Double Time

Performer: Leon Redbone
Producer: Joel Dorn
Distributor: WEA (Distributor)

Notes: One of Leon Redbone's best early outings, 1977's DOUBLE TIME finds the mustachioed, fedora-wearing enigma further refining the old-timey aesthetic of his debut. Joel Dorn's crystal-clear production aside, this album could have been created almost 50 years earlier, with Redbone's deep, scratchy voice and lively acoustic guitar-playing readymade for a Louisiana juke joint. The set opens with the sauntering "Diddy Wa Diddie," a horn-laden Dixieland number that would remain a staple in Redbone's repertoire for decades to come. The eccentric singer also offers up two Jimmie Rodgers tunes--the celebratory "Mississippi Delta Blues" and its skid row cousin, "Mississippi River Blues." Other highlights of DOUBLE TIME include Redbone's own amiable "Crazy Blues," which fits seamlessly alongside the vintage material, and "Sheik of Araby," performed with wacky, nonsensical verve in classic "hot jazz" style. Since, oddly enough, there are no Redbone compilations available, this charming album serves as one of the finest introductions to his anachronistic sound.

With his trademark white suit, dark glasses, and big moustache, singer Leon Redbone cuts an undeniably theatrical figure. He became well known in the mid-1970s with his nostalgic repertoire, performing jazz, blues, and pop songs from the pre-WW II era in a droll tone, but with no concessions whatsoever to contemporary musical styles. Along the way, he's earned a host of famous admirers--his records have been graced by everyone from Don McLean to Ringo Starr--without ever altering his idiosyncratic approach.

Click Here for Shipping Options and Policies

Shipping or Dimension weight in pounds: 0.25