Dion’s ‘The Rock ‘n’ Roll Philosopher’ Mixes Reimagined Hits & New Material: Review
by Jeff Burger
Dion DiMucci possesses one of rock ’n’ roll’s greatest voices, but in recent decades, he has largely eschewed that genre in favor of religious music and, later, the blues. Work on a newly issued memoir prompted him to revisit his rock roots, however. The result is The Rock ’n’ Roll Philosopher, an album that shares the book’s title.
The CD, released Oct. 24, 2025, includes eight new recordings and an equal number of tracks sourced from older LPs. Among the latter group are excellent versions of three early hits—1961’s “Runaround Sue” and “The Wanderer” and 1962’s “Ruby Baby,” all of which first appeared on 2003’s New Masters CD.
The new recordings offer a mix of rockers and ballads and incorporate fresh compositions as well as reinterpretations of old favorites. Together, they show that, at age 86, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Dion’s vocal and creative strengths remain fully intact.
Highlights include a scorching new rendition of his “King of the New York Streets”; “Serenade,” which weds Tom Waits’ “San Diego Serenade” to a Dion song about faith; and “New York Minute,” a doo-wop-style evocation of the moment he first met Susan Butterfield, his wife of more than 60 years. There’s also an emotional, recently recorded reading of “Abraham, Martin and John,” Dion’s top 5 hit from 1968, that he calls his favorite of the dozens of versions of the song he has recorded over the years.
Related: Our 2025 interview with Dion
Like his other recent albums, this one features several luminous guests, among them guitarists Mark Knopfler, Joe Bonamassa and Sonny Landreth. Also here, playing guitar on Dion’s “If You Wanna Rock ’n’ Roll,” is Eric Clapton, whose essay in the accompanying booklet calls the song’s author “a genius singer, writer, musician, and healer.” Amen to that.
Dion’s The Rock ’n’ Roll Philosopher album and book are available in the U.S./worldwide here, in Canada here and in the U.K. here.
Burger wrote one of the first interview-based profiles of Bruce Springsteen to be published in a national magazine. He has interviewed many other music-world luminaries as well, including Steve Van Zandt, Roger McGuinn, John Sebastian, Wolfman Jack, Tom Waits, Foreigner’s Mick Jones, Billy Joel, Steve Forbert, Tommy James, the Righteous Brothers, Gordon Lightfoot, Deep Purple’s Tommy Bolin, and members of Steely Dan and the Marshall Tucker Band. He has also interviewed many other public figures, such as Suze Orman, Daymond John, James Carville, Donald Trump, Sir Richard Branson, F. Lee Bailey, and Cliff Robertson.
His books include Dylan on Dylan: Interviews and Encounters, Lennon on Lennon: Conversations with John Lennon, Leonard Cohen on Leonard Cohen: Interviews and Encounters, and Springsteen on Springsteen: Interviews, Speeches, and Encounters, all of which are published in the U.S. and Canada by Chicago Review Press. The books have been republished in numerous other countries.
Burger has been the editor of several periodicals, including Business Jet Traveler, from which he retired in 2024. During his 20 years at that
publication, it received more than 120 major editorial awards, including multiple wins for the world’s Best Consumer Travel Magazine in the annual Folio:Eddie competition.
Burger lives in Ridgewood, New Jersey. His wife, Madeleine Beresford, is a puppeteer and former preschool director and teacher. The couple have two grown children.
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