As the title of this one indicates, Swamp Dogg (a.k.a. Jerry Williams) isn’t—and never was—afraid of writing material that’s politically and racially motivated—but usually with a cheeky and humorous twist.
On “The White Man Made Me Do It”—the opener—Dogg thanks/blames white folks for the many accomplishments black folks have made in the years since the days of slavery. Likewise “Prejudice Is Alive and Well” makes a racial statement, which has Dogg more-than-less on his soapbox.
The songs have a nice groove too boot. “Lying Lying Lying Woman” and “Let Me Be Wrong” returns to a more traditional R&B theme as Dogg gets the bills, but another man gets his merchandise.
“Hey Renae” takes the reggae road, vamping the arrangement of Toots and the Maytals take on “Louie Louie.” “I’m So Happy” is especially a hoot as, although the refrain is happy-go-lucky, the rest of the lyrics indicate Dogg is up to his eyeballs in bad luck. Another one is “Where Is Sly” which could be retitled “The Ballad of Sly Stone.”
The only stumbling blocks here are the handful of covers, as scat singing a Sam Cooke classic and recycling two Coasters songs seem to be filler—although “Smokey Joe’s Cafe” admittedly is rather hip. Never fear though, the highlights here exceed the low points. Swamp Dogg is still alive and twisted.
Although there is no indication on the cover, as a bonus this release also includes a second CD, Best of Swamp Dogg’s Soul & Blues Collection, a 10-track package that contains early material by the Dogg and ’70s tracks he produced and wrote as Jerry Williams for other artists. Of local interest, there’s Lightning Slim’s “Good Morning Heartaches,” a fine blues tune that would have sounded much better without the obtrusive horns.
Recorded during her California sojourn, Irma Thomas’ “In Between Tears” is on par with the best of her many recordings. One of the great unknowns, Charles Whitehead’s “Read Between the Lines” is gonna get you up on the floor and laughing. Far more lowdown is Z.Z. Hill’s “It Ain’t No Use,” which predates his Malaco blues hits.
If you’re familiar with Swamp Dogg, you might already have heard “F@%k the Bomb Stop the Drugs” and “Synthetic World” but if not, here’s a good place to get on board. Really, this bonus CD stands on its own.
Package it with 14 new Swamp Dogg songs and you’ve really got a winner.
