Search - Dan Penn :: Nobody's Fool

Dan Penn's Classic

04/11/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Originally released in 1973, this rather obscure album sounds like the Box Tops. Appropriate, since Dan Penn used Alex Chilton and the rest of the Box Tops as a vehicle for production ideas, which reach maturity on "Nobody's Fool." This album is a strange mix of country, soul and arrangment ideas that sound like Bacharach stranded on Highway 72 outside Florence, Alabama. The title track, covered in 1987 by Alex Chilton, is a good illustration of the technique: a pretty simple tune gussied up with all kinds of horns and background voices. Or listen to the coda of "Ain't No Love," which opens up the song in a way that somewhat uneasily toes the line between heartfelt and sophisticated. There's a spoken-word piece that I'm not sure whether I want to admire or laugh at, demonstrating as it does a curious kind of Southern liberalism that listeners from other parts of the globe might have a little trouble with. Not the sentiment, but aesthetically. Penn, of course, wrote many classics of Southern soul. And this is a worthwhile effort. It's just that the hybrid attained here, like sweet corn, might not travel too well. In other words, I find it interesting (although the country side of Dan Penn is not very convincing, even given his strong accent) but not especially compelling. If you like the Box Tops you'll like "Nobody's Fool." So I guess it's a classic, and the cover photo is about as Memphis as it gets."

LONESOME FISHERMAN

butan | Japan | 06/23/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Among jewels of my favorite Ry Cooder's album "SHOW TIME", "The Dark End of the Street" is a special one. This song led me to know there is a bitter love in the real world. And the song reminds me some couples standing on some corners of the road of my home town. Years later, I came to know the song was written by Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham, and I listened their live recording of the song. I was impressed with the voice of Dan Penn, It was husky (right choice of words?), a sort of Emmylou Harris's. Reminds me a fisherman's voice in good old days. "NOBODY'S FOOL" was his debut record in his own name. Country flavored slower tempo and steady rhythm like southern soul music comfort me, especially in the title song, and his voice smells like a sea breeze. Dear old "Lodi"! You should know the version of Creedence Clearwater Revival. The last tune of this album is spoken lyric "Skin". Hearing this album, I assure you will sleep well dreaming your dear old hometown."