Danger – White Men Dancing

11 thoughts on “Danger – White Men Dancing”

1. Is there a release date for Danger: White Men Dancing? I am oh so eager to hear it…………

   P.S. I am a keyboardist (play hammond organ in a blues-rock band) myself. You remain after 35 years, my principal influence. The first organ solo I ever learned was your work on Lazy, when I was 15 using my parents turntable ~1973.

2. Hi Jon,

   Great to see you still playing the Hammond. I love the classical stuff too.
   How about a Jimmy Smith tribute?

   Please play more UK gigs!

   regards,
   Steve M

3. Danger White Men Dancing is out! You can find it in several online shops – like http://www.amazon.com.

4. Danger White Men Dancing

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   I too am a keyboard player in a blues band and I’ve previously posted a review on the DP fan forum..

   The one key thing to say about this album is that it should carry a warning that it features Jon Lord playing the Hammond organ!

   The opening number, “The blues just got sadder” starts with Jon setting the tone for the song with a slow intro – using different drawbar settings than we’re used to but perhaps a little more traditional for blues. It also contains one of my favourite lyrics – “…more snakes than I’d had ladders…” perfect to describe hard luck blues.

   “Gotta find me some fire” is the next track with a more familiar sounding Hammond this is an up tempo rocker with – dare I say it – an almost Blackmoresque guitar solo – part bottleneck – part fingers. Good stuff!

   “Twisted System” is the first featuring a guest vocal from Jeff Duff – a new voice to me but it suits the feel of the song and again Jon uses a more traditional drawbar setting.

   Time for a bit of a ballad “Over and Over” is introduced by gentle piano and organ (Jon gets a writing credit for this one) and features a nice vocal from Gillan – could almost be a Purple track to start with. It gets a bit heavier and, for me seems to lose it’s structure as a song and I’m not sure it really works but as the song fades it’s brought back to life with a powerful drum fill and a strong refrain with a good guitar solo from Tim Gaze.

   “Let it go” is a fun number with a catchy lick to start before settling into a more traditional boogie style – Jon’s solo comes late in the proceedings and owes a debt to the style of the late great Jimmy Smith.

   “Heart of stone” is a cover of a Stones song and features Jimmy Barnes. Hmmm – do I like his voice? Never really been sure but he’s fairly restrained here and this is fairly traditional blues, that ticks all the boxes with another short but sweet solo from Jon.

   “If this ain’t the blues” again features Gillan on vocals and is quite a slow number, a little heavy in places and features a rather dark, brooding solo from Jon. I’m not sure if it’s a favourite or not – this might have to grow on me.

   The title track is a great instrumental with a lovely groove and feel, perhaps a little bit of Freddie King here,or even Robert Cray, but some strong performances from all the musicians and some unusual chords. Just a great all round feel to this muber.

   “Dead Presidents” is an old Willie Dixon number and is given the ol’ shuffle treatment here (you can’t go wrong with a shuffle) and it’s a bit of fun.

   “Hoochie Coochie Man” is another Willie Dixon number with (again) restrained vocals from Jimmy Barnes – a slighty different arrangement gives it a bit more interest.

   “Bottle o’ Wine” features Jeff Duff again on vocals – this is my least favourite track so far – it’s a slow number but it didn’t work for me.

   The other extreme is the delightful “Everybody wants to go to heaven” a slow 6/8 blues with a tasteful solo from Jon, again with a more traditional blues drawbar sound, switching effortlessly to a minor scale towards the end. This album is worth it for this track alone.

   The closing number “Tell your story walking” is a rockier number with Jon using a more overdriven sound. It’s got a catchy riff but it seems to run out of steam towards the end, almost as though somebody forgot to write an ending.

   Overall impressions – great to hear Jon playing the Hammond full bore again but, it’s not a Jon Lord album there are 3 other excellent musicians in the shape of Bob Daisley, the very underated Tim Gaze (guitar/vocal) and Rob Grosser on drums who underpins everything with a tight style.

   I could probably do without Jimmy Barnes but some people like him and, of course, he’s a big star downunder. I don’t know about Jeff Duff to really comment and Gillan is just, Ian Gillan – ’nuff said.

   Very enjoyable album overall .Would it get the attention if Jon wasn’t featured? Hard to say.

   Ideally I’d want to see ’em live in a sweaty bar.

   If this ain’t the blues it’ll do ’til they come along!

5. In the US the release date wasn’t until 10/25 – I purchased my copy that same day and I have to agree with all of Rasmus’ post especially where he recommends a warning label regarding Lord playing Hammond on this. I just love this release, my only gripe perhaps being that Lord’s Hammond isn’t quite loud enough (to me) in certain parts of some of the songs.

   I have since started acquiring more of his solo releases including Before I Forget (from 1982). Thus far I’ve only listened to the first 9 tracks (of 15 total) but like very much what I’ve heard so far especially some energetic Clavinet work – on track 3 I believe.

6. Oops, I mean Craig H’s post, not Rasmus’.

7. I love this album, BUT not as much as I love the previous album with Jon LOrd And The Hoochie Coochie Men: “Live At The Basement”. That album has a feeling, mood, nerve that is very rare in live albums. Where these often is edited from several performances, this album is from just one night (even after a very short period of rehearsel). Great music, great musicians, just WOW.
   I am a little disappointed about the “Danger…” album, while there are two tracks (“If This Ain’t The Blues” and “Hoochie Coochie Man”) appearing on both albums. I would have liked 2 total different albums. Apart from that they are still both good albums.

8. Dear sir.
   I am writing from Argentina and I would ask the great favour… if I can send or tell me where I get the lyrics of the song
   Over & Over, work that Mr Guillan burn with Jon Lord. Of course my greatest gratitude. That beautiful song!
   Sincerely

   Carlos Morgante
   Carlos_bluesman@hotmail.com

9. As you may know Stormbringer is due out next year. is there any chance that you could pass some comment on the album and your thoughts either at the time it was recorded or now. as a fan i would like to hear what you think about the remastering of this and other Purple albums. i know you have not commented much in the past on these things but i feel that fans would appreciate your thoughts.

10. Great, great, great!

    Thank you, for all time which I could experience with you. Since 1968 I am a fan of your organ play, with or without DP.

    Sincerely

    Franck

11. Album is great! THIS is real CLASSIC ROCK! thank you!

    by the way, any chance to find texts? I’m russian, and sometimes it’s a bit hardly to hear right texts