Paul Thorn announces release date for new album, “Don’t Let The Devil Ride”

DLDR cover

As 2018 begins, anticipation is running high for the Levitt National Tour, returning this summer! Stopping in seven Levitt locations (six existing permanent Levitt venues and one future Levitt venue), the tour will feature the rootsy southern rock of Paul Thorn and old-school gospel of Blind Boys of Alabama—a union of critically acclaimed and universally loved talent that’s truly a one-of-a-kind collaboration. To hold us over until summer, Paul Thorn just announced the release date of his upcoming album—“Don’t Let The Devil Ride,” out on March 23! These 14 songs feature vocals by Blind Boys of Alabama, who are set to co-headline the Levitt National Tour and perform songs from the album across all tour stops.

The album was produced by Billy Maddox, who has worked on many of Thorn’s previous records, as well as Colin Linden, a songwriter and record producer who has collaborated with Bob Dylan, Lucinda Williams and T-Bone Burnett, among others. “Don’t Let The Devil Ride” is Thorn’s first gospel album and a testament to his upbringing around the genre. Along with singing Appalachian gospel at his father’s Pentecostal church in Tupelo, Miss., Thorn often visited a neighboring African-American church, the Okolona Sunrise Church of Prophecy. There, he had the uniquely formative experience of playing with the church band. “There might (have been) 10 people playing the tambourine, but the rhythm was locked in, and they’d let me play bass…it was a treat to play with those musicians.” According to Thorn, it was where he first fell in love with gospel music.

Thorn’s collaborative spirit shines through on his new album—apart from Blind Boys of Alabama, luminaries like The McCrary Sisters, Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Bonnie Bishop all make appearances. Working with the Blind Boys has been an especially sentimental experience for Thorn, who dreamed of sharing the stage with them as a musician in his youth. Thorn shared in a recent interview, “they were my superheroes.” As co-headliners, Thorn and Blind Boys will be a perfect match for exhilarating nights of music all throughout this summer’s Levitt National Tour.

While “Don’t Let The Devil Ride” is firmly rooted in the historied tradition of gospel, its uplifting themes make a poignant statement for the times. By re-interpreting rare spirituals released on small Alabama and Mississippi labels between 1950-70, as well as The O’Jay’s classic Philly-soul cut “Love Train,” words of harmony and inclusivity are given new meaning. “My message on this record is ‘let’s get together’” says Thorn, “I want to help lighten your load and make you smile.”

The Levitt Foundation loves music because of its power to bring people together. With Paul Thorn and Blind Boys of Alabama coming to seven Levitt stages, the upcoming Levitt National Tour is bound to be a celebratory and life-affirming experience for all! Stay tuned on our blog for tour dates and details.

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