Dennis Clifton
The Blues Highway
© 2006 Desert Rose Music (634479110474)
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Muscle Shoals music, rock, blues and R&B
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Dennis grew up in Decatur Alabame where at age 15 he learned to play slide guitar by watching Duane Allman rehearse and play with the Hour Glass Band before it later became The Allman Brothers Band.
He left home at an early age to hit the road playing clubs and opening concerts for acts like Lynyrd Skynyrd, 38 Special, Marshall Tucker, Fog Hat & Edgar Winter.
In the late 70's Dennis formed a new band with Larry Byrom of Steppenwolf. This group turned into FCC (RCA Records).
Dennis was the lead guitarist , lead singer and main writer for FCC.
FCC had two albums for RCA Records and the hit song "Baby I Want You".
After FCC Dennis became a guitar slinger for hire and worked for numerous acts ranging from Percy Sledge to T.Graham Brown.
Now he is a singer/songwriter/guitarist in Muscle Shoals Alabama as well as Co-producing Cornbread Red and Iron Horse for CMH Records of Los Angeles, among other groups.
Dennis is well known on the club circuit in the south.
Dennis' musical style is honed from Delta Blues, Southern Rock, New Orleans Jazz and Muscle Shoals Soul.
"The Blues Highway" features songs written by Dennis and friends from the Muscle Shoals area that are true to his musical roots.
The blues highway that runs from Memphis to New Orleans now passes by "... castles full of bad luck growing from the cotton bolls" instead of juke joints that marks the path of blues singers of yesterday as Dennis sings about in the title cut.
You can feel the soul flowing from the strings of the ole' slide guitar on cut "Detour You", "I've Got Miles To Go"and " Louisiana Nights" .
You can feel the pain of old musical friends untimely passing in "My Old Friends".
You can hear the raw emotion pour from the saxophone on "If Leaving was easy".
This CD contains just the right mix of Muscle Shoals groove songs and heart felt blues songs that evokes images from Delbert Mclinton to the bluesy side of Travis Tritt.
reviews
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Rocks!
author: Bengan"Detour You" is one of these blues songs that really kicks! And that voice... Hmm, it reminds me of someone else, but it wont come up in my mind... However beautiful! The album really feels like the south, soft with pressure, engaging your blues nerve!
- author: Brad at CD Baby
Clifton cites his musical style as being "honed from Delta Blues, Southern Rock, New Orleans Jazz and Muscle Shoals Soul." On paper, it looks like quite a bouillabaisse of distinct sounds, but his knack for blending them together yields an affinity within these genres that is both sensible and intriguing. The album starts with "Detour You," a semi-raucous blues number that incorporates both classic rock and country vibes while managing to be as pensive as it is fun. Clifton handles all the guitar duties (including lap steel and dobro) on the album and is razor sharp when it comes to tones and placement. "Boogie Woogie Woman" is a revved up rocker, featuring some rugged guitar work that fits perfectly within the context of the lyrics. Switching gears, he follows it with "If Leaving Was Easy," a lyrically downhearted lament that is echoed beautifully in his crying guitar licks. With top notch musicians backing him on keys, sax, and some tasteful backing vocals, he is able to crank the sound up to Southern Rock levels, but just as easily step back and delicately select individual notes. This seemingly effortless versatility is impressive, and sure to appeal to fans of blues, classic rock, country, or those who simply enjoy some fine guitar playing.
Can't say enough about this one
author: Nina Jo SmithI already wrote a brief review after my first purchase... now you should know it's going to friends and relations... Father's Day, graduations.... good for anyone going anywhere (or nowhere in particular.) Good for many listens. It never gets old.
Blues, soul, and some serious sweat - all the good stuff!
author: Naomi JohnsonI was hooked long before the end of the first track, 'Detour You.' That's a great song and I gotta believe there'll be some good bands that wanna cover it. The title song 'Blues Highway' sure does make me think about what those cotton fields must have looked like and the sharecropper's hard life was all about before Tunica built all those "castles full of bad luck." This whole cd is chockful of good songs and outstanding guitar work, while Dennis Clifton's voice evokes the feeling that it's (as John Fogerty wrote) 110 degrees in the shade.
i can listen eavery day
author: randythe cd arrangement is great. I've listen to it every day since I got it. it is Southern Rock to the bone.
Writing, Singing, Production Values, Arrangements, Guitar Playing all at their b
author: Chuck (Doc) SnowHip yet retro at its' best, all on one record. An amazing effort all in all. I have been writing songs and making music for a long time, and I know this process from the inside out. What Dennis Clifton has accomplished here is nothing short of amazing...certainly something that is very hard to find in these days of corporate media. Blues Highway is the total antithesis to those things that we all have come to loathe in the last 20 or so years in the music business. Do yourself a HUGE favor and buy this immediately. The CD Baby experience is so good...you will have the music in a day or two and will thank yourself over and over again that you had the good sense to get this...quicker the better!!! Probably available as digital download as well!!
Gorgeous
author: Nina Jo SmithWho is Dennis Clifton and *where* did he get that voice? ...And where has he been all my life? This is simply gorgeous work. To hear more music like this, check out http://www.mfvr.com
Dennis, you only got better with age!
author: Randy Harper in Atlanta, GAAfter listening to your CD I felt a presence of Lowell George and Little Feat. Really SMOOTH guitar and vocals. Puts you in a "Feel Good" mood!
Great CD! Great production! What a talent!
author: Donnie Gullett - Owner Muscle Shoals Music MarketingGreat CD! Great production! What a talent! I’ve been a Dennis Clifton fan since way back in his days with the band FCC. There is no mistaking his soulful voice and guitar licks. If you are not a Dennis Clifton fan before listening to this CD, there’s no doubt you will be afterwards.
But like finding gold....here it is...A Fantastic Project!
author: Tony RobertsonIf Nashville were Nashville...3 cuts on this cd would be in the top 10....The Blues Highway....If Leaving Were Easy....My Old Friend....GREAT!!!!! Dennis' ability to bring words and music to life could not have been captured more effectively than in the writing and performance of Blues Highway. There are good writers, good singers, and good musicians...but getting them all in one package is getting harder and harder to find these days ...but like finding gold....here it is...A Fantastic Project!.......Tony Robertson
Great job. Keep it up. Enjoyed this very much.
author: Randy CagleDennis, I think the songs and music on this is great. I knew you were a good Guitarist and Vocal in your younger days,(and still are)but I didn't know you could write like this. You've come a long way since high school. You done good.
Tight! Tight! Tight!
author: Carl Damone, Singer/Songwriter: AscapLoved the CD. I grew up listening to Dennis perform all over the south. He has such a unique voice, once you hear him sing, you'll never forget it. You'll be a Dennis Clifton fan for life.
Highly recommend this CD to lovers of REAL Music.... the Blues!
author: Keith Henry-Nytola Music, ASCAPExcellent arrangments, nice bluesy guitar licks, vocals remind me of Leon Russell meets John Hiatt-true and honest, great horn arrangments. And the lyrics; well it's all here... from the tear in my beer, to honky tonkin' cliche. What was that again... Don't know what's right- But I know something's wrong. It just doesn't get any better than this. Two thumbs up-superb production!