North Mississippi Allstars Albums Ranked

North Mississippi Allstars is an American blues and southern rock band from Hernando, Mississippi, founded in 1996. The band is currently composed of brothers Luther Dickinson (guitar, lowbrow, vocals) and Cody Dickinson (drums, keyboards, electric washboard, vocals). Their most recent album Up and Rolling was released in 2019. The group was formed in 1996 by brothers Luther and Cody Dickinson (sons of Memphis musician/producer Jim Dickinson), along with bassist Chris Chew, with the intention of combining the blues and bluegrass of the North Mississippi region with rock and other modern forms. Their first album Shake Hands with Shorty was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album. Their later albums 51 Phantom and Electric Blue Watermelon have received nominations in the same category. The group also won a Blues Music Award for Best New Artist Debut in 2001. Here are all of North Mississippi Allstars albums ranked.

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9. 51 Phantom 

“Superb blues guitar. “Freedom Highway” is a highlight, and also sounds great live. All these tune have a nice mellow jammin’ blues feel. Good album, referring to old southern rock from the 70’s.”

8. Set Sail 

“Set Sail finds the band still wielding some of the inspiration that made Up & Rolling one of their best, though – wouldn’t you know it – it falls short of that album overall and features a more limited guest list. There’s nothing as casually groovy as that album’s songs that featured Norman’s smooth milk & honey vocals, nor as fiery as U&R moments like the Isbell/Betts feature.”

7. Hernando 

“I can’t count how many times I’ve seen the North Mississippi Allstars … every show is so hot, there is nothing you can do but rock back on your heals and shake your tail feathers. Yet when I get home and spin the album, there is something missing. Now I’m not saying that the music is bad or anything, it just seems that the North Mississippi Allstars are a live band first and foremost.”

6. Electric Blue Watermelon 

“Luther Dickinson is one of the greatest guitar players in the world. Like many other great guitar players (Louie Shelton, Hubert Sumlin) that far too many people have never heard of, he plays in a less than flashy style, but try to duplicate his playing and you just can’t do it. Dickinson is jaw dropping good in concert and everyone should find a way to see him play live.”

5. Keys To The Kingdom 

“The album starts stomping with the groovin’ beat oriented “This A’Way”. It is not a sizzling rocker, but more like a funky mid-tempo barrel house blues with a great guitar solo in the middle. The next song, “Jumpercable Blues” has a more electric tone with the same great slide guitar work reminiscent of NMAS numbers of old. A true highlight of the album has Mavis Staples helping out on “The Meeting”, which has a great lead up to another swampy sounding and stomping blues number. “

4. Prayer For Peace 

“The first two songs on the album are “political,” sure. But much of the album provides a traditional blues repertoire of songs. For me, because of the times around us, I wanted MORE political songs. Blues music just isn’t about a woman doing you wrong or drinking bourbon or whatever old saws people sing about.”

3. World Boogie Is Coming 

“Anyone who loves the blues should get this album. And anyone who questions if the blues can still evolve and break new frontiers needs to get it as well. The Dickinson brothers and the various collaborators they have assembled have produced a masterpiece. Luther’s vocals and brilliant guitar bring new life to the classic Rollin ‘n Tumblin. This version may cause you to keep hitting the “repeat” button.”

2. Up And Rolling 

“Luther Dickinson has matured unlike any musician I can recall. His guitar playing just keeps getting better and better. The musicians that that he has brought into the fold is unbelievable. We all have R.L. Burnside, Junior Kimbrough and, of course, Jim Dickinson to thank for this amazing amazing group of musicians, family as we call it down South.”

1. Shake Hands With Shorty 

“North Mississippi Allstars is an awesome Blues group. Their music is a great combination of good ole Southern Blues/ Southern Rock and a little bit of Hip Hop all thrown into a fabulous mix. Most, if not all, of the cuts on this CD are old standard blues songs, with the trademark NMAS sound incorporated into each one. NMAS plays the kind of music that one would expect and hope to discover blaring out of a bar while strolling down Beale Street in Memphis.”