Entertainment For Lively Minds
ATM: New Orleans Mardi Gras Indian music
Posted by Chimney Singing... on 1 August 2011 - 11:14am.
Morning all
This summer I have had a compulsion to obsessively listen to all facets of New Orleans music. Repeated airings of 'Iko Iko' added to an immersion in the excellent 'Treme' have made me realise that I have a shortage of Mardi Gras Indian music. I have found some great versions of 'Sew Sew Sew' and other songs but I'm looking for some albums full of this stuff. I can't get enough of it.
Does anyone have any tips?
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I can't say how 'authentic' it is
Bur I highly recommend Dr John's Going Back to New Orleans album.
Excellent
I've got a couple of the tracks but not many. And the man is dressed as an Indian on the cover! What more can I ask for?
Do you have his 'Gris Gris' album?
If not, buy it immediately. It is one of the most striking, unmistakable, weird and wild albums ever made.
Yep
Got it a few years back - was listening to it in the car today funnily enough. My wife and I went to South America for four months for our honeymoon and that was one of the soundtrack staples of the whole thing - lots of happy memories.
Gumbo ya ya
Dr John's "Gumbo" album, virtually all covers, beckons you in to discover the classics of New Orleans' music, or the piano side of things at least.
Huey "Piano" Smith, for example, can only brighten up anyone's life. "Having A Good Time" is a great Huey round-up.
"Rockin' Pneumonia & the Boogie Woogie Flu" - Huey "Piano" Smith & His Clowns:
Here's Doc John himself playing "Mess Around", with helpful "fingers cam" to enable you to go off and copy him...
'Another Saturday Night' on Ace Records...
was compiled by Charlie Gillett and is - err - ace. It doesn't feature purely cajun music, but is instead a celebration of New Orleans' myriad musical forms. Highly recommended.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Another-Saturday-Night-Various-Artists/dp/B00000...
Looks great
Thanks Patrick
It's more the broader church...
...of rural Louisiana than New Orleans but is indeed brilliant.
This http://www.amazon.co.uk/Heavy-Sugar-Pure-Essence-Orleans/dp/B0037PJ9JS/r... is a great R &B/ rock'n'roll 3 CD set which steers away from the obvious
The absolute best is this, but you'll have a job finding it...
http://northernsoul-heaven.co.uk/Albums/CrescentCitySoul-TheSoundofNewOr...
The first CD is a kind of New Orleans greatest hits, and the other three aren't far behind...
Thanks Mark
I have Heavy Sugar - that's what got this summer of Crescent City love going.
This isn't bad for a fiver too
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Essential-Guide-New-Orleans/dp/B001CIPTZ0/ref=s...
The Wild Tchoupitoulas
The Wild Tchoupitoulas album by The Wild Tchoupitoulas. Big Chief George Landry made this in 1976 featuring his nephews The Neville Brothers. Produced by Allen Toussaint I'd recommend this as a good starting point.
Cool
It's on Spotify too so will give it a listen. With that line up you can't go wrong
'Junco Partner' by James Booker is fabulous...
and he was possibly the coolest dude ever to set foot on a stage.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Junco-Partner-James-Booker/dp/B00000061V/ref=sr_...
I've got that one
Absolutely amazing album - could listen to it all day
Also Resurrection of the Bayou Maharajah has its moments
For those with Spotify
This is exactly the sort of thing I'm after - incredible
http://open.spotify.com/track/5fIRvHdIjCicTigs5W5bCu
I don't use spotify any more(long story)...
....but I'm sure Fraser made a playlist with everything he could find that was played on Treme. Maybe he kept it up for the 2nd series? There'll be tons of good stuff on that.
Also, again without having to shell out; someone here pointed me to a NO internet radio station. They're a good few hours behind us, so if you listen at breakfast time, it's 2am or such like there. It's mellow....maybe make you want to go back to bed.
http://www.wwoz.org/
Here's some of what I have -
The Treme soundtrack is good -
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Treme-Music-HBO-Original-Season/dp/B0041U7RHE/re...
Like the Treme soundtrack, these have a couple of Indian songs but in general it's just New Orleans stuff...(just New Orleans doesn't quite sound right because they are fantastic!) -
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Our-New-Orleans-Benefit-Hurricane/dp/B000BNTM0U/...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Blue-Orleans-Notes-Basin-Street/dp/B00005MABW/re...
This one is the real deal..I think the Wild Magnolias is actually one of the Mardis Gras tribes -
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Life-Carnival-Wild-Magnolias/dp/B00000I7JN/ref=s...
I also have a couple of live Bourbon St. type jazz CDs that aren't shown on Amazon. I also have some CDs of these bands that do the 2nd line thing ie Rebirth Brass Band, Preservation Brass Band and another whose name I forget.
All fantastic stuff...happy hunting!!
Brilliant
Just checked out the Rebirth Brass Band - I need some of this in my life. My Amazon wish list is now creaking under the strain
Now, if you have any money left...
...and aren't sick to the back teeth of it all yet, then -
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Louisiana-Spice-Various-Artists/dp/B0000004DS/re...
I think it was much cheaper than this when I bought it a couple of years ago. Anyway, one of the UK sellers will get it to you for under £7.
It's 2 CDs. The 'City' disc is a compilation of Mardi Gras, second line, Indian and funk stuff. The 'Country' disc has that lovely French feel...that accordian sound...it's more Zydeco.
I got it out this morning as I had to spend a couple of hours in the kitchen...it's wonderful!!
I just had a look on the Smithsonian Folkways site...
and I reckon there's quite a lot on there that might float your boat.
http://www.folkways.si.edu/searchresults.aspx?sPhrase=Cajun&sType=cat
Ooooh
another avenue to explore..... just what my bank balance needs!
I love the way music just keeps opening up, the more you dig, the more gloriously lost you become
New Orleans Funk
There's a great album called "New Orleans Funk - The Original Sound of Funk 1960-75" that I was bought by the Father in law. Superb stuff from the likes of Lee Dorsey, Eddie Bo, The Meters etc. You really acn't go too far wrong with this.
"Going Back to New Orleans" by Dr John as mentioned above has a bit of every style and with THAT voice, simply wonderful introduction to the Big Easy.
Brilliant thread - thank you
Beyond a couple of Dr John and Neville Bros albums I'd never given New Orleans a second thought until I watched Treme.
I am very much a n00b at this genre and realise there's a ton of musical history here I know nothing about.
At the contemporary end, hugely enjoyed albums by Anders Osborne, Galactic, Trombone Shorty and Dumpstaphunk. OK, they're none of them exactly mardi gras indian but worth mentioning in context of the question in my unlearned opinion.
Trombone Shorty
Saw him last week in Edinburgh. He tore the place down. An absolutely fabulous night out and I took advantage of the kids go free ticket deal so my boys whooped it up as well.
at this juncture
my teenage niece would say: 'jealous, much.' Very glad to hear you enjoyed it.
Here's the next best thing
http://www.npr.org/2011/08/07/139052117/newport-jazz-2011-trombone-short...
Those nice people at NPR just added a free Trombone Shorty Concert download.
Enjoy!
Home of the Groove
this blog - http://homeofthegroove.blogspot.com/ is pretty darn great.
And, assuming nobody's posted yet, this song requires your attention. I think it's on the aforementioned 'New Orleans Funk' compilation, but I don't have that to hand right now...
(Handa Wanda - Bo Dollis & the Wild Magnolias)
The first
Can't believe I missed this thread last year. Anyway - this 45 was the very first collaboration between Mardi Gras Indians and R&B musicians.
But the OP was looking for unadorned Indian chants. Bo Dollis has made a couple of LPs that have lots of chants just the way you would hear them on the streets.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_12?url=search-alias%3Dpopular&f...
I'm Back At Carnival Time being a great example.
Most of the Indian music has been sweetened up for recordings. Local independent record store http://www.louisianamusicfactory.com/ has the best selection of Indian music anywhere.
Yes - Bo Dollis
Definitely what I'm after - what I really really want to find is the Indian music as you'd hear it on the street - i.e. unadorned, without the instruments or the funk stylings.
Like this
You may have these already
But these 3 Soul Jazz Records releases are just fantastic.
New Orleans Funk: the Original Sound of Funk 1960-1975
http://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Orleans-Funk-Original-1960-1975/dp/B00004Y24...
Soul Jazz Records presents New Orleans Funk Vol. 2
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Soul-Jazz-Records-presents-Orleans/dp/B0014849AE...
The best of the lot though is this one.
Saturday Night Fish Fry
http://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Orleans-Funk-Vol-2-Saturday/dp/B00005LOCN/re...
I hope that was helpful and apologies if you already have them.
PS The Big Easy Soundtrack has a brilliant live version of The Neville Brothers 'Tell It Like It Is'. The film is full of that kind of music plus Ellen Barkin!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Big-Easy-Various-Artists/dp/B00000811J/ref=sr_1_...
Very helpful - thank you
Soul jazz records are superb. Just bought the Delta Swamp Rock compilation - slightly off topic, but superb all the same
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Various-Artists-Records-presents-Crossroads/dp/B...
Great recommendation
Been playing it non stop over the last few weeks.
Cheers
Good call...
on the Big Easy soundtrack, Stringer. That was my New Orleans launch pad 20+ years ago. It also contains the DEFINITIVE version of Professor Longhair's Tipitina - a really driving version from 1974. And also (more capital letters) THE BEST GOSPEL RECORDING EVER - the (un-New Orleans) Swan Silvertones' Saviour Pass Me Not.
The film's worth a look too. Heavy on the region-specific cliches and Dennis Quaid's accent is a shocker, but an enjoyable romp nonetheless. Great opening titles, I seem to remember.
I've not heard it
but I'm very much looking forward to hearing THE BEST GOSPEL RECORDING EVER! Consider it ordered....
I'm willing to bet that 'Shakin' the Rafters' by the Abyssinian Baptist Gospel Choir will run it close.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shakin-Rafters-Abyssinian-Baptist-Gospel/dp/B00...
Worried now...
...that I might have oversold it. There are, of course, piles of great gospel recordings. This one isn't all fire and brimstone - perfectly balanced harmonies, gentle bluesy guitar and the mighty Rev Claude Jeter hitting the high notes.
I just tought of another I love
King Britt Presents: Sister Gertrude Morgan
http://www.amazon.com/King-Britt-Presents-Sister-Gertrude/dp/B000AMJDQK/...
and I'd safely say that the chances of anyone coming around and telling you they have it in their collection are slim to none.
More of 'in the spirit of' I'd say, with a touch of The Nevilles.
Just looked for anything on You Tube for you and I see New World In My View was on True Blood, so this is that if you get my drift.
and this too!
In fact just looked at the True Blood Soundtrack. I'd go there too.
I enjoyed that
....has all of it got the ambient tackle going on?
It does a bit
Its very like the two examples,Old Gospel Singer put to music. You might say Moby, I wouldn't but you can see yourself. Nice for chilling and driving anyway.
Another suggestion
Has any else mentioned The Meters. apologies if you have and I missed it. Primitive funk of the very best. Check 'em out on Spotify.
Happpy listening
Volume 2 is great as well
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Soul-Jazz-Records-presents-Orleans/dp/B0014849AE...
Those are both readily available, but Soul Jazz put out another album a few years ago called Saturday Night Fish Fry http://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Orleans-Funk-Vol-2-Saturday/dp/B00005LOCN/re... which is even better, but for some reason it's no longer available.
Other stuff:
Get Low Down http://www.amazon.co.uk/Get-Low-Down-Orleans-1965-1967/dp/B00005A0B8/ref... is an out of print collection of Allen Toussaint productions at Sansu. I got a very well priced copy from Sundazed last year, but they seem to have realised how desirable it is - currently for sale at $35.98. Not too outrageous for a double CD.
In the Pocket http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pocket-Eddie-Bo/dp/B0013384P6/ref=sr_1_1?s=music... is a great introduction to Eddie Bo's performances and productions.