Anyone who saw Deke Dickerson flat-out kill it at the recent Ponderosa Stomp will testify as to the man’s versatility. Having demonstrated jaw-dropping proficiency—technically and soulfully—in every genre of music that he’s attempted, In 3-Dimensions brings together three separate sessions with different musicians on each and delivers them in EP-sized segments under the headings “Rock ‘n’ Roll,” “Rockabilly” and “Hillbilly.” The way the genres inform one another redefines each one, just in case anybody feels the need to start pigeonholing. It’s just what we’ve come to expect from Dickerson: another genre-busting album that places him that much closer to his musical heroes.
Speaking of heroes, none other than rock ‘n’ roll architect Earl Palmer powers the rock ‘n’ roll segment, which features a double whammy of Crescent City-inspired R&B mambos, “I Might Not Come Home At All“ and “Ain’t Got A Reason,” both complete with wailing piano courtesy of Carl “Sonny” Leyland and sax breaks reminiscent of Lee Allen or Herb Hardesty. “Top Of The Line” is a driving rocker wherein Deke compliments his gal by comparing her to, among other things, a ring (“She’s the mother lode of the diamond mine”) and a mansion (“Built like a rock and ready for expansion”). A bluesy, sax-laden version of Charlie Rich’s “Sittin’ And Thinkin’” concludes the rock ‘n’ roll segment.
Next up it’s a spiritual visit to Shreveport where some serious twangin’ bolsters Deke’s “Wear Out The Soles Of My Shoes,” Autry Inman’s “It Would Be A Doggone Lie,” and Johnny Horton’s “Take The Long Way Home,” paving the way for two songs by under-appreciated honky-tonk genius Eddie Noack: “Too Hot To Handle” and “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.” Is the Deke Dickerson Plays Eddie Noack album just around the corner? We can only hope so. Two more songs bear special mention, the double-entendre “Pinball Boogie”—certainly the best song on the subject ever penned—and the album closer, Faron Young’s life-affirming “I Wanna Live Some Before I Die.” With lines like “There’s so many roads that I’ve never known and there’s so many parties that I haven’t thrown,” the lyrics to this one ought to be framed as a reminder of the perfection a song can achieve.
