
The album was recorded at Ardent Studios
Ardent Studios
Ardent Studios is a recording studio located in Memphis, Tennessee. Ardent Records/Ardent Music is the in-house label.- History :Ardent Studios was founded by John Fry and was initially a studio in his family's garage, where he recorded his first Ardent Records 45's. In 1966 the operation moved...
in Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
. It was produced by Jim Dickinson
Jim Dickinson
James Luther "Jim" Dickinson was an American record producer, pianist, and singer who fronted, among others, the Memphis based band, Mudboy & The Neutrons.- Biography :...
, who brought along his son Luther
Luther Dickinson
Luther Dickinson is the lead guitarist and vocalist for the North Mississippi Allstars as well as lead guitarist for The Black Crowes...
to play guitar and his son Cody to play drums.
Allmusic called the album "the most consistent and brilliant recording of Willy DeVille's long career":
- Before it's over, DeVille has reprised his soulman balladeerBalladA ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
role — and no one sings them better — as well as cruising through a topical folk song, a chain-gangChain gangA chain gang is a group of prisoners chained together to perform menial or physically challenging work, such as mining or timber collecting, as a form of punishment. Such punishment might include building roads, digging ditches or chipping stone...
chant with a devastating rhythm track, and an R&BRhythm and bluesRhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
growler by Andre Williams before closing with his own "Time to Time," a broken-survivor song about love's ceaseless wars. Simply put, no one has this range or depth in interpreting not only styles, but also the poetics of virtually any set of lyrics. DeVille makes everything he sings believable. Horse of a Different Color is the most consistent and brilliant recording of Willy DeVille's long career.
DeVille recorded another version of “Across the Borderline“ with The Mink DeVille Band for a music video. This recording features Willy DeVille on vocals and guitar, Freddy Koëlla on guitar, David Keyes on bass, Boris Kinberg on percussion, and Dorene and Yadonna Wise on background vocals.
Track listing
Unless otherwise noted, all songs by Willy DeVille.- “Gypsy Deck of Hearts“ - (Willy DeVilleWilly DeVilleWilly DeVille was an American singer and songwriter. During his thirty-five year career, first with his band Mink DeVille and later on his own, Deville created original songs rooted in traditional American musical styles. He worked with collaborators from across the spectrum of contemporary...
, Sal Bernardi) - 3:21- Willy DeVilleWilly DeVilleWilly DeVille was an American singer and songwriter. During his thirty-five year career, first with his band Mink DeVille and later on his own, Deville created original songs rooted in traditional American musical styles. He worked with collaborators from across the spectrum of contemporary...
on vocals; Roger HawkinsRoger HawkinsRoger G Hawkins , is an American drummer best known for playing as part of the studio backing band known as The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section of Alabama...
on drums; David HoodDavid HoodDavid Hood , is a bassist from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. He also plays the trombone and is a member of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame....
on bass; Luther DickinsonLuther DickinsonLuther Dickinson is the lead guitarist and vocalist for the North Mississippi Allstars as well as lead guitarist for The Black Crowes...
on guitar, mandolin; Jack Holder on guitar; Jim DickinsonJim DickinsonJames Luther "Jim" Dickinson was an American record producer, pianist, and singer who fronted, among others, the Memphis based band, Mudboy & The Neutrons.- Biography :...
on piano; Spooner OldhamSpooner OldhamDewey Lindon "Spooner" Oldham is an American songwriter and session musician. An organist, he recorded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama and at FAME Studios on such hit R&B songs as "When a Man Loves a Woman" by Percy Sledge, "Mustang Sally" by Wilson Pickett and "I Never Loved a Man" by Aretha...
on organ; Freddy Koella on violin; Rick Steff on accordion, autoharp; Andy Cohen on doceola; J.D. Westmoreland on tipples
- Willy DeVille
- “Across the Borderline“ - (Ry CooderRy CooderRyland Peter "Ry" Cooder is an American guitarist, singer and composer. He is known for his slide guitar work, his interest in roots music from the United States, and, more recently, his collaborations with traditional musicians from many countries.His solo work has been eclectic, encompassing...
, John HiattJohn HiattJohn Hiatt is an American rock guitarist, pianist, singer, and songwriter. He has played a variety of musical styles on his albums, including New Wave, blues and country. Hiatt has been nominated for several Grammy Awards - although he has never won- and has been awarded a variety of other...
, Jim DickinsonJim DickinsonJames Luther "Jim" Dickinson was an American record producer, pianist, and singer who fronted, among others, the Memphis based band, Mudboy & The Neutrons.- Biography :...
- 3:38- Willy DeVille on vocals; Roger Hawkins on drums, percussion; David Hood on bass; Jack Holder on guitar; Luther Dickinson on acoustic slide guitar, mandolin; Spooner Oldham on piano; Jim Dickinson on Wurlitzer; Rick Steff on harp; Freddy Koella on violins; Susan Marshall, Brenda Patterson, Betram Brown, William Brown, John Crosthwait on background vocals
- “Lay Me Down Easy“ - (Willy DeVille, Sal Bernardi) - 4:28
- Willy DeVille on vocals; Roger Hawkins on drums; David Hood on bass; Jack Holder on acoustic guitar; Luther Dickinson on electric guitar, mandolin; Spooner Oldham on Wurlitzer; Jim Dickinson on piano, organ; Freddy Koella on violins; Jim Spake on saxophone; Scott Thompsen on trumpet; Susan Marshall, Brenda Patterson, Betram Brown, William Brown on background vocals
- “Goin' Over the Hill“ - (Fred McDowellFred McDowellFred McDowell known by his stage name; Mississippi Fred McDowell, was an American Hill country blues singer and guitar player.-Career:...
) - 2:21- Willy DeVille on vocals, tambourine; Luther Dickinson on electric slide guitar; Tate County Singers (Bernice Pratcher, Ada Thomas, Whitney Jefferies, Sharde Thomas) on background vocals
- “One Love, One Lifetime“ - (Willy DeVille, Sal Bernardi) - 3:29
- Willy DeVille on vocals; Roger Hawkins on drums; David Hood on bass; Luther Dickinson on guitar, sitar; Jack Holder, Jimmy Johnson on rhythm guitar; Spooner Oldham on organ; Jim Dickinson on vibes; Jim Spake on saxophone; Scott Thompsen on trumpet; Betram Brown, William Brown, Dexter Milan on background vocals
- “Needles and PinsNeedles and Pins (1963 song)"Needles and Pins" is a song written by Jack Nitzsche and Sonny Bono. In his autobiography, Bono states that he sang along with Nitzsche's guitar-playing, thus creating both the tune and the lyrics, being guided by the chord progressions....
“ - (Jack NitzscheJack NitzscheBernard Alfred "Jack" Nitzsche was an arranger, producer, songwriter, and film score composer. He first came to prominence in the late 1950s as the right-hand-man of producer Phil Spector, and went on to work with the Rolling Stones, Neil Young and others...
, Sonny BonoSonny BonoSalvatore Phillip "Sonny" Bono was an American recording artist, record producer, actor, and politician whose career spanned over three decades.-Early life:...
) - 3:04- Willy DeVille on vocals; Roger Hawkins on drums, percussion; David Hood on bass; Jimmy Johnson, Jack Holder on rhythm guitar; Luther Dickinson on lead guitar; Spooner Oldham on organ; Jim Dickinson on mellotron, Moog synthesizer
- “18 Hammers“ - (Jack Butler, Phillip Moore) - 2:37
- Willy DeVille on vocals; Cody Dickinson on drums; Luther Dickinson on electric side guitar; Jim Dickinson on electric piano; Betram Brown, William Brown, Jim Dickinson, Luther Dickinson, John Crosthwait, Sid Selvidge on background vocals
- “(Don't Want You) Hanging Around My Door“ - 3:25
- Willy DeVille on vocals, background vocals; Roger Hawkins on drums, percussion; David Hood on bass; Jimmy Johnson, Jack Holder on rhythm guitar; Luther Dickinson on lead guitar; Jim Dickinson on organ; Spooner Oldham on Wurlitzer; Freddy Joella on dulcimer; Jim Spake on saxophone; Scott Thompsen on trumpet; Brenda Patterson, Dexter Milan on background vocals
- “The Downing of the Flamingo“ (Henry B. Knowles) - 5:15
- Willy DeVille on vocals; Roger Hawkins on drums, percussion; David Hood on bass; Luther Dickinson on electric guitar, mandolin; Spooner Oldham on organ; Rick Steff on accordion; Jim Dickinson on vibes
- “Bacon Fat“ - (Andre WilliamsAndre WilliamsAndre Williams is an American R&B and punk blues musician who started his career in the 1950s at Fortune Records in Detroit.-Biography:...
, Devora Brown) - 4:19- Willy DeVille on vocals; Roger Hawkins on drums; David Hood on bass; Jack Holder on guitar; Luther Dickinson on electric slide guitar; Spooner Oldham on Wurlitzer; Jim Dickinson on piano; Jim Spake on baritone saxophone; Susan Marshall, Betram Brown, William Brown, John Crosthwait on background vocals
- “Time to Time“ - 2:39
- Willy DeVille on vocals, background vocals; Roger Hawkins on drums, percussion; David Hood on bass; Jack Holder on electric guitar; Luther Dickinson on acoustic slide guitar; Spooner Oldham on organ; Jim Dickinson on piano; Jim Spake on saxophone; Scott Thompsen on trumpet
Personnel
- Bertram Brown - background vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
- William Brown - background vocals
- Andy Cohen - doceola ("Gypsy Deck of Hearts")
- John Crosthwait - background vocals
- Willy DeVilleWilly DeVilleWilly DeVille was an American singer and songwriter. During his thirty-five year career, first with his band Mink DeVille and later on his own, Deville created original songs rooted in traditional American musical styles. He worked with collaborators from across the spectrum of contemporary...
- vocals, tambourineTambourineThe tambourine or marine is a musical instrument of the percussion family consisting of a frame, often of wood or plastic, with pairs of small metal jingles, called "zils". Classically the term tambourine denotes an instrument with a drumhead, though some variants may not have a head at all....
, background vocals - Cody Dickinson - drums ("18 Hammers")
- Jim DickinsonJim DickinsonJames Luther "Jim" Dickinson was an American record producer, pianist, and singer who fronted, among others, the Memphis based band, Mudboy & The Neutrons.- Biography :...
- pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, organ, mellotronMellotronThe Mellotron is an electro-mechanical, polyphonic tape replay keyboard originally developed and built in Birmingham, England in the early 1960s. It superseded the Chamberlin Music Master, which was the world's first sample-playback keyboard intended for music...
, WurlitzerWurlitzerThe Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, usually referred to simply as Wurlitzer, was an American company that produced stringed instruments, woodwinds, brass instruments, theatre organs, band organs, orchestrions, electronic organs, electric pianos and jukeboxes....
, Moog synthesizerMoog synthesizerMoog synthesizer may refer to any number of analog synthesizers designed by Dr. Robert Moog or manufactured by Moog Music, and is commonly used as a generic term for older-generation analog music synthesizers. The Moog company pioneered the commercial manufacture of modular voltage-controlled...
, vibesVibraphoneThe vibraphone, sometimes called the vibraharp or simply the vibes, is a musical instrument in the struck idiophone subfamily of the percussion family....
, background vocals - Luther DickinsonLuther DickinsonLuther Dickinson is the lead guitarist and vocalist for the North Mississippi Allstars as well as lead guitarist for The Black Crowes...
- guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, mandolinMandolinA mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
, sitarSitarThe 'Tablaman' is a plucked stringed instrument predominantly used in Hindustani classical music, where it has been ubiquitous since the Middle Ages...
, background vocals - Roger HawkinsRoger HawkinsRoger G Hawkins , is an American drummer best known for playing as part of the studio backing band known as The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section of Alabama...
- drums - Jack Holder - guitar
- David HoodDavid HoodDavid Hood , is a bassist from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. He also plays the trombone and is a member of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame....
- bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Freddy Koella - dulcimerAppalachian dulcimerThe Appalachian dulcimer is a fretted string instrument of the zither family, typically with three or four strings. It is native to the Appalachian region of the United States...
, violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello.... - Jimmy Johnson - guitar
- Susan Marshall - background vocals
- Spooner OldhamSpooner OldhamDewey Lindon "Spooner" Oldham is an American songwriter and session musician. An organist, he recorded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama and at FAME Studios on such hit R&B songs as "When a Man Loves a Woman" by Percy Sledge, "Mustang Sally" by Wilson Pickett and "I Never Loved a Man" by Aretha...
- organElectronic organAn electronic organ is an electronic keyboard instrument which was derived from the harmonium, pipe organ and theatre organ. Originally, it was designed to imitate the sound of pipe organs, theatre organs, band sounds, or orchestral sounds....
, piano - Dexter Milan - background vocals (“One Love, One Lifetime," [Don't Want You] Hanging Around My Door“)
- Brenda Patterson - background vocals
- Sid Selvidge - background vocals (“18 Hammers“)
- Jim Spake - saxophoneTenor saxophoneThe tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor, with the alto, are the two most common types of saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B, and written as a transposing instrument in the treble...
, baritone saxophoneBaritone saxophoneThe baritone saxophone, often called "bari sax" , is one of the largest and lowest pitched members of the saxophone family. It was invented by Adolphe Sax. The baritone is distinguished from smaller sizes of saxophone by the extra loop near its mouthpiece... - Rick SteffRick SteffRick Steff is a Memphis musician who has recorded with bands such as Lucero, Cat Power, Dexy's Midnight Runners, and Hank Williams Jr.. Rick inherited his musical skills from his father, Dick Steff, a trumpet player who appeared on many songs with Elvis Presley...
- accordionAccordionThe accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
, autoharpAutoharpThe autoharp is a musical string instrument having a series of chord bars attached to dampers, which, when depressed, mute all of the strings other than those that form the desired chord. Despite its name, the autoharp is not a harp at all, but a chorded zither. -History:There is debate over the...
, harpHarpThe harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings... - Tate CountyTate County, Mississippi-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 25,370 people, 8,850 households, and 6,717 families residing in the county. The population density was 63 people per square mile . There were 9,354 housing units at an average density of 23 per square mile...
Singers - background vocals ("Goin' Over the Hill")- Whitney Jefferies
- Bernice Pratcher
- Ada Thomas
- Sharde Thomas
- Scott Thompsen - trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
- J.D. WestmorelandJ. D. WestmorelandJ D Westmoreland is a jazz composer and performer.Westmoreland is a multi-instrumentalist mostly playing improvisations and eclectic compositions. Earning a degree in Theory and Composition from the University of Memphis, Westmoreland showcased his talent as a composer being awarded the Smit...
- tipples (“Gypsy Deck of Hearts“)
Production
- Jim DickinsonJim DickinsonJames Luther "Jim" Dickinson was an American record producer, pianist, and singer who fronted, among others, the Memphis based band, Mudboy & The Neutrons.- Biography :...
- producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music... - Luther DickinsonLuther DickinsonLuther Dickinson is the lead guitarist and vocalist for the North Mississippi Allstars as well as lead guitarist for The Black Crowes...
- producer ("Goin' Over the Hill") - Yves Delaunay - mixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
(Diam Studio) - Kevin Houston - engineeringAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
, mixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
("Goin' Over the Hill") - Bob Kruzen - engineering, mixing
- Philippe Le Bras - executive producer, A&RA&RArtists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
coordination - Jason "Ozark" Latshaw - assistant engineer
- Guy Peellaert - design
External links
- Sal Bernardi, Website of Sal Bernardi, who co-wrote songs with Willy DeVille on Horse of a Different Color