JD Wilkes and The Dirt Daubers – ‘You Know I Love You’
Forget the miserable neighbours and any idle threats the authorities may serve; just turn it up, turn it up as loud as your speakers, eardrums, and walls can stand. Today’s Track of the Day piece could well end there as sometimes words, though insightful they may be, can only complicate. The music, especially the rampaging, rip-roaring type, often speaks volumes for itself, and our selection is certainly of such ilk, yet ‘You Know I Love You’ by JD Wilkes and the Dirt Daubers doesn’t speak. It screams in that sultry way only true rock and roll records can.
With its high octane rhythm, raucous guitar parts, a female vocal depicting relationship perils partnered with that old-time, ever-present piano, ‘You Know I Love You’ presents the perfect ode to America’s rich rhythm and blues past.
Throughout the three-minute explosion, I envisage scores of disenchanted youth ditching the religious scriptures, slicking back their hair, rolling up their skirts and shooting off to the town’s late-night venue.
Founded by JD Wilkes, the white Howling Wolf whose vocal wails allude to being fed strong tobacco and Tennessee whiskey from birth, the Dirt Daubers are entwined with the eclectic guitar talents of Rod Hamdallah, the tight drumming of Preston Corn, Ralph Carney’s (Tom Waits’ sideman) dangerously cool baritone sax skills and, of course, the vivacious rasps of Jessica Wilkes.
To top this off, the tune and the album it’s taken from are produced by the legendary Cheetah Chrome, guitarist for the Dead Boys (Sonic reducer), amongst many others.
Raw, gritty and with a sound pumped full of hedonism, if I were to liken this lot to anything I’ve heard post-1960, then, for me, it’d be ‘Dr. Feelgood’ and just like listening to the Canvey Island rockers, you know exactly what you’re in for… JD Wilkes and his Dirt Daubers aren’t here to touch your soul. They’re here to shake, rattle and roll it up.
Check it out below.
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