Dr. John – Goin’ Back To New Orleans

Goin’ Back To New Orleans is the 30th studio album by New Orleans singer and pianist Dr. John, released by Warner Bros. Records on June 12, 1992. The album won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album of the Year.

The album features many musicians and singers such as the Neville Brothers, Al Hirt, Danny Barker, Alfred “Uganda” Roberts, Pete Fountain, Alvin “Red” Tyler, Chuck Carbo, Clyde Kerr Jr. and Jamil Sharif.

Having recorded an album modeled after his Warner Brothers debut, 1989’s In A Sentimental Mood, Dr. John then turned to a collection of tracks based on New Orleans standards. In a work he describes in the liner notes as “a short history of New Orleans music,” Dr. John returned home and formed a group at the local Ultrasonic Studios, inviting local musicians such as Pete Fountain, Al Hirt and the Neville Brothers to the music and style of local legends such as Jelly Roll Morton, Huey “Piano” Smith , Fats Domino, James Booker and Professor Longhair. The musical geography may have been described, but the stylistic range was extensive, from jazz and blues to folk and rock with all the tracks played in a festive mood and Dr. John is the perfect archivist of the music, as he is also one of the main proponents of the genre, tackling the whole thing on this album as directly as ever.

So here we have a wonderful collection of New Orleans and Louisiana songs in the unique style of Dr. John, featuring many classics such as ‘Careless Love’, ‘Goodnight Irene’, ‘Basin Street Blues’ and ‘Did He Ramble’ along with humorous gems such as ‘How How Come My Dog Don’t Bark (When You Come Around)” and “Cabbage Head” as well as the title track featuring New Orleans all-stars including the Neville Brothers and Pete Fountain.

Although his career ranged from session musician to gris-gris psychedelia and supper-club standards, Dr. John has never strayed far from her roots. And those roots have never been more joyfully, graciously, or playfully celebrated than on this album, which is considered his most ambitious and ranks among his best.

The opening track “Litanie des Saints”, which I select, draws on classic 19th century folk, African and Catholic religious rituals, Cyril Neville’s call-and-response vocals, with the good doctor and syncopated his piano to give us a truly revelatory piece of music.

Tracklist

1. Litanie Des Saints 4:44
2. Careless Love 4:10
3. My Indian Red 4:47
4. Milneburg Joys 2:39
5. I Thought I Heard Buddy Bolden Say 2:29
6. Basin Street Blues 4:27
7. Didn’t He Ramble 3:28
8. Do You Call That A Buddy? 3:54
9. How Come My Dog Don’t Bark When You Come ‘Round 4:09
10. Good Night, Irene 4:11
11. Fess Up 3:12
12. Since I Fell For You 3:32
13. I’ll Be Glad When You’re Dead, You Rascal You 3:25
14. Cabbage Head 3:59
15. Goin’ Home Tomorrow 3:01
16. Blue Monday 3:01
17. Scald Dog 2:58
18. Goin’ Back To New Orleans 4:08