Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s Dirt On My Diamonds (Vol. 1) is such a gem that it has remained on firm rotation since its release. Capturing Kenny’s unique gift for melody, it’s an album that truly has something for everyone, from the gloriously funky Sweet ‘n’ Low to the classic blues of Ease On My Mind. As such, the follow-up, to which Kenny alluded during interviews, arrives with no small sense of anticipation – not least from Kenny himself, who has had to sit on songs that raised the temperature no end during rehearsals.
While the songs were born during the sessions at Muscle Shoals and share the same spirit as the original, Vol 2 was recorded at The Band House Studios in L.A., just days before it was demolished, making this a genuine sequel to a brilliant record, and it has its own unique identity. Offering eight new tracks, you can feel the excitement with which Kenny and his band tackled the material, and it stands as another exceptionally strong entry in Kenny’s deeply impressive catalogue.
Opening the album, recently released single I Got A Woman gets the party started with its stinging riff, soulful vibe, and gleaming brass. With Kenny employing the perfect amount of funky swagger, yet without sounding cocky, it sets a high bar for the album that follows, with Kenny and his band inevitably rising to the challenge. Keeping things brisk, The Middle has an insistent “woah -oah -oah” chorus that digs its way into your unconscious, only to return at the most inconvenient of moments, and you’ll catch yourself singing it when you least expect it. With some great percussion and plenty more brass, it’s a cracker. The pace slows on My Guitar Is Crying, which is a nice enough song, although it cleaves a little too close to the heavily airbrushed blues of the mid-80s for my taste. The first half concludes with Long Way Down, which sees Kenny unleash a monster riff that wreaks havoc on the senses. An absolute killer song, it gets things firmly back on track, sending the blood pressure soaring as the band raise the temperature sky high.
Kicking off side two, Never Made It To Memphis has a lovely duet vocal, while the track has a breezy vibe that makes you instinctively want to grab the car keys and hit the road. With the band on fire, the taut, horn-soaked (in more ways than one) blues of Watch You Go swaggers into view off the back of a gritty riff, while the lyrics have a Buddy Guy feel to them. It’s blues with a sparkle in its eye and damn it makes you feel good, especially when Kenny unleashes a psych-infused solo. Kenny digs deep to find another great riff on Pressure and, once again, it’s the glorious sound of the brass that sends the piece over the top. With its infectious chorus, prowling bass, and smooth, soulful vocal, it’s one of those songs that will leave you grinning ear-to-ear, and it’s an album highlight amidst an album full of highlights. As with Vol 1, Dirt On My Diamonds Vol 2 is a svelte album and track number eight is also the final cut. Fortunately, She Loves My Automobile is a belter. Another track with a strong Buddy Guy influence and a sense of fun that is purely irresistible, it not only concludes an album that truly adheres to the notion of “all killer no filler”, but it also closes out a double set that stands as a testament to Kenny’s skill, versatility, and love of the genre.
With Dirt On My Diamonds Vol 1 having been a masterclass in soulful, funky, horn-soaked blues, it was hard to believe that the second outing could live up to, let alone outdo, its forebear. And yet, here we are. Dirt On My Diamonds Vol 2 is a fantastic record filled with toe-tapping, air-guitar-playing, pulse-raising blues from one of the best bands in the genre. Grab a copy and play it loud, I can guarantee it won’t leave your stereo for weeks. 9.5/10
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