JESSE DAYTON
Country Soul Brother (Stag Records)
Reviewed by Eric Steiner

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Jesse Dayton's music has been labelled "turbo country" by the Austin-American Statesman, his hometown paper. When I listen to Country Soul Brother, I hear a lot of Americana, folk, rockabilly, a tinge of soul, and down-home country. Jesse's fourth solo record builds on a career that has included guest spots for Waylon Jennings, the rockabilly party band The Road Kings, Seattle's Supersuckers, and several compilations of young Texas guitarists. His version of Hound Dog Taylor's "Gimme Back My Wig" was included on the Young Guitar Slingers - the Texas Evolution, and he's also contributed to the soundtracks of Happy Texas and Deep in the Heart of Texas. I quickly skipped over his slow, crooning take on Ric Otcasek's "Just What I Needed" because I preferred to discover Jesse Dayton originals like "Daily Ritual," the country radio-ready "Ain't Grace Amazing," the banjo-fueled swing of "Jesus Pick Me Up," or my favorite cut on this disc, "Talkin' About Bobby Dale's Hard Luck Blues" (which would be right at home on a blues radio playlist any night of the week). Fans of the Flatlanders would appreciate Country Soul Brother, and Jesse's kept some good company in country music's stratosphere over the years. His website, www.jessedayton.com, features pics of Jesse hanging with Link Wray and John Lee Hooker, but the one with Jesse, Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash standing together is my favorite. Waylon and Johnny would be very proud of this CD.

Track List:

Country Soul Brother * All Because of You * Ain't Grace Amazing * Just What I Needed * Daily Ritual * Jesus Pick Me Up * It Won't Always Be Like This * Tall Walkin' Texas Trash * Just to Get You Off My Mind * Moravia * One of Them Days * Talkin' About Bobby Dale's Hard Luck Blues

© 2004 - Eric Steiner