Dr John "Mama Roux"

One of the good things about older artists continuing to make music, is that it does encourage you to go revisit the old stuff.

And not just because the new stuff reminds you of the old stuff, but because the new stuff makes the old stuff relevant.

Such is the case with Dr. John.

The song "Mama Roux" had been in our library for years and year.  We don't have saved playllists that go back that far, but I think it's safe to guess that song had been rotation since the early days of MVY over 30 years ago.

Somewhere, 4 or 5 years ago, in a regular round of reconsidering, we had looked at some of the songs from the 60s and 70s to set aside some of the tracks that sounded particularly dated, including "Mama Roux."

"Dated" is a funny, somewhat problematic term.  Everything that was recorded in the 70s sounds dated today, because it's 40 years old.  But what I'm getting at is that not only is the track old, it now no longer fits easily into the station's playlist.  It sticks out like a sore thumb.

This is a subjective judgement, no doubt.  But I think you'd probably agree that a song like "In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed" fits into the present playlist comfortably, despite its age.  While "Marakesh Express" by Crosby, Stills & Nash feels a little fried at this point.

So "Mama Roux" came out of regular rotation.

Then a funny thing happened.

In 2012, Dr. John made the record "Locked Down" with producer Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, who specifically wanted to make a new record that recalled the sound of early Dr. John records like "Gris Gris."

After months of playing the new song "Revolution" on MVY---and loving it---I happened to be out somewhere, where they were playing "Gris Gris" and I heard "Mama Roux."  And that style that had sounded so far away when I was hearing the tune a few years ago, now felt like it had renewed resonance.  It made sense again.  It had context, because of the new record.  It fit.

So "Mama Roux" is back in rotation again . . .


Hear the song on Youtube.

Jon Cleary "Let's Get Low Down"

I'd love to be some extraordinary human being, who was completely unaffected by any kind of prejudice.  I'd love to be the kind of person who never judges a book by its cover.  Or more exactly, an album by its cover.

There are two things wrong with the album cover pictured above, from my perspective.  But before I tell you what they are let me show you this picture:

These are the boxes that represent the last, I don't know, 3 weeks of CDs that have been sent to Barbara Dacey and me for review.  There's 100-plus discs in there.  In this box you will find albums and CD singles from some artists that you know (like the new Bonnie Raitt single and a new Dr. John album).  And you'll find some albums and CD singles from artists that you've perhaps heard of and are excited to check out (like the new Kelly Hogan or Best Coast songs) and a whole lot of CDs from artists that neither you nor Barbara nor I have any familiarity with.

So yes, you approach the box with some priorities in mind.  If I'M excited about hearing something, because I've liked the artist's previous work or because I've read good things about them, then yes, those discs get heard first.  And you get to the others as best you can.

And just like shopping for food or clothes, the labels and packaging make a difference.  Is it on Anti- Records?  They send out quality stuff.  I'm going to check it out.  Did it come from an independent promo person who I believe has impeccable taste?  Top of the pile, then.

Did someone specifically ask me to listen to it and give them feedback?  Those are next.

What's left?  Well, usually it's some indie label stuff, some CDs that were sent to us by people who have never listened to the radio station (yeah, I'm probably not going to play that album of Sousa marches), and a whole lot of self-released records by artists just trying to get their music out there.

Those CDs do have a look to them.  To save on production costs (as any struggling artists does and should), the album covers are usually pretty simple.  They are not generally photographs.  And they only use a couple of colors.

Very often, the CD covers are designed by the artist himself/herself, or their friend, instead of by a professional graphic designer or by someone with an extensive background in marketing.

Should any of this presentation stuff matter?  No.

Does it matter?  Yes.  Despite my best wishes for full objectivity, it does matter.

So having shuffled past this Jon Cleary cd a few times in the boxes, my impression was that this CD would most likely end up in a pile of discs going to The Local Music Cafe, our indie artist show.

Speeding up that thought process?  The words "a capella."  We get a few cds every year, from college groups or whatever, with their fine a capella renditions of hits.  They are sometimes good, but rarely anything we'd play on a regular day.

Yeah, this record was destined to land on a shelf for Alison Hammond.

Thank goodness I'm not a total idiot, and I listened to it.

Holy Moly, this is a good record.

Now, I'm not a font nerd, so I missed that this is not an "a Capella" record.  It's called "Occapella," which is the name of an Allen Toussaint song.  In fact, all the songs on the record are Allen Toussaint songs.  He's one of America's great song writers!

Far from being a Capella, the album is filled with great New Orleans-style instrumentation.  And it features guest turns from both Bonnie Raitt and Dr. John!

Okay, so if you are a talented independent artist, who's got an album full of great renditions of classic American songs, featuring music business legends, for crying out loud, LET THE PEOPLE KNOW!

Even if you don't want to sully your album artwork, at least put a sticker on it.  Cleary has a great line that he uses elsewhere, "Having fun with the songs of Allen Toussaint."  Put THAT, and "featuring Bonnie Raitt and Dr. John" on the cover somewhere, and Music Directors, as well as folks who flip through the bins in record stores, will move you to the top of the pile a hell of a lot faster . . .


The single is "Let's Get Low Down" featuring Bonnie Raitt and Dr. John:




Learn a little more about the record, on Youtube.

Taj Mahal "She Caught The Katy"

It's going to be weird, when my kid grows up. At some point, hopefully, she's going to hear "She Caught The Katy" and say, "Hey, that's the guy that sings the Peep theme song!"

What a strange thing, to come into an artists career, late, when they've delved into the world of kids music.

Dr. John won't be the "Right Place Wrong Time" hoodoo voodoo New Orleans man. He'll be the guy who sings the "Curious George" theme song.

A generation before, little kids around the country knew him as the Narrator to Thomas The Tank Engine, without any clue that he was part of some important band. And parents would turn on the TV and wonder "Why is Ringo in a conductor's cap?"

And a decade before that, I, yes I, knew Dr. Teeth, before I'd ever heard to Dr. John.

By the way, while they may not be as hip as their hits, the two theme songs are pretty damn good, and having these veterans sing the openings, beats the Hell out of having Barney do it, any day of the week.