Along with bassist Dave Johnson, drummer John Boudreaux, guitarist Alvin “Shine” Robinson, saxophonist David Lastie, and percussionists Jesse “Ooh Poo Pa Doo” Hill and Richard “Didimus” Washington, James Booker recorded what would become epic sessions in Los Angeles.

Those sessions, which the legendary pianist took with him when he left town a few months after being recorded, became The Lost Paramount Tapes. Thanks to the discovery of a reference mix in the early 1990s, fans were able to hear what is considered one of Booker’s finest performances. As Dr. John has described them, “this is the way New Orleans music is supposed to be played.” Now, music lovers can hear the magic on wax.

Forty-five years after those remarkable sessions, The Lost Paramount Tapes will be available on vinyl in a re-mastered and re-packaged album via General General / Thirty Tigers.

Track Listing:

1.     Goodnight Irene
2.     Feel So Bad
3.     Junco Partner
4.     African Gumbo
5.     Lah Tee Tah
6.     So Swell When you’re Well
7.     Story Monday (Medley)
8.     Hound Dog (Medley)
9.     Hold in the Wall
10.  Tico Tico

According to Lily Keber, the award-winning director of Buckjumping as well as Bayou Maharajah, “James Booker was one of America’s most stunning piano players. He was born, and died, in New Orleans, and in his 43 short years created an approach to the piano that has not been matched before or since. His music defies classification. It’s not exactly the blues, it’s not exactly jazz, it’s not R&B, it’s not classical; it’s a synthesis of all those.

The Lost Paramount Tapes is one of the finest examples of this. In a rare alignment of some forces that could never possibly be replicated, this album features James Booker leading a band comprised of New Orleans’ greatest underground monster musicians recording overnight in a studio after playing a gig. In Los Angeles. In 1973. And just to make this scenario even more bizarre, Booker is playing tack piano, which used metal tacks to strike the piano strings instead of the usual hammers. Imagine the sound of a piano in a honky tonk in the Wild West and you’ll get a pretty close approximation.

Then after recording what could and probably should go down in history as one of New Orleans’ finest albums, Booker take the masters, disappears for a while, show up later in New Orleans minus both the master tapes and his right eye. Welcome to the wild world of James Booker.”

The Lost Paramount Tapes on vinyl is available for pre-order here.