Last year we lost Allen Toussaint one of the innovators of New Orleans modern soul, rock and blues sound. I first really became aware of him ín the 70s as he added his special oomph to the music of Dr John, The Band and Little Feat. I was pleased to see that this live show from 1975 was released this year as a record store day release. I was even more pleased when I managed to pick up a copy a month later when I finally managed to get to a store.
On the recording he is backed by a great band and runs through a variety of his "hits" or at least songs that were hits for others.
So you get some pretty funky versions of songs like Brickyard Blues - which Three Dog Night almost removed all of its gentle funkiness for their version (I still enjoy it though).
Freedom for the Stallion - one of the less stringent civil rights songs of the early 70s. So much so that many people are likely to have missed the message when The Hues Corporation had pretty big hit with it and Southern Nights his ode to balmy New Orleans evening that Glen Campbell made famous.
You also get a nice version of Last Train from his Southern Nights album and which Mavis Staples made a great version of on her Jeff Tweedy produced album - You are Not Alone.
The biggest disappointment with this album is that it can not possibly be the full show and is over WAY TOO SOON.
Can't wait to hear it on the stereo when it is (re)set up in a few weeks.
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