If you grew up in a certain part of the South, you knew Don Dixon as one of the leading members of Arrogance, a near-legendary North Carolina pop band who were regional heroes but never broke through to national recognition. If you're the kind of hipster who reads the credits on your CDs, you know Dixon as a producer who was behind the controls for seminal albums by R.E.M. and the Smithereens. But you pretty much have to be a jangle pop addict to be especially well versed with Dixon's work as a solo recording artist, and ...
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If you grew up in a certain part of the South, you knew Don Dixon as one of the leading members of Arrogance, a near-legendary North Carolina pop band who were regional heroes but never broke through to national recognition. If you're the kind of hipster who reads the credits on your CDs, you know Dixon as a producer who was behind the controls for seminal albums by R.E.M. and the Smithereens. But you pretty much have to be a jangle pop addict to be especially well versed with Dixon's work as a solo recording artist, and that's a shame. As a songwriter, Dixon has a natural gift for the killer hook, and his lyrics are sharp, clever, and witty without descending into "yuk yuk" goofiness. And Dixon may have been one of the few great blue-eyed soul men to emerge from the smart pop scene; one could argue no one melded R&B vocal influences with hook-happy tunes this well since Alex Chilton decided to stop singing in a lower register. If I'm a Ham, Well You're a Sausage is a well-assembled compilation that brings together ace selections from Dixon's three studio albums for Engima/Restless -- Romeo at Juilliard, EEE, and the superbly titled Most of the Girls Like to Dance but Only Some of the Boys Like To -- along with a stunning version of "Renaissance Eyes" from the rare live album The Chi-Town Budget Show and a few choice obscurities (including "Teenage Suicide (Don't Do It)," a hilariously cheesy bit of satiric synth pop Dixon crafted for the movie Heathers). Dixon's body of work is strong enough that any of the above-mentioned albums is well worth a listen, but as a one-stop introduction to a wildly underappreciated artist, If I'm a Ham, Well You're a Sausage gets the job done with flying colors, and it's hard to imagine anyone who likes their pop with great hooks, great vocals, and a Southern slant not falling hard for this stuff. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
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Seller's Description:
Fair. This item has very light surface scratches that do not affect the use of the disc/s. This is a USED item. Case and cover may or may not have wear or damage. All items unless otherwise noted will include disc, case, and artwork. Codes have been used. Other contents such as booklets may vary, please inquire for details. All items ship Monday-Friday within 2-3 business days.
