The brilliant character actor
Harry Dean Stanton long had a sideline as a musician, and one could reasonably say he sang like an actor. His voice was hardly precise, as he had a habit of missing notes and falling out of rhythm in his performances, yet in terms of inhabiting the character in the songs he sang, he was splendid. For all his flaws, he could make you believe in what he had to say; he also made clear he loved to sing and was absolutely in the moment when he stood before a microphone.
October 1993 pulls together nine songs from
Stanton's tenure with his backing band
the Cheap Dates, which included
Jamie James of
the Kingbees on guitar, former
Doobie Brother Jeff "Skunk" Baxter on pedal steel,
Tony Sales (whose resume includes work with
Iggy Pop and
David Bowie) on bass, and
Slim Jim Phantom of
the Stray Cats on drums. It doesn't take long for these tracks to make clear that the backing musicians were more technically accomplished than their frontman, but it's just as obvious that
Stanton has a presence and star quality the others do not -- he knows how to tell a story in a way that resonates with a listener. The first four selections are drawn from a studio session, and
Stanton seems a bit better controlled in that environment. His version of
John Hiatt's "Across the Borderline" is a superb interpretation of that very fine song. The other five tunes come from a gig
Stanton and the Cheap Dates played at Los Angeles' fabled Troubadour club, and there's a lively honky-tonk energy to these tracks, as
Stanton clearly enjoys interacting with the audience and the musicians give their all for the enthusiastic crowd. The live sides also put a greater emphasis on
Stanton's vocal failings, but when they all swing into gear on "You Never Can Tell" and "Bright Lights, Big City," the result is a night to remember. While the charm of
October 1993 may be lost on those who aren't familiar with
Harry Dean Stanton's body of work as an actor, anyone who saw and loved him in
Repo Man,
Paris, Texas, or
Wild at Heart will likely be susceptible to its magic, and it's a warm reminder of a singular American talent. ~ Mark Deming
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