SIZZLING STUDIO PLATTER OF THE WEEK: Carl Dixon – Lucky Dog (DD) :: “Lucky” ain’t the word to describe a guy who got seriously smearcased in a horrific head-on collision only to improbably survive and then ambitiously thrive, but it’s one heckuva good start. Now some of you may remember Carl from his Coney Hatch days but it’s no hangin’ matter if you don’t ’cause this inspiring new album cleans Coney’s clock six ways to Sunday.

You can take it from me when I tell ya that Lucky Dog is a classic rock fan’s delight because it sounds just like it was recorded back in the halcyonic ’70s. Even better, it ranks right up there in the heartfelt department with such like-minded laid-back long-players as Luther Grosvenor’s Under Open Skies and Neil Young’s Harvest. Bonus bravery points for having the intestinal fortitude and spiritual wherewithal to write a soul survivor song titled “Stitches, Sutures & Staples.”

Jeffrey Morgan
Authorized Biographer - Alice Cooper
Authorized Biographer - The Stoogeshttp://www.jeffreymorgan.info/

 

 

After a long journey of healing and recovery from an horrific car crash in Australia in April 2008, Carl has written and produced the most mature, complete and uplifting musical statement of his career to date.The distinctive voice is still in place as well as the perceptive, clear-eyed songwriting which has characterized his musical output over the last 28 years. What’s unexpected on this release is the range of musical styles Carl brings to the song arrangements. From Rock elements to Country to Blues, Folk and Jazz there is a musical journey on Lucky Dog which is not often seen from one artist on the same album. “I let the songs tell me where they should go and what kind of treatment they should get” declares Carl. “I’m only here to serve the song.”

Long –time stalwarts Mark Santer and Tim Harrington on drums and bass are supplemented by guests
like Ken “Spider” Sinnaeve on bass, Métis fiddler Clint Dutiaume and a young female singing duo
called The Lonely Petunias on backing vocals.

The real story here though is the range of instrumentation which Carl himself plays on the recordings:
lead guitar, acoustic guitar, mandolin, laptop dobro, banjo, blues harp, slide guitar, drums & percussion,
bass guitar, keyboards and of course lead and background vocals.

 

 

And for longtime fans, the music is remarkably diverse, and a few steps away from the hardrockin' days of Coney Hatch, April Wine and The Guess Who. Topically, they are heartfelt, philosophical, introspective and dripping with intense emotion. Musically, they range from pop, to singer/songwriter stylings, to even more exotic arrangements and tempos, with Dixon performing most of the instrumentation – Barrie Examiner

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