1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #122. Dr. John, The Nighttripper - Gris-Gris (1968)

Dr. John, The Nighttripper - Gris-Gris (1968)

Label – Atlantic
Producer – Harold Battiste
Art Direction – Marvin Israel
Nationality – USA
Running Time – 33:12

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Gris Gris Gumbo Ya Ya
2. Danse Kalinda Ba Doom
3. Mama Roux
4. Danse Fambeaux
5. Croker Courtbullion
6. Jump Sturdy
7. Walk On Gilded Splinters

This is the debut album by Mac Rebennack – aka Dr John (named after a black man named Dr. John Montaine, who claimed to be an African potentate). I was looking forward to listening to this record as when I hear his name I think “oh yeah I like Dr John” but in truth, save for a few tracks I haven’t heard very much of his music. The musical style of “Gris-Gris” is a hybrid of New Orleans rhythm and blues and psychedelic rock. That said – the R&B style tracks are really good, while the psychedelic rock tracks have much to be desired. He has that great rasping, bluesy vocals, and has soulful backup singers, as well as spooky melodies on flute, sax, and clarinet, not to mention odd Middle Eastern-like chanting and mandolin runs! Yeah it’s that kind of record! Label exectuve Ahmet Ertegun was reluctant to release the record at first, famously exclaiming "How can we market this boogaloo crap?" He was in part right as the record failed to chart in the United Kingdom or the United States, and it wasn’t until it was re-issued on compact disc decades later that it was to receive much greater praise from modern critics, including being listed at #143 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
While I do recommend this record, proceed with caution.


You can purchase the CD here

ON THIS DATE
1969 The Beatles company "Apple" takes control of all of their business affairs
1978 Van Halen release their debut album
1979 Rod Stewart is at number one on the Billboard Pop Singles chart with "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?"
2004 Lucky by Melissa Etheridge is released
2005 ZZ Top, along with Kid Rock, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Dickie Betts perform in West Hollywood at the Jam Sessions Concert, where proceeds benefit the VH1 Save The Music Foundation
2005 Mick Mars from Motley Crue is sued for $10 million by an ex girlfriend claiming Mars promised to support her throughout her life by hasn't
2006 At the Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy Yoko Ono took to the stage making a plea for peace, and afterwards Peter Gabriel performs John Lennon's "Imagine"
2006 Scott Stapp from Creed marries former Miss New York, Jaclyn Nesheiwat
2006 It is announced that James LoMenzo is the new bassist for Megadeth
2008 At the 50th Grammy Awards The Foo Fighters won Best Hard Rock performance for "The Pretender" and Best Rock Album for "Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace", Solo Rock Vocal Performance and Rock Song went to Bruce Springsteen for "Radio Nowhere", Best Compilation Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media went to the Beatles for "Love" and the Eagles won Best Country Performance By A Duo or Group With Vocal for "How Long

IN CONCERT
Saturday, March 27 BRYAN ADAMS Polk Theatre Lakeland

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