2026 – Misfortune Records
Release Date : April, 17, 2026
By Phillip
Smith; May 2,
2026
Todd Albright’s latest album Blues for Dexter Linwood is an amazing
new record which pays an extraordinary homage to the vintage sounds of pre-war
country blues. Albright, a Detroit-based
twelve-string guitar virtuoso skillfully delivers eleven outstanding covers
from blues luminaries of which include Blind Willie McTell, Blind
Lemon Jefferson, Leadbelly, and John Hurt. Produced by Charlie Parr, the album was
recorded in mono and showcases Albright on twelve-string guitar and
vocals. Joining him is Dave
Hundrieser on harmonica and Parr on second guitar for one track.
From the moment I hear Albright break the album open with Blind Willie McTell’s “Drive Away Blues”, I knew this record was going to be majestic. His mastery of the twelve-string paired with his slightly raspy vocals make for a combination which is perfectly suited for the blues. With Hundrieser accompanying on harmonica, this Piedmont blues performance seems to transcend time. I love the juxtaposition of Leadbelly’s “Death of Ella Speed”. It’s such a dark song and yet so upbeat. With Parr on slide guitar, and Hundrieser on harp, Albright’s delivery of Blind Boy Fuller’s “Step it Up and Go” smolders as I listen in awe. This landed as the first single to be release from this album. His second being “If That Woman’s Love was Whiskey”, a song he learned from his mentor Paul Geremia who recently passed on March 14, 2026. The song is from Geremia’s 1999 album The Devils Music and is played by Albright with a slide in open D Vestapol tuning. He states this about the song: “It’s one of those songs that I didn’t so much learn as absorb.”. I can certainly see why, it is a magnificent song. Scorned love and retribution take center stage on Mississippi John Hurt’s murder ballad “Frankie” as Albright plays it to perfection. It’s a marvelous listen.
Blues for Dexter Linwood is a sensational record. It makes me happy to hear blues songs of this age and caliber dusted off and brought back to life. Real-deal blues enthusiasts will definitely want to give this album a listen.
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For more information about Todd Albright, visit
his website at https://www.toddalbright.com/
For more information about Charlie Parr, visit
his website at https://www.charlieparr.com/