Greatest Songs from New Orleans

Don't You Just Know It-Huey 'Piano' Smith
Tell Me Pretty Baby-Lloyd Price
Te-Ta-Te-Ta-Ta-Ernie K-Doe
Rock 'n' Roll Fever-The Monitors
Sneakin' Sally Thru The Alley-Lee Dorsey
Tipitina-Professor Longhair
Somebody Changed the Lock-Dr. John
Mother-In-Law-Ernie K-Doe
Sea Cruise-Frankie Ford
Ball The Wall-Professor Longhair
Bald Head-Professor Longhair
Diggy Liggy Lo-Rusty & Doug
Blueberry Hill-Fats Domino
How Far-Chris Kenner
She Put The Hurt On Me-Prince La La
Careless Love-Dr. John
In The Night-Professor Longhair
Zydeco Gris-Gris-Beausoleil
It's You I Love-Beausoleil
Meet De Boys On The Battlefront-Neville Brothers
Candy Yam-Lee Dorsey
I Done Got Over-Irma Thomas
A Certain Girl-Ernie K-Doe
Acadie A La Louisiane-Bruce Daigreport
You're Driving Me Crazy-Professor Longhair
Ya Ya-Lee Dorsey
Over You-Neville Brothers
Trick Bag-Earl King
Evangeline Special -Iry Le June
Feel So Good-Shirley & Lee
Lights Out-Jerry Byrne
Cabbage Alley-Meters
I'm Ready-Fats Domino
Boney Moronie-Larry Williams
Whole Lotta Lovin'-Fats Domino
Wild Injuns-Neville Brothers
Stagger Lee-Lloyd Price
When I'm Drinkin'-Champion Dupree Jack
Fire And Brimstone-Neville Brothers
Time Is On My Side-Irma Thomas
Let The Four Winds Blow-Roy Brown
I Like It Like That-Chris Kenner
Hey Now Baby-Professor Longhair
High Blood Pressure-Huey 'Piano' Smith
Zing, Zing-Neville Brothers
I'm Walkin'-Fats Domino
Ain't Got No Home-Clarence 'Frogman' Henry
Iko Iko-Dr. John
Scald Dog-Dr. John
Voo Doo-Neville Brothers
It Will Stand-The Showmen
Lipstick Traces-Benny Spellman
My Girl Josephine-Queen Ida
Paper In My Shoe-Boozoo Chavis
Huey Smith Medley-Dr. John
Didn't He Ramble-Dr. John
Eh, Petite Fille-Clifton Chenier
(Every Time I Hear) That Mellow Saxaphone-Roy Montrell
Hey Little Girl-Professor Longhair
Let The Good Times Roll-Shirley & Lee
Fortune Teller-Benny Spellman
Ooo Wow-Roy Montrell
Let's Make A Better World-Dr. John
On The Sunny Side Of The Street-James Booker
Yellow Moon-Neville Brothers
Brother John-Neville Brothers
Carry On-Jerry Byrne
Hey Pocky Way-Neville Brothers
I Know-Barbara George
My Toot-Toot-Rockin' Sidney
Chere Duloone-Queen Ida & The Bon Temps Zydeco Band

specifically, "some things you never get used to."

and maybe, considering the context, "it's raining."

and you need some meters!

and though he probably made it in los angeles, not new orleans, you can't go wrong with randy newman's "louisiana 1927," especially if you're feeling the need to get sad and mad at the same time.

Gonzo, James Booker.

Cry On, Irma Thomas.

Thank You John, Alex Chilton.

actually, thinking of any more is just too painful at the moment.

Way Down Yonder In New Orleans - Bix Beiderbecke
Jungle Blues and Sidewalk Blues - Jelly Roll Morton
Potato Head Blues, West End Blues and Tight Like This - Louis Armstrong
Show Boat Shuffle - King Oliver
any Duke Ellington

edd s OTM.

actually, the latest Dr. John album--at least I think it's his latest--"N'Awlinz Dis Dat or D'Udda," is about half-good. Nice bit by Randy Newman, guest spots from Willie Tee, et al. I'm a little bit of a skeptic about Dr. John myself.

Everybody's had a few
Now they're talking about who knows who
I'm going back to the Crescent City, where everything's still the same
This town has said what it has to say
Now I'm after that back highway
And the longest bridge I've ever crossed, over Pontchartrain

"Tu le Ton Son Ton"
That's what we'd say
We used to dance the night away
Me and my sister
Me and my brother
We used to walk down by the river

Mama lives in Mandeville
I can hardly wait until
I can hear my zydeco, and laissez les bons temps rouler
And take rides in open cars
My brother knows where the best bars are
Let's see how these blues'll do in the town where the good times stay

"Tu le Ton Son Ton"
That's all we'd say
We used to dance the night away
Me and my sister
Me and my brother
We used to walk down by the river

the book I recommend is John Broven's "Rhythm and Blues in New Orleans." Forgive me my prejuidice, more of an observation--it's a very well-researched book, but typical of a lotta English writing about American music, somehow misses the point, and not all that well written. But it's still invaluable. Anyway, screw that, let's see what it say about Little Richard. "Tutti Frutti" was done in NOLA; "Long Tall Sally" in L.A. Earl Palmer's book is very good indeed.

I can't get my head around what has been lost in New Orleans. God, I've been there so much, and getting to know the city compares, in my poisonal development, to doing the same in New York. The two cities have more in common than do Nashville and New Orleans, that's for sure. I was always lucky--I first started going there to work, so I got to know the whole city really well, and got beyond the usual French-Quarter shit quick, and met a lot of knowledgeable people who showed me the ropes. And now it's gone, or at least changed beyond recognition. It's made me almost literally ill, like someone I know has died.

As the great A.J. Liebling wrote, a po-boy in New Orleans is a portable banquet; in the rest of the country, it's a crippling blow to the gut. Guess which place I'd rather live in.

I first started going there to work
You're a guitar player, right edd?

Sneakin' Sally Thru The Alley-Lee Dorsey

I had no idea until just now that this was a cover! The Robert Palmer version has been one of my favorite songs since forever. Love this!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GynyeueaaQM

Cool.

Lee Dorsey's entire catalog is pretty killer.

He couldn't sing much, but Fess always gets me dancing around the kitchen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUvv4s_1yyM

I think Fess's cracking, yodeling voice is one of the best things ever. Jazzbo, your list of seven years ago is awesome. Needs some Smiley Lewis, tho.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4qKnukGcJU

it's still get off the corner.

Needs some Smiley Lewis, tho.
Absolutely. These days, my New Orleans R&B iTunes playlist alone has got a few hundred songs.

Another good one that's not on my original list.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNcXYkZHlZk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLRfDLJLjxc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJGRgzRrqFU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFSHS7bOwmE

I've been listening to Snooks Eaglin this morning (not uncommon for me!) Miss that guy so much.

He was a great one, liked his voice and unique guitar sound

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/521191680/bayou-maharajah-the-tragic-genius-of-james-booker

movie doc on James Booker needs financing help

Oh good, it reached what they needed

he book I recommend is John Broven's "Rhythm and Blues in New Orleans." Forgive me my prejuidice, more of an observation--it's a very well-researched book, but typical of a lotta English writing about American music, somehow misses the point, and not all that well written. But it's still invaluable.

http://www.offbeat.com/2013/06/26/rounder-unearths-more-booker-tapes/#

More unreleased James Booker (but from the Scott Billington Rounder era)

http://www.offbeat.com/2012/12/01/the-dew-drop-inn-past-present-future/#

http://www.oxfordamerican.org/articles/2013/jul/08/director-interview-lily-keber/

James Booker movie doc finished. Interview with the director

I so wish NOLA could do for The Dew Drop what Memphis did with the Stax museum. That whole stretch of Lasalle Street is mighty blighted. The comment on that link about it being reopened for a show ('97?) boggles my mind. I was attending Jazzfest regularly then, and I've never heard of it being reopened for anything ever. Didn't know it was even possible.

oh cool, lily and i used to work together. i've seen some rough footage, it's gonna be great.

re the booker doc

Yeah, that comment about the '97 show reads like some Midnight in Paris time travel!
Can't wait to see the Booker doc.

dude u in new orleans these days?

Nahh, San Francisco. I was around nov-feb building all the superbowl stuff that ruined Jackson Square. Still trying to figure out a better way to split shifts between the coasts.

://www.cbgb.com/films.php#!programmation=participant$bayou-maharash-the-tragic-genius-of-james-booker/1230

showing in NYC twice

back that azz up

yeah

BAYOU MAHARAJAH explores the life, times and music of piano legend James Booker

On Amazon and Netflix now, and showing at Georgetown U Thursday night for free. I want to see it one of these ways

It's phenomenal. They dug up a ton of great footage and have so many instantly classic interview bits with his friends/bandmates.

Just watched it yesterday, so good.

Walter Wolfman Washington 's latest album "My Future is my Past" has him singing ballads rather than playing lots of blues and funk guitar. I think it sounds great.

https://www.theadvocate.com/new_orleans/entertainment_life/keith_spera/article_876c412a-3464-11e8-81d0-ef85aaee14a3.html

Unlike anything else in the Wolfman's catalog, “My Future Is My Past” shows off his warm purr of a voice to great effect, especially on a duet with Irma Thomas. Galactic drummer Stanton Moore’s modern jazz trio, featuring keyboardist David Torkanowsky and bassist James Singleton, accompanies Washington on much of the record. Other guests include keyboardists Jon Cleary and Ivan Neville and percussionist Mike Dillon.

Set for national release via ANTI- Records on April 20, "My Future Is My Past"

Wow, just getting around to this. Great recommendation! Fantastic and tasteful performances all around.

Yes again to that Walter Wolfman Washington album "My Future Is My Past” with him singing ballads.

Looking back at my list above, I now realize I included some zydeco/Cajun songs that really don't belong. Silly me.

That's pretty nice, love the minimal arrangements and plate reverb.

I've been enjoying going back through Leroy Jones' records (in preparation for backing him up on a couple dates), highly recommend checking out Props for Pops and Mo' Cream from the Crop (they're on Spotify).

Haven't look at an AMG review in years, but I was trying to remember the piano player's name, and fuuuuuck youuuuuu Scott Yanow:

https://www.allmusic.com/album/mo-cream-from-the-crop-mw0000126470
In his brief liner notes to this CD, Harry Connick, Jr., calls trumpeter Leroy Jones a genius. Jones is no genius (certainly there is nothing on his debut disc that would qualify as original) but he is a fine Lee Morgan-influenced trumpeter and a decent singer. The odd part about this set is that Jones, due to his New Orleans backround, is misplaced as a Dixieland trumpeter. He certainly does not have much feel for the music, turning "Tin Roof Blues" into burlesque (with some sounds worthy of Clyde McCoy), playing closing ensembles on "Bourbon Street Parade" that practically define corn and switching the music to bop every third song or so. Trombonist Lucien Barbarin sounds like J.J. Johnson when he does not feel compelled to growl, leaving drummer Shannon Powell (who often plays enthusiastic parade rhythms) as the only musician on the date who belongs in a traditional New Orleans jazz band. There are some enjoyable selections on this disc but the baggage of having to emulate what Jones thinks a New Orleans trumpeter should sound like weighs down the performances.

Hmmm I wonder who has weird baggage about what New Orleans jazz should sound like...

I have a lot to say about this but there's no point in arguing with dumb old AMG reviews, obviously

https://www.offbeat.com/news/walter-wolfman-washington/

RIP at 79 New Orleans singer/ guitarist Walter Wolfman Washington. He started in Lee Dorsey’s band and later had his own group

His first record. I've listened to this five times today, perfect rhythm to dance the Popeye.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyLmHG-u5_g

Nice. I also kinda like his farewell final album from this year. It’s very minimal, stripped down and not flashy

R.I.P. Wolfman.

I see this thread doesn't have any James "Sugar Boy" Crawford. So now it does. This song cooks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5KIOjBBRcM

My band used to cover "Overboard!" We couldn't replicate the frantic almost-falling-apartness so we changed it up a bit. I'm not sure if I can post via FB link.

https://www.facebook.com/mikeysmerc/videos/2176918665668945

Can't get the link to work, but that's awesome. Yeah that song has always amazed me the way it goes hard from the jump and by the end sounds like a runaway train.

I've been looking for a Sugar Boy compilation for years — I know one was issued at some point, but damned if I can find a copy of it. I look every time I'm in NOLA, figuring that's the most likely place.

Ah yeah, private link. Here you go:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oncd5f20V5c

Nice!