yeah album is pretty good. i despise the black keys but if this makes some more money for dr. john, helps him book better venues all the better.
― balls, Tuesday, 3 April 2012 18:44 (twelve years ago) link
I need to pick this up. On one cursory listen it doesn't sound radically different from his recent (non-Great American Songbook) recordings, but I'll admit I haven't been paying close attention to the last few. He was surprisingly great the last time I saw him though, and dug into some deep catalog titles.
If I were in NYC I would see “Funky but It’s Nu Awlins” in a heartbeat.
― On the sidelines in a trash can grumping (Dan Peterson), Wednesday, 4 April 2012 15:38 (twelve years ago) link
He was on Fallon last night, reading lyrics off of a sheet and looking pretty not-into-it. Best part of the song was Dr. John's keyboard solo, one-handed Astatke-meets-Fela kind of thing.
― Oxnard Cohen (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Thursday, 5 April 2012 03:16 (twelve years ago) link
"here's a question...i read that "sun moon and herbs" was originally slated as a 3lp...was all that material actually recorded and shelved or was it simply aborted before going into the studio?"In the autobio Dr. John blames his manager at the time for absconding with the master tapes and fucking with them (editing, mixing, etc.). Similar to what happened with Remedies and the version of "Angola" that's on there. Anyway, I'd wager that extra LP of material from the Sun, Moon, and Herbs sessions is just lost and/or destroyed, but who knows...
― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, December 6, 2005 5:18 PM (6 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
Just read in Mojo last night that the dr's working on a version of the full thing for release next year.
― Stevolende, Thursday, 5 April 2012 06:09 (twelve years ago) link
O RLY
― You big bully, why are you hitting that little bully? (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 5 April 2012 15:27 (twelve years ago) link
would buy!
Have any of the first 4 outside of Gris Gris been remastered remotely recently/ Or will that be the first one?I'm assuming that Gris Gris must have been, cos its been reissued several times.
Just think my copy of Babylon is early 90s at latest. Must find the thing.
― Stevolende, Thursday, 5 April 2012 17:49 (twelve years ago) link
dunno. everything I have is on vinyl
― You big bully, why are you hitting that little bully? (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 5 April 2012 17:56 (twelve years ago) link
am i the only one who finds that he sounds very much like captain beefheart on a couple of songs? which is great, obviously.
― alex in mainhattan, Thursday, 5 April 2012 19:02 (twelve years ago) link
the good doctor's range is a bit narrower but in general yes
― You big bully, why are you hitting that little bully? (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 5 April 2012 19:10 (twelve years ago) link
think they played on the same bill a few times in the 70s.
― tylerw, Thursday, 5 April 2012 19:17 (twelve years ago) link
i was especially thinking of the new album which is not typical for him, i think. somehow i always associated him with more traditional american rock music. like swamp rock, blues and new orleans in general. but the new one is more adventurous, it has lots of psychedelic ingredients.
― alex in mainhattan, Thursday, 5 April 2012 20:06 (twelve years ago) link
Have you heard Gris Gris?
― Trip Maker, Thursday, 5 April 2012 20:10 (twelve years ago) link
yeah, gris gris is like the most psychedelic record ever.
― tylerw, Thursday, 5 April 2012 20:14 (twelve years ago) link
man i said it on the album covers thread but Gris Gris is so fucking weird and swampy and psychedelic it's beyond fucked up awesome
haven't heard the new one but nothing with the black keys dude can be truly psych, they are like human cardboard
― Mississippi Butt Hurt (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Thursday, 5 April 2012 20:15 (twelve years ago) link
no i haven't, i have only had a cursory listen to dr. john's music up to now. looking forward to discover some good psych.
― alex in mainhattan, Thursday, 5 April 2012 20:22 (twelve years ago) link
Gris Gris and Babylon are both pretty out there
― You big bully, why are you hitting that little bully? (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 5 April 2012 20:24 (twelve years ago) link
haha yeah if you think this latest one is psychedelic just wait. any similarities to beefheart probably due to shared debt to howlin wolf right?
― balls, Thursday, 5 April 2012 20:25 (twelve years ago) link
oh cool i didn't know he had any other records in that vein
― Mississippi Butt Hurt (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Thursday, 5 April 2012 20:27 (twelve years ago) link
for years i only knew dr. john from his kinda schmaltz-o appearance in The Last Waltz, but I heard Gris Gris a few years ago and was blown away. Such a cool record.
― tylerw, Thursday, 5 April 2012 20:30 (twelve years ago) link
no, i don't think it has something to do with howlin' wolf. just listen to eleggua and you will know what i mean. that is pure, true beefheart in mexican mode,fantastico.
― alex in mainhattan, Thursday, 5 April 2012 20:33 (twelve years ago) link
well, none of them are quite as spacey as Gris Gris. Babylon has a bunch of weird shit on it - children's choirs, odd time signatures, also this amazing song:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b53cvwJdpXA
Remedies *wanted* to be a psych record but his manager fucked that one up pretty bad afaict. By the time he got around to Sun, Moon, and Herbs things had straightened out a little sonically but the material is all still in that voodoo-blues vein (also features Keith Richards and Mick Jagger iirc). Once he hooked up with the Meters he was pretty solidly in the fonk pocket.
― You big bully, why are you hitting that little bully? (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 5 April 2012 20:33 (twelve years ago) link
it is really obvious how the manager/producer completely fucked this up:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtcQCqpv_v0
― You big bully, why are you hitting that little bully? (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 5 April 2012 20:35 (twelve years ago) link
Gris Gris is really great. Opening track is like taking a swim down the bayou with w/ an old stoned gator. Love all the layers of instruments/voices/sounds floating in and out and around.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4J8VrprrGE
― Spottie_Ottie_Dope, Thursday, 5 April 2012 20:36 (twelve years ago) link
scratch vocal, three different takes just strung together one after the other etc.
xp
― You big bully, why are you hitting that little bully? (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 5 April 2012 20:36 (twelve years ago) link
honestly everything up through like 1976 has something to recommend it
― You big bully, why are you hitting that little bully? (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 5 April 2012 20:37 (twelve years ago) link
just saw this: http://www.avclub.com/articles/new-orleans-funky-night-tripper-dr-john-talks-new,71950/
― tylerw, Thursday, 5 April 2012 20:37 (twelve years ago) link
actually kind of annoying it is not a longer interview!
― tylerw, Thursday, 5 April 2012 20:38 (twelve years ago) link
haha okay that's a great album cover
― You big bully, why are you hitting that little bully? (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 5 April 2012 20:38 (twelve years ago) link
and on that photo he even looks like the captain, it is almost spooky:
http://media.avclub.com/images/articles/article/71/71950/Dr-John-CREDIT-LISA-HOULGRAVE_jpg_627x325_crop_upscale_q85.jpg
― alex in mainhattan, Thursday, 5 April 2012 20:46 (twelve years ago) link
just got back from the show at BAM, it was good. they played guilded splinters and zu zu mamou. and he did a solo piano of such night which was great. the new songs are cool, if a little too dap-tone sounding or something. but props to auerbach for turning him on to mulatu astake.
― mizzell, Friday, 6 April 2012 02:23 (twelve years ago) link
Auerbach of the Keys has him backed by Daptone folks on those new ones so that would make sense
― curmudgeon, Friday, 6 April 2012 13:50 (twelve years ago) link
The Doctor's latest album Locked Down is surprisingly vital sounding. The old dog's still got a lot of bite.
― Damo Suzuki's Parrot, Sunday, 8 April 2012 10:18 (twelve years ago) link
Thinking about trying to go to one of the BAM events. Wonder if I can stillget a ticket
― MIke Love Battery (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 8 April 2012 18:39 (twelve years ago) link
Some of his new stuff is great. I love to hear older people dissing the man and sounding like they are still engaged to the world.
― Damo Suzuki's Parrot, Sunday, 8 April 2012 20:05 (twelve years ago) link
Are these older folks opposed to his lyrics on the latest, or the music, both, something else or are they aficianados of the first album only???
― curmudgeon, Monday, 9 April 2012 14:03 (twelve years ago) link
think he means The Man there, not Dr. John
― Disco Bob & MC Criminal (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 9 April 2012 15:52 (twelve years ago) link
Ha, misread that at first myself but managed to take a deep breath and parse it correctly
― zing left unguarded, the j/k palace in flames (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 9 April 2012 16:14 (twelve years ago) link
Oh, now I get it. Thanks
― curmudgeon, Monday, 9 April 2012 16:20 (twelve years ago) link
OK, I'm going Saturday
― zing left unguarded, the j/k palace in flames (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 9 April 2012 16:40 (twelve years ago) link
Would greatly appreciate any setlist or review you could bring back. It seems that he might delve into some NOLA R&B obscurities, which are just about my favorite music genre ever, but it's hard to tell exactly from the description.
― Hey Jude, don't make it BAD MENTAL HEALTH (Dan Peterson), Monday, 9 April 2012 16:59 (twelve years ago) link
Sure
― zing left unguarded, the j/k palace in flames (James Redd and the Blecchs), Monday, 9 April 2012 18:49 (twelve years ago) link
The whole album is pretty solid, but I'm really loving "Ice Age":https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBEPKqDBuk0
― Cuba Pudding, Jr. (jaymc), Wednesday, 11 April 2012 19:10 (twelve years ago) link
Sorry about the lack of clarity above folks; The Man. I do try and contribute here like I am having a conversation, but I am shit at it!
― Damo Suzuki's Parrot, Thursday, 12 April 2012 01:02 (twelve years ago) link
I wonder if the Ernie K Doe book will be on sale at this gig?
― zing left unguarded, the j/k palace in flames (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 12 April 2012 03:42 (twelve years ago) link
OK, Dan P, I have enlisted the services of an expert for this project
― zing left unguarded, the j/k palace in flames (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 12 April 2012 14:42 (twelve years ago) link
Awesome, thanks! I'm sure there will be some Fats Domino and memories of Booker, and there will certainly be Irma Thomas hits. Davell Crawford is along, and he has recorded some of his grandfather Sugarboy Crawford's stuff, and it's a longshot but Tami Lynn might even do "I'm Gonna Run Away From You."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAwYfd2vnAA
― Hey Jude, don't make it BAD MENTAL HEALTH (Dan Peterson), Thursday, 12 April 2012 15:16 (twelve years ago) link
It actually just dawned on me that I saw Tami Lynn sing a couple songs at Jazzfest last time I was in N.O. and she (um, delicately) wasn't all that good. She did do "Mojo Hannah."
― Hey Jude, don't make it BAD MENTAL HEALTH (Dan Peterson), Thursday, 12 April 2012 15:32 (twelve years ago) link
I never saw her sing. I did overhear her once in the old South Street Seaport Strand Bookstore complaining about one of her mentors
― zing left unguarded, the j/k palace in flames (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 12 April 2012 16:27 (twelve years ago) link
Irma Thomas was awesome. fun show.
― mizzell, Saturday, 14 April 2012 13:05 (twelve years ago) link
Wish some footage of that original Night Tripper band from the time fo Gris gris would appear.Have loved that lp since I heard it in the late 80s, think I knew Walk On Guilded Splinters a while earlier.
Picked up the Atco box set a couple of years ago which is pretty great.
Loads of lovely live stuff been popping up since he passed. But do wish there was some more stuff a little earlier.
& the memoir Under A hoodoo Moon was a great read.
― Stevolende, Wednesday, 19 June 2019 17:40 (four years ago) link
Did not know Dr. John had an ElectroFunk period
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hz4o2tWp8Vw
― Precious, Grace, Hill & Beard LTD. (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 15 December 2021 02:28 (two years ago) link
“Top of the morning to you, govna!”
That’s a fun oddity. I used to slip it into dj sets when I played out.
― Three Rings for the Elven Bishop (Dan Peterson), Wednesday, 15 December 2021 02:41 (two years ago) link
I wonder when his final album will ever be released.
― Three Rings for the Elven Bishop (Dan Peterson), Wednesday, 15 December 2021 02:43 (two years ago) link
Just picked up a sweet copy of Babylon after loving Black Widow Spider for years. Such a weirdo record. Does anyone else vouch for Zu Zu Man? I saw that at a store and passed recently, but maybe I should go back?
― removing bookmarks never felt so good (PBKR), Saturday, 19 February 2022 19:58 (two years ago) link
There are a zillion versions of Zu Zu man, containing more or fewer songs. None of it is in the trippy Gris Gris/Babylon vein, but the songs are worth hearing if you’re a Dr. John fan. He never did a straight country song like Just Like a Mirror again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBQ0xKARXQg
― Three Rings for the Elven Bishop (Dan Peterson), Sunday, 20 February 2022 01:56 (two years ago) link
Final album came out Friday. I’ve listened twice so far and found it lovely, mostly downbeat and bittersweet. It’s perfect Sunday morning music. Not overladen with guest artists, and it holds to its original conception (a country album) fairly well, with thematic nods in the song selection that would be his final work.
I’m glad they didn’t go the Johnny Cash/Bettye LaVette route and have him doing Nine Inch Nails or Stones covers. Apparently there was some after-the-fact “fixing” but overall I think it’s a fine farewell.
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/dr-john-final-album-things-happen-that-way-1234595476/
― Three Rings for the Elven Bishop (Dan Peterson), Sunday, 25 September 2022 14:53 (one year ago) link