An Introduction to Dr. John

by Dr. John

Overview

Mac Rebennack made a series of demo-like recordings for Huey P. Meaux's Crazy Cajun imprint in the early '60s well before his official transformation into the Dr. John persona in 1967 and before his early-'70s hits "Right Place Wrong Time" and "Such a Night" brought him a wider audience. As such, these recordings literally are an introduction to Rebennack, since they were among the first he recorded as a bandleader, and all the essential ingredients of his later style are pretty much in place on these sides, although a certain intangible spark seems missing at times and the demo feel is obvious. "Somebody Tryin' to Hoodoo Me" and the impressive "I Got Lonesome-Itis" wouldn't sound too far out of place on one of Dr. John's later albums, though, and the loose-limbed "Dog House Blues" is a wonderful slice of pure Crescent City R&B. Pleasant, if a bit understated, these recordings don't necessarily make the best introduction to Dr. John, but serious fans of the Doctor will want to pick them up, either in this incarnation or Edsel's 1999 version of the same tracks called The Crazy Cajun Recordings. ~ Steve Leggett

Product Details

Release Date:	03/29/2019
Label:	Atlantic / Flashback Records
UPC:	0603497852642
Rank:	49974

Tracks

1. Right Place Wrong Time
2. Iko Iko
3. Such a Night
4. Mama Roux
5. I Walk on Guilded Splinters
6. Big Chief
7. Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya
8. Qualified
9. Let's Make a Better World
10. (Everybody Wanna Get Rich) Rite Away

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Dr. John   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Len Fico   Compilation Producer,Project Coordinator
Earl King   Composer
James "Sugar Boy" Crawford   Composer
Bill Dahl   Liner Notes,Research
Earl Gaines   Composer
Mac Rebennack   Composer
Jerry Wexler   Producer
Jesse Hill   Composer
Allen Toussaint   Producer
Paul Natkin   Cover Photo
Stacie Heyen   Design
Harold Battiste   Producer