Lucky Stars: New Lullabies for Old Souls

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DON DIXON | NEW ALBUM RELEASE
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Tuesday, April 8, 2008 marks the release of Don Dixon's latest album: 'Lucky Stars: New Lullabies for Old Souls'. His production credits include work with astroPuppees, The Smithereens, Fetchin Bones, Let's Active, REM, Counting Crows, and dozens more. We managed to grab an interview with the ever-busy Don, who talks about 'Lucky Stars' and what it was like GROWING UP IN LANCASTER, SC.
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Describe 'Lucky Stars': Lucky Stars; New Lullabies for Old Souls is a collection of songs I created in response to a request for a lullaby recording… it’s about two-fifths instrumental, three-fifths vocal, with singing being done by MARTI JONES [singer/artist] & me… and our middle daughter, SIDNEY, a voice major at The School of Music at UNC-G. I’m not sure that everybody would consider this music to fit neatly in the category of “Lullaby” but it is intended to have a calm, reflective nature...

How did the producer of Babyshaker's upcoming release find himself working on an album of lullabies? I've always enjoyed a wide variety of musical styles– for me there are only two types of music: music with singing & music without singing. My own records are very eclectic. I would never advise someone I was producing to make the kind of records I’ve made for myself but when you aren’t concerned with sales, it gives you a certain freedom…

Where can we find 'Lucky Stars'? Initially, Lucky Stars will only be available as a digital download… iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody, etc… all the usual suspects. There is some talk of a CD release but it will depend on the response…

As an artist whose work spans several decades, what's your secret to unceasing inspiration? I’m not blessed with “unceasing inspiration”… I don’t think many are. I go through periods where I have nothing to say. You take ideas as they come & try to hold on to them… if they stick, you can maybe work that into something. The best songwriting is a combination of inspiration & craft– I try not to edit too much too soon… save the editing for when the churning is gone from your mind…

What are your thoughts on the state of the record industry... and how has it changed? I’ve seen a lot of different versions of the industry in my life… we’re at a point now where it seems to be returning to a cottage industry… there are vestiges of the old system hanging on, trying to sell vast numbers of records of one artist but I’ve seen it go from– let’s say, the mid 80s, when I sold 60,000+ records in a week & it got me to 147 (or 167, who can remember such a big number) on the Billboard charts… if someone sold that many today they would easily land in the Top 10… this is good & bad… many records get made & released by artists that aren’t ready to be out there… the music business is subjective but there needs to be filters & right now, the only filter seems to be American Idol. Unfortunately, that show has much more to do with business than music…

What records were on rotation in your boyhood room? I was the baby in my family so I grew up listening to stuff my family was listening to. My dad brought PEGGY LEE into the house… my mom played big bands… sister ANN brought ELVIS & the DRIFTERS in, while sister SUSAN played me the KINGSTON TRIO & the BEATLES. The first record I ever bought was “Little Drummer Boy” but a few years later I got my first OTIS REDDING record, then MUDDY WATERS & MILES DAVIS… later JIMI HENDRIX & IRON BUTTERFLY…

When did you first discover your musical inclination and how did you polish your skills? I began singing when I was a very little boy– I can’t remember a time when I didn’t make up songs & try to fool my sisters into thinking they were “real” songs… when I was 10 or 11, I began singing in church (First Presbyterian) & when I hit 7th grade, I was recruited by BEN WATKINS (he’d heard me sing in church) to play in the South Junior High band (I played trombone). I wasn’t in the marching band very long because I like playing football, too… more than marching… soon bought an upright bass & began playing it in the concert band. In 8th grade I joined the band of my dreams, The CAVALIERS… a year ahead of me in school, I set my sights on getting good enough to play with them. That was a truly wonderful experience– sometimes it’s hard to believe it actually happened in a small mill town like Lancaster. We developed from a group of little boys that played “grown-up” music to a full-fledged Soul Review in just a few years & met ALL the Miss America’s & Miss South Carolina’s at the same time! Another friend that really helped & inspired the Cavaliers & especially me, was HOWARD DRYE (LHS class of ’66)… a remarkable musician from Lancaster who had a profound influence on me…

What was it like growing up in Lancaster- any tales of teenage angst? I had a pretty boring teenage life. I was so busy playing music & sports that I didn’t have too much time to get into trouble. About the most excitement, off stage, I ever had was driving up to CHARLOTTE to see shows at PARK CENTER… I saw the TEMPTATIONS, the FOUR TOPS, STEVIE WONDER, dozens & dozens of fantastic shows during my high-school years…

On The General Cabbage Report, you extol the virtues of your old van (Duke)- have the residents of Canton come to share your love of fine machinery? “Duke” was a 1993 Dodge Caravan… I finally had to give it over to the knacker-yard with 288,000 miles on it… not bad for a family van… I got it in 1995 with 20,000 miles on it & it passed away in 2004…

Your docket seems to stay full- what other projects are in the works? There are lots of new records coming out that I produced… you mentioned BABY SHAKER but there’s also FONTAINE BROWN, a recent recording by THE EDISON PROJECT as well as a brand new record from CHRIS ALLEN… MADISON SMARTT BELL & WYN COOPER have a new CD due soon… A TRIBUTE TO BLIND ALFRED REED from the WV MUSIC HALL OF FAME (lots of people on that one, Little Jimmy Dickens, Kathy Mattea, Tim O’Brien, The Carpenter Ants)… speaking of the CARPENTER ANTS, I’m working on a new one with them… also for you Shag Dancing fans, a new DIP FERRELL & THE TRUETONES is in the works. As for me, I’ve got a brand new record called “The Nu-Look” to be released in late MAY… I’ll be in GREENVILLE, SC on June 11 & CHARLOTTE on June 12…

Ever been abducted by aliens? MARTI (JONES) my wife, has seen a UFO…three different times…me, none…
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Author's Note: The friendly staff at D.A.R. is taking pre-orders for "THE NU-LOOK" by DON DIXON & THE JUMP RABBITS. A $15 check or money order gets the new CD shipped to you a month before the official street date of June 8th.

Make checks payable to:
Lava Head Music / Don Dixon
PO Box 8744
Canton, OH 44711