With a stunning, raspy voice that recalls Joe Cocker, Johnny Reid has built quite a career for himself in Canada with his debut “Born To Roll” spawning such hits as “You Still Own Me” (a song released in the state by Emerson Drive and also recorded by John Berry and Ty Herndon), “Sixty To Zero” and the #1 “Missing An Angel” and his sophomore album “Kicking Stones” becoming the most successful Canadian release of the last few years with the album selling over 100,000 copies (Platinum in Canada).  That album featured four massively successful singles like "Thank You" (watch the video here) and laid the groundwork for “Dance With Me.” 

Recorded and produced in Nashville with Brent Maher, “Dance With Me” feels like an evolution from the previous albums without forgetting what made Johnny Canada’s biggest star (in any genre).  It is the honesty and sincerity of his vocal and lyrical writing that keeps the majority of “Dance With Me” grounded even as he explores classic sounds of R&B, rock and soul.    The album starts off with the hugely successful single “A Woman Like You” (watch the video here) and the song features a soft mid-tempo ballad feel that has music that never gets ahead of the lyric and vocal as Johnny.  There are stellar steel guitar and harmonica solos in between the 2nd verse and the bridge of this very simple love song.  “Old Flame” is a fun little soul song that recalls great Al Green tracks while “Hey-O” is a rollickin’ good-time track that is guaranteed to get your ass out on the floor dancing. 

Fellow Canadian singer/songwriter Victoria Banks co-wrote the title track with Johnny and Tia Sillers (who co-wrote “I Hope You Dance” and other big hits) and this beautiful ballad is sure to be a great wedding song.  It’s soft, tender and just feels like a classic.  The violin solo during the instrumental break from Fats Kaplan is absolutely stunning.  If there were ever a song that could garner Johnny Reid a major USA hit single it could be this one.  Like Raul Malo, Johnny Reid is a vocalist who uses his instrument to accentuate a lyric, not just to show that he can reach for the rafters, something he shows off very well on the ballad “Brings Me Home.”  With a horn section backing him up, Johnny Reid shuffles into “Keep Workin’ On Me” and keeps the party rolling a la Delbert McClinton.

Johnny ends the record with the self-penned “My Old Friend.” Not to be confused with the Tim McGraw song of the same name, Johnny’s song is an homage to a dearly departed friend (and how much he misses that friend and how they’ll be together in the afterlife) that’s awash in atmospheric guitars from Mark Selby twin fiddles from Tammy Rogers and Fats Kaplan and percussion from Nir Z.  It’s a perfect ending to a very classy album of contemporary music from one of the music world’s best ‘unknown’ artists.  Johnny Reid is a supremely talented artist that has a unique voice that certainly could do well in the United States.  He certainly has carved out a unique place in Canada as his album debuted on the charts up there behind only U2 and Kelly Clarkson and sold over 50,000 copies (Gold) its first week alone.  If you’re looking for some new music that isn’t the same ol’ same ol’, then do yourself a favor (favour in Canada) and find a way to purchase this and Johnny Reid’s first two albums.

You can support Johnny Reid by purchasing this album from Amazon Canada.