Album Notes

Al Perkins’ Big Dog 3 are a ‘supergroup’ of A-List musicians that discovered a mutual appreciation of classic rock, country blues and soul, almost by accident.

Big Dog 3 pays homage to musical heroes, with a selection of well-chosen cover versions that add extra flavour to the collection of original compositions from the pen of one of rock music’s quietly inspirational legends, who displays a warm and rich, bluesy vocal style.

Informal jam sessions during sound-checks while backing fast-rising singer-songwriter, Brigitte DeMeyer, generated such a buzz between Brady Blade, Chris Donohue and country-rock pioneer Al Perkins, that they were determined to get together again to produce some music that they themselves would enjoy hearing, and of course, playing.

As much in-demand ‘sidemen’ to some of the biggest names in the music business, opportunities to get together and work on this new project were limited. But such was the empathy that the threesome had developed, demanding schedules were accommodated, friends were contacted, and favours called in to help make Big Dog 3 one of the musical events of the year.

It was fitting that these former alumni of Emmylou Harris (Chris Donohue is Emmylou’s current touring bass player, Brady Blade was the drumming heartbeat of Spyboy, while Perkins earned a Grammy for his guitar work in the Nash Ramblers) would see the modern-day Queen of Country and Folk add her considerable talents to the recording with a guest appearance on the country steel guitar-laced ‘You And Me’.

Jim Lauderdale takes over the lead vocals on Perkins’ tribute to Bakersfield’s finest; Buck Owens Tom Brumley and the Buckaroos, on ‘Flat Out Of Love’, which was written with bluegrass writer and performer, Jerry Salley. Country is again explored with a fun take on Flatt & Scruggs’ ‘Head Over Heels’, harmony vocals courtesy of Brigitte DeMeyer.

Perkins wears his heart on his sleeve with a sincere, yet modern version of the Santo and Johnny classic instrumental ‘Sleepwalk’, but Big Dog 3 display their rock and blues leanings with crunching Baker and Bruce rhythms, on Danny Flowers’ ‘Believe In Me’ and the Peter Green-era Fleetwood Mac classic ‘Oh Well’. Anyone who thinks country dudes can’t cut it up against the ‘Cream’ of rock musicians would be well advised to check out the screaming guitar work on these tracks.