North Mississippi Allstars guitarist Luther Dickinson shared a cover of Mississippi John Hurt’s “Beulah Land,” with guests Allison Russell, Yola and more. The track is set for Dickinson’s upcoming album, Magic Music For Family Folk, due out on November 17 via Antone’s Records/New West Records.
Dickinson announced Magic Music For Family Folk in September and shared The Staple Singers popularized “Are You Sure” as the lead single. Luther said the new covers album is a “collection of my childhood favorites…recorded for fun, at home, with family and friends, in the spirit of sharing.”
Premiered by Holler, Dickinson continues the Magic Music For Family Folk rollout with Mississippi John Hurt’s “Beulah Land,” featuring Allison Russell, Yola and Sharade Thomas along with Dickinson’s mother and daughters.
“‘Beulah Land’ is a timely spiritual and a unique document of togetherness in a world that often feels divided and in need of a little love,” the collaborators said of the track.
Dickinson also detailed the cover:
“Our version of Mississippi John Hurt’s ‘Beulah Land’ is my favorite. Allison had just finished recording when Yola arrived for the evening dinner party. But as soon as she walked in the door, I sat her down, handed her headphones, and hit record. Her spontaneous, first impression vocal performance, without ever hearing the track, instantly became my favorite moment of recording. These days, if I am going to sing a spiritual song, I gravitate towards a non-specific, inclusive message and ‘Beulah Land’ speaks to the theme of the album and supports the Magic Music of Family Folk concept I wanted to share with my children.”
Listen to Luther Dickinson, Allison Russell, Yola and more on “Beulah Land” below:
