Dirt Farmer | 
| Artist: Levon Helm
Label: Vanguard Records
List Price: $16.98
Buy New: $10.58
You Save: $6.40 (38%)
New (55) Used (18) from $9.35
Rating:  90 reviews
Sales Rank: 443
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 4.9 x 0.4
MPN: 79844
UPC: 015707984423
EAN: 0015707984423
ASIN: B000VG7M0O
Release Date: October 30, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | False Hearted Lover Blues (Traditional) | | • | Poor Old Dirt Farmer (Traditional) | | • | The Mountain (Steve Earle) | | • | Little Birds (Traditional) | | • | The Girl I Left Behind (Traditional) | | • | Calvary (Byron Isaacs) | | • | Anna Lee (Laurelyn Dossett) | | • | Got Me A Woman (Paul Kennerley) | | • | A Train Robbery (Paul Kennerley) | | • | Single Girl, Married Girl (A. P. Carter) | | • | The Blind Child (Traditional) | | • | Feelin Good (J. B. Lenoir) | | • | Wide River To Cross (Buddy Miller, Julie Miller) |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Levon Helm's early solo albums, made in the 1970s after the Band initially broke up, were hit-and-miss affairs, but his first solo studio release in 25 years represents a rich return to his Southern roots. With co-production and musical support from daughter Amy (of Ollabelle) and multi-instrumentalist Larry Campbell (long a mainstay of Bob Dylan's band), Helm gives organic unity and rough-hewn vitality to a selection of Cajun fiddle waltzes, country blues, hardscrabble folk, and some more contemporary material (from the likes of Steve Earle and Buddy and Julie Miller). Following his recovery from throat cancer, Helm's voice has a slightly different timbre, but his phrasing is unmistakable as the same vocalist who sang "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" and "Rag Mama Rag." With Amy providing harmony and duet vocals and Levon's drumming evoking his signature work with the Band, Helm takes material from a variety of sources and makes it all his own. --Don McLeese
Product Description
Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Levon Helm's Dirt Farmer will be released
October 30 by Vanguard Records, his first solo, studio album in 25 years. The organic feel of the sessions hark back to his work with The Band and comes on the heels of a wave of attention for his Midnight Rambles, late night concerts held at Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock, NY.
It's a major landmark on a remarkable journey for Levon Helm. "The last few years have proven to me that we truly live in an age of miracles," writes Levon in the poignant liner notes. After arduous treatments for throat cancer that took away his singing voice and a fire that consumed over eighty percent of his recording studio, Helm was amazed to find both restored.
On Dirt Farmer, Helm's pays tribute to his family, singing traditional songs that he learned growing up in rural Arkansas. He also covers songs by Steve Earle and J.B. Lenoir; full of Dobros, mandolins and acoustic guitars, the album resonates deeply, honoring Levon's roots.
Multi-instrumentalist Larry Campbell (Bob Dylan, Lyle Lovett, Solomon Burke) and Levon's daughter Amy, also a member of Ollabelle, produced and shepherded the project at "The Barn," Levon Helm Studios. Levon himself plays drums, mandolin, and acoustic guitar and provides all lead vocals.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 85 more reviews...
 The Woodstock Soul October 30, 2007
prisrob (New EnglandUSA)
67 out of 83 found this review helpful
Levon Helm is listed as 'Americana Roots' in some music charts. That is the perfect description of his music. This CD celebrates the American Way and Levon's roots in his music. A member of The Band, all those years ago, that glorious group that made the music we would sing, dance and love to. When I hear 'the Weight' I think of Levon, it is really his song, no matter whose name is on the label.
Levon Helm lives in Woodstock, NY, and this is where he makes his music. He has a home and an old barn that he has converted into a stage, where he and his friends sing. Every week he has what he calls a 'Midnight Ramble'. I receive his monthly mailings and one of these days I will see Levon in all his glory. Levon has recovered from throat cancer. It has been a struggle. For a while it was questionable whether he would ever speak or sing again. He has made it and this CD is a celebration of his recovery and his roots. His voice is throaty but it is Levon and his music. His daughter, Amy has been the driving force behind this CD, and she and Larry Campbell both contributed in voice and music. Levon Helm has dedicated this album to his parents. Levon, the only real American in 'The Band, was born in Arkansas and started his career in the South. He met up with other musicians on the road, and they came to form 'The Band, and the rest is history. Levon is my hero. Nate Chinen says, In singing the song 'Wide Rover To Cross' "I've come a long, long road," Mr. Helm sings in the chorus of that song, "but still I've got some miles to go." Coming around to the point -- "I've got a wide, a wide river to cross" -- he sounds like the voice of experience, humbled as well as emboldened."
Several of the songs on his CD, 'Dirt Farmer' are from his childhood. 'False-Hearted Lover Blues', 'Single Girl, Married Girl' and 'Blind Child'. 'Dirt Farmer' title song is a story of a farmer who has lost his crops and can't pay off his loan. He only is able to make stone. It has a Cajun beat and we can feel the misery and loss in the voice of Levon. He has the weight of the world on his shoulders. 'The poor old dirt farmer fell off his tractor and it rolled over his head.'He ain't got a loan and he can't grow no corn'. He sings about 'The Mountain' and 'The Girl I Left Behind'. 'Cavalry', Anna Lee' and 'Got Me A Woman' are the songs of life and love. 'Feelin' Good' is one of my favorite tunes. It seems to set the stage for the philosophy of the CD- and a tune to go out into the night with.
"Dirt Farmer seizes the southern pastoralism that always lurked in the Band's music and blows it up full size, in all its gritty, rollicking, joyous, melancholic, and even absurd wonder." Richard Marcus
This is a remarkable CD and is a rolling stone for the American south land and the roots of Levon Helm.
Highly, Highly Recommended. prisrob 10-30-07
A Musical History
Live at the Palladium NYC, New Years Eve 1977
The Midnight Ramble Music Sessions, Vol. 1
Levon Helm
Great, timeless music! November 1, 2007
John Reynolds (New York, NY United States)
36 out of 37 found this review helpful
Levon Helm, the voice behind 'The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down' and 'The Weight,' is in fine form here. This music would have been good fifty years ago, and will be good fifty years from now. Levon's voice is perfect for these songs about life's sorrows and joys, full of perseverance and hope. The songs are real beauties with excellent traditional arrangements. I am a long-time fan of traditional folk, bluegrass, and blues music. What I liked best about this CD is that it is fresh, making these tunes vibrant and not museum pieces. Bravo!
Don't Pass This Up December 6, 2007
M. A HERBST (Mt. Vernon, Wa USA)
14 out of 18 found this review helpful
This album is from Levon Helm's roots in Arkansas. Without going into detail about each cut, the total package paints a mural of rural life in the South that will affect you to your bones.
As a bonus, Levon is donating $1 from each CD sold during December to charity; half to the Imus Ranch for Kids With Cancer and half to The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. By purchasing this CD, you will be doubly blessed with great American music and doing a good deed.
NOT Made in China. October 31, 2007
Jose E. Gutierrez (Brooklyn, NY USA)
10 out of 14 found this review helpful
NOT made in China. NOT assembled in Mexico. This is great American music made in the USA. It's old, new, fun, sad, red, white, black and blue. It reminded me that while Levon Helm didn't have many of the writing credits while with The Band, he was as responsible as anyone for their great music. They were Levon and The Hawks before they were The Band after all.
The Real Deal November 1, 2007
Jeffrey Mason (Staten Island NY)
8 out of 9 found this review helpful
Having been a fan of Levon's since the days of Ronnie Hawkins and The Hawks and having just been to one of his Rambles, I couldn't wait for the release of Dirt Farmer.
I've been listening to this CD almost non stop since I got it and I'm absolutely in love with it. With the help of daughter Amy Helm (vocalist with Ollabelle)and the incredible Larry Campell on guitar and fiddle, Dirt Farmer is the Real Deal. This is what music should be. Emotional, heartfelt and timeless. Dirt Farmer is a masterpiece,the work of a true musician.
The Weight has paid off
Jeff
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