On September 18, Omnivore Recordings will release a new 22-song compilation of Dr. John’s Atco and Atlantic singles (Dr. John: The Atco/Atlantic Singles 1968—1974.) The collection features all of the biggest US and UK hits (plus their B-sides) from the six-time Grammy Award winning, Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame inducted, New Orleans icon.
“Right Place Wrong Time,” “Iko Iko,” and “Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya” are all on the list, along with many of his other most popular tracks.
Mac is by no means the only big name on the album though. “A Man of Many Words” features accompaniment by Buddy Guy and Eric Clapton, and the list of producers and arrangers includes Allen Toussaint, Harold Battiste, Tom Dowd, Jerry Wexler, Eric Clapton, Ahmet Ertegun, and Michael Cuscuna.
Writers include Guy, Toussaint, Willie Dixon, Huey Smith, Quezerque Gaines, Earl King, James “Sugar Boy” Crawford, Alvin Robinson, and Jessie Hill. (As well as Dr. John himself, of course.
The liner notes were written by Gene Sculatti, famed musicologist who wrote for Rolling Stone and Sacramento Bee, served as editor of Radio & Records, and worked on projects for A&M, Capitol, Columbia, Elektra, and Rhino Records.
In Sculatti’s words, “Dr. John has proven to be one of music’s foremost generalists, a primary-care cat whose practice extends back some 60 years. His expertise encompasses rock ‘n’ roll, swamp pop, New Orleans, R&B, funk, jazz, and the Great American Songbook–and he’s made worthy contributions to recordings by the Stones, B.B. King, Van Morrison, Frank Zappa, Buddy Guy & Junior Wells, Buffalo Springfield, Gregg Allman, and others. The awards (six Grammys and counting) and accolades long ago validated the quality of his output, but it’s the range of what he’s done that truly impresses… These Atco and Atlantic sides were clearly the right-place right-time recordings. They put Dr. John on the map and into the ears of music enthusiasts the world over.”
Here’s what you’ll see on Dr. John: The Atco/Atlantic Singles 1968—1974:
- The Patriotic Flag Waver (Mono Short Version)
- Mama Roux
- Jump Sturdy
- I Walk On Gilded Splinters (Part 1)
- I Walk On Gilded Splinters (Part 2)
- Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya
- Loop Garoo
- Wash Mama Wash
- Iko Iko
- Huey Smith Medley: “High Blood Pressure” “Don’t You Just Know It” “Well I’ll Be John Brown”
- Wang Dang Doodle
- Big Chief
- A Man of Many Words (Buddy Guy With Dr. John and Eric Clapton)
- Right Place Wrong Time
- I Been Hoodood
- Such A Night
- Cold Cold Cold
- Life
- Let’s Make A Better World
- Me-You=Loneliness
- (Everybody Wanna Get Rich) Rite Away
- Mos’ Scocious
Check out the trailer here:
