North Mississippi Allstar Cody Dickinson’s Homemade is reinforced by personal touches showcasing his reverence for love, heritage, and the joys of family.
Cody Dickinson has long been a dependable part of American roots music, championing its spirit through his work with the North Mississippi Allstars and beyond. As co-founder of the chart-topping blues/rock band with his brother Luther in 1996, Dickinson has thrived as a serial collaborator, sharing his talents with everyone from Robert Plant to Lucero. Now, with his debut solo album Homemade, Dickinson steps into the spotlight like never before. Known for supporting others, whether in music, film, or TV, he now stands alone to showcase his skills as a vocalist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist.
Recorded entirely at home in Mississippi, the aptly titled Homemade is a potpourri of southern soul, west coast boogie-woogie, hill country blues, all with infectious pop hooks. Balancing recording sessions with fatherly duties to his young children, Dickinson played every instrument himself, creating a very personal album. So personal that artwork by his daughter, Mavis, graces the album, and her playful vocals on “Goodbye Albuquerque Tuesday Night” make for a heartwarming family moment captured in song. Reflecting on the experience, Dickinson recalls, “I recorded that vocal with Mavis in my lap, and she kept grabbing the mic and singing into it, doing these real sassy ad-libs. Her timing was impeccable. She really meant it!”
Family heritage is central to Dickinson’s story. Raised under the tutelage of his father, Memphis music icon Jim Dickinson, the son inherited a legacy that permeates Homemade. From the barn-burning rock of “Walk Right In” to the soulful R&B of “Black Out Curtains” and the gospel-infused “Can’t Feel At Home” featuring Tikyra Jackson, Homemade shows off Dickinson’s diverse influences and talents. The album’s roots run deep, paying homage to his childhood memories of Junior Kimbrough’s juke joint in Tchulahoma, Mississippi, a place that inspired his love for music from an early age. For Dickinson, Homemade is a celebration of where he’s been and the values that have shaped him, an album that finds an artist in full bloom.