In Oklahoma there is a spirited roots-oriented music that is simply referred to as “red dirt music.” The tag didn’t come from any record company publicist or music journalist but from the musicians themselves, who all migrated to the college town of Stillwater, Oklahoma in the ‘70’s and ‘80’s. This loosely knit group includes its most famous ambassador, Jimmy LaFave; the cool country sounds of the Red Dirt Rangers; the retro soul-rock of Medicine Show; and the great songwriting of Bob Childers and Tom Skinner. The last two are probably more responsible than anyone for the foundation on which it all fits, and both recently released albums that offer an ideal introduction to red dirt music.
Skinner began playing in a series of Okie groups, including a prominent role with Garth Brooks in the band Stillwater; he moved to Nashville with Brooks but left just before Garth’s breakthrough. As Brooks was set to turn country music on its ear, Skinner returned to Oklahoma and sort of forgot about his music career for a while. For years, the local Okies said, “You have to hear this guy Tom Skinner”; Times Have Changed finally makes that possible to a wider audience.
From the infectious opening “Maybe It’s Love” to the perfect country of “Mama Must Be Prayin’”, this record is as easy-going as a backyard gathering, as dusty as an Oklahoma backroad, and as real as the characters in the songs. “Used To Be”, co-written with Bob Wiles of the Red Dirt Rangers, is a picture-perfect memory of Route 66. The spirited “Years In The Making” features a vocal duet with LaFave. And the simple folk of “One Of These Days” compares favorably with the songs coming out of the New England singer-songwriter scene.
Childers, meanwhile, most definitively encompasses the attitude of red dirt musicians. A longtime songwriter who has more talent than he’s had success, Childers’ unique blend of country, folk and roots-rock rings with a clear authenticity. His laid-back casualness and traveled, weathered voice are well-suited to his songs of love, loss, regret, promise, betrayal, fun and just hanging out.
“Nothin’ More Natural” spotlights his wonderful story songs and a ragged-but-right sound; he may not be a great singer, but he has his own style that comes alive when he’s surrounded by the right musicians. The country rock of “Dance With The Gypsies” leads into a fine train song, “Texas Eagle” (featuring the requisite pedal steel guitar). Also interesting is the soulful groove of “Memphis After Midnight”, which LaFave previously recorded under the title “Austin After Midnight”. Best of all is “Woody’s Road”, which ranks with Willis Alan Ramsey’s “Boy From Oklahoma” as among the best songs ever written about Woody Guthrie.
