Jim Lauderdale Finds Solace in ’60s Soul Sounds On “You Came To Get Me”

Jim Lauderdale may have a hippie spirit, but no one can accuse the venerable roots musician of being lazy. Since 1998, the native North Carolinian has released at least one album per year, and some years have even seen as many as three full-length offerings come down the pike.

On June 30, Lauderdale returns to the fold for his — gasp! — 29th album, titled London Southern.

As the name implies, the album was recorded in London and inspired by the music of the ‘60s, particularly the boomeranging of musical influences that went on among British and southern American artists during that famously fecund period.

“So it was that thing of how much British musicians loved American music, and how they interpreted our roots, then we interpreted them,” Lauderdale said. “They love a lot of the same things I do, only from a very different perspective.”

One of the more soul-oriented tracks on the album is “You Came To Get Me,” which can be streamed below.

Lauderdale said the song didn’t come together until the last minute during recording.

“I started ‘You Came To Get Me’ right before going to the 30A Songwriters Festival. I was sharing a house there with John Oates. We wrote ‘If I Can’t Resist’ which ended up on London Southern that Saturday.

During a break, I played him a rough version of ‘You Came To Get Me’ and he liked it, so I was encouraged. I had cut six tracks for London Southern and was going back to England to finish it in a few days and needed songs. I finished the lyrics while in the studio as we were cutting. The song harkens back to the soul songs I heard on the radio in Carolina when I was a kid. There was a horn part in the chorus that came to me and helped guide me through the song.”

Tracklisting:
1. Sweet Time (Lauderdale)
2. I Love You More (Lauderdale)
3. We’ve Only Got So Much Time Here (Lauderdale, Blackmon)
4. You Came To Get Me (Lauderdale)
5. What Have You Got To Lose (Lauderdale, Penn)
6. If I Can’t Resist (Lauderdale, Oates)
7. Don’t Let Yourself Get In The Way (Lauderdale)
8. No Right Way To Be Wrong (Lauderdale)
9. Different Kind Of Groove Some Time (Lauderdale, Oates)
10. I Can’t Do Without You (Lauderdale, Marvel)
11. Don’t Shut Me Down (Lauderdale, Penn)
12. This Is A Door (Lauderdale)

Tour Dates Below:

APRIL
28 – Wilkesboro, NC – MerleFest
29 – Wilkesboro, NC – MerleFest
30 – Wilkesboro, NC – MerleFest

MAY
4 – Greer, SC- Spinning Jenny
5 – Pittsboro, NC – Shakori Hills
6 – Waynesville, NC – The Strand
7 – Clemmons, NC – Tanglewood Park
9 – Nashville, TN – The Station Inn
19 – Philly PA – Folksong Society
20 – Peekskill, NY – Nashskill Fest
21 – Montclair, NJ – Outpost in the Burbs
26 – McClure, VA – Dr. Ralph Stanley Hills of Home Festival
27 – Lexington, KY – Willie’s Locally Known
30 – Greenville, TX – Texan Theater
31 – Austin, TX – Cactus Cafe

JUNE
1 – Houston, TX – Mucky Duck
2 – Baton Rouge, LA – Red Dragon
4 – New Orleans, LA – Basement at Orpheum
9 – Nashville, TN – Musicians Corner
13 – Nashville, TN – American Legion – Honky Tonk Tuesday
15 – Durham, NC – Back Porch Series
19 – Washington, DC – The Hamilton (with Buddy Miller)
22 – Spring Lake, MI – Seven Steps Up
23 – Milwaukee, WI – Colectivo
24 – Ann Arbor, MI – The Ark
25 – Chicago, IL – Day In The Country Fest
30 – New York, NY – City Winery (with Dustbowl Revival)

JULY
2 – Sherman, NY – Great Blue Heron Fest
3 – Buffalo, NY – Sportsmen’s
14 – Cork, Ireland – Triskel Arts Centre
16 – Lewes, United Kingdom – The All Saints Church (with Angaleena Presley)
17 – Nottingham, United Kingdom – The Running Horse
18 – Sheffield, United Kingdom – Greystones
20 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Paradiso (with Sam Outlaw)
22 – Gateshead, United Kingdom – The Sage (with Sam Outlaw)
23 – Hebden Bridge, United Kingdom – Trades Club
26 – Milton Keynes, United Kingdom – The Stables (with Rodney Crowell)
27 – London, United Kingdom – Kings Place (with Rodney Crowell)
28 – Perth Concert Hall, United Kingdom – Southern Fried Festival (with Nick Lowe)
30 – Dublin, Ireland – National Concert Hall (with Rodney Crowell)