Dr. John S/D

The stellar quality of Gris-Gris/"I Walk on Guilded Splinters" as entry points isn't simply that they're immediately appealing (they, of course, are), but that it, as I best understand it, was a project record that he became the public face of almost by accident, and that it was a grouping of people who were all from New Orleans but recording in LA with the perfect access to both the publicity and the technical side of the business. Pros working together, taking in what's around them and taking what they already know and going for it, and a perfect flashpoint of a frontman to boot.

love that Right Place album so much and it introduced me to the word "edumacated".

Great thread.

1) Others longer to New Orleans will have more essential memories, but I can desitively muster one worthy tale of the legendary Dr. John from having had the opportunity to write some dialogue for him on an HBO drama some years back. And to be clear....

— David Simon (@AoDespair) June 7, 2019

I've been needing a new dn for a while. Thank you, Doctor.

I've always been curious about his actual relationship with the Mardi Gras Indians. Obviously a big influence, but it seems like he had some sort of honorary outsider status (or else he never would have gotten away with posing in a full suit for an album cover, right?)? Would love to learn the details sometime.

New Orleans showed UP for Dr. John! This second-line feels never-ending. pic.twitter.com/saDbvv7MMS

— NOLA.com (@NOLAnews) June 7, 2019

Great read here about his early years. Crazy times.

http://blog.ponderosastomp.com/2019/06/mac-rebennacks-wild-years/?fbclid=IwAR2ALgNPzYRHl4fvKxcy5CsR5lOxJYbuy0ILLiakvEfYhqgDuHZamtF8oN8

After preparing for a Dr. John tribute concert tonight, I've come to the conclusion that as much as I respect the piano playing and the particular style of slo-mo New Orleans groove that he came to own, I'm not really a Dr. John fan.

Fuck. How did I miss that he died?

:-( That's okay, I have enough fandom for both of us. xp

Ha, that's good. I like that people like him!

One of my fav deep cuts, from his early west coast days:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LR3Obpfcqlc

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.

Did not know Dr. John had an ElectroFunk period

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hz4o2tWp8Vw

“Top of the morning to you, govna!”

That’s a fun oddity. I used to slip it into dj sets when I played out.

I wonder when his final album will ever be released.

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?

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

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/