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Boz Skaggs “Loan Me A Dime”

Boz Scaggs

Boz Scaggs “Boz Scaggs”

“Loan Me a Dime”

Boz Scaggs was the second solo effort by Scaggs. His first record titled “Boz” was a commercial failure. Boz was recorded in Europe in 1965 and after the failed attempt Scaggs moved back to the states and began playing with his good buddy Steve Miller again. After a few records with Miller, Scaggs went out on his own again and signed a deal with Atlantic Records.

In 1969 Boz Scaggs went into the famed Muscle Shoals Sound Studio studio in Sheffield, Alabama to record what could be one of his best albums ever. Recording the record with some of the greatest studio musicians of all time, this blues studio record really packs a punch. With Duane “Skydog” Allman playing slide and the Dobro. Yes the same Duane Allman that played with his brother in the Allman Brothers Band and that Rolling Stone Records ranks as the second greatest guitarist of all time. Most of the other musicians on the album where the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio owners and session musicians better known as the The Swampers . This is the group of musicians that are mentioned in the Lynyrd Skynyrd classic Sweet Home Alabama:

The Swampers consisted of Barry Beckett keyboards, Roger Hawkins drums, David Hood on bass, Jimmy Johnson and Eddie Hinton playing guitar. “Loan Me a Dime” was written by blues player Fenton Robinson in 1967. Boz Scaggs version is longer (12:48) and highlights all the talented musicians that performed on it. We recommend that you listen to the song via some headphones, as throughout the entire song since some of the slide guitar work and all the other instruments become the hidden gems that makes the song so great.  The song starts with a slow keyboard/piano mix that really sets the tone for the whole thing. As Duane begins to pick on the guitar at the one minute mark you truly begin to get that bluesy filling.  a great side note is that the lyrics don’t even begin until the 2:35 mark which is about how long it seems whole songs are today. At the 4:18 mark Duane starts to rip through this slow solo that highlights his guitar talents. For the entire 2 minutes that follow you can hear the quality of the The Swampers talent as they work hard on keeping the guitar from taking complete control over the song. Now we are at the halfway point and Scaggs begins to belt out the sad lyrics on how much he is missing his baby.  The second guitar solo starts a minute latter and the band picks up the pace some. Up until now we are sure that you have been wondering why you needed the headphone. If you have the volume turned up just right you can sit back and enjoy the last 5 minutes and all the sound and amazing slide guitar work. So sit back. remember the days of phone booths at every gas station and 7 eleven and ask somebody to “Loan you a Dime.”

Video courtesy of Dimitris Koutsiaftis

 

 

31 thoughts on “Boz Skaggs “Loan Me A Dime””

  1. I believe it was two.they added the horn section and jam.first take was to nail the intro.which they did.to me the intro.with piano.organ.bass.are good.but add the IT.PURCUSSION. and guitar
    And that is what makes the song.they wanted a show stopper to perform .boz and THE WHOLE BAND.THAT ALSO FLOWS NICELY INTO I’LL BE LONG GONE.

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    • I’m glad you enjoyed the article and the site. Thank you for sharing it on Twitter and WXPN must be a great station. Something we are lacking right now out here in Northern California

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  4. Later editions of the “Boz Skaggs” recording have the same mix as a Duane Allman tribute album. Nice if you want to follow his fingering, but it doesn’t have the great ensemble energy of the original. For a while here was a premium vinyl recording of the original mix and now there is a 2-CD set with both mixes. That set has the versions reversed on the CD labels.

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  5. Does anyone one know if that song was done in one take, and how great would it be to actually see film footage of these guys rocking in the studio? I clearly remember the night that I heard this song for the first time on my college radio station. I kept turning the volume up louder and louder to its max. Then I called the station and asked the DJ what he just played and went out and bought the record. That was 1975.

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    • I believe it was two.they added the horn section and jam.first take was to nail the intro.which they did.to me the intro.with piano.organ.bass.are good.but add the IT.PURCUSSION. and guitar
      And that is what makes the song.they wanted a show stopper to perform .boz and THE WHOLE BAND.THAT ALSO FLOWS NICELY INTO I’LL BE LONG GONE.

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    • mgradyc
      Reviewing my album back cover and looking up on the WWW and I’m not seeing anything about who played the organ part in the beginning. My guess is that it is all tied into the Barry Beckett keyboards.

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  7. Wow – listening to this for the first time, I swore that was Robert Cray on guitar. I guess Cray’s style owes some thanks to Duane Allman! Never heard Duane in such a straight blues style before. Thanks for the details!

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  8. Saw Boz Scaggs on Saturday 6/17 at the Kauffmann Center in Kansas City(opening for Michael McDonald). He and his band played a 10 minute version of “Loan Me A Dime” for their encore. It was fantastic; the highlight of the show for me. Enjoyed it so much I googled it and saw and enjoyed reading your post.

    Boz is in fine form; if you get the chance, go see him live on this tour. It is worth every dime!

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    • Pat
      It’s great to hear that Boz is still in great form. I will have to check out his tour dates and see if I can make his show out here. I’m glad you enjoyed the read. “Loan Me a Dime” is one of my all time favorite songs. The music talent behind the song is simply amazing. Thank you for your comment and I hope that you can come back and maybe find some more “Forgotten Rock Classics” songs from our past.

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  10. Tremendous song. They used to play this on the radio more frequently but less so now on terrestrial radio, more so on satellite. Duane’s solo is about as good as it gets. I need to listen to this song every now and again just to get inside of it.

    I have this memory of once driving up to a take-out window and this song was playing. The person inside heard it and said, “What is that music? I love it!” I told her. Can’t remember if I ever went back there but here’s hoping she went out and got it.

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    • Jim I hope she was smart enough to go out and buy it. My daughters have questioned me on why it’s called “Loan me a Dime” and then I try to explain to them about phone booths, call costing a dime. Turns out to be a waste of my time because they just don’t get it and can’t imagine having to make a call from a gas station or from the 7/11 around the corner.

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      • Imagine that. Try explain “drop a dime on someone” to them. Public pay phones are now such a rare sight I took a picture of one I saw at an airport and posted it on Facebook.

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    • Catchgrove glad you enjoyed the post. Here’s hoping you were able to spin “Dime”. What a great tune. Your welcome on checking out your site, I have enjoyed everything that I have saw so far and looking forward to seeing more posts from you.

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