Covered in a variegated spray of New Orleans Mardi Gras feathers and shiny voodoo baubles, Mac Rebennack's highly personal mythology was finally made real on this 1968 album. This was his first appearance made under the new guise of Dr John Creaux, The Night Tripper. Before then, he'd been a pivotal figure on the Crescent City R&B circuit. Afterwards, he became one of its most significant blues ambassadors. This album is a classic of the admittedly specialist psychedelic swamp-gumbo genre, boasting at least four tracks that have become cult favourites. "Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya-Ya", "Mama Roux", "Jump Sturdy" and "I Walk On Guilded Splinters" each have their own delicate mixtures of catchy chorus and weird spatial sound effects, with radical stereo separation, intensely croaking, close-quarter vocals from the Doctor, pneumatic keyboard riffs, pinprick electric guitar and booming, thick-skinned Afro-Caribbean percussion. The album still stands at its original 33-minute length, with no bonus cuts unearthed, but its high density more than compensates for any brevity. --Martin Longley

a novice writes...., 16 Apr 2008
I don't know too much about later Dr John. I have had this album on my Ipod for ages without listening and it is with a slightly shamed face that I say I only really sought it out again after hearing cher's (!!)version of Walking on Gilded Splinters on the david Holmes/Cherrystones CD. Like nothing else I own, but fantastic. I treasure the day that I got bored and drunk on the train from Charing X and gave it a go. vocal-wise the nearest comparison is capt. beefhart, but it is far more accessible than that. Just. Really. Really. Good. If you're reading this review - forget Cher, concentrate on the Davis Holmes and if that sounds right then give it a pop. late edit: reading other reviews I would just say that the running time might be short - but give me 30 minutes of this over 120 minutes of benign Coldplay/keane/Snow Patrol any day of the week. It's good. And it is interesting. What more can you want?

unique, 26 Nov 2007
I'm no great fan of the doctor's blues piano he was later famous for, but this album is different from that and unlike much else you're likely to hear. Harold Battiste's arrangements make Dr John's songs sound weird and wonderful. The mixture of styles somehow work together here in a way that he has not achieved since. Everyone I've played this to loves it. Definitely one to buy.

It just works, 03 Jan 2004
I can still remember the first time I heard this record. I fell in love with the magic of it. I was also shocked as I'd heard a fair amount of Dr John but nothing like this. I gained a whole new respect for him off the back of this album.

It's very different and I'm very poud to have it in my collection. Odd moments include raspberry blowing and pig noises...??? But it all fits nicely.

A great album, treat yourself to something different, [in hippy voice] open your mind man.

Recorded in a basement on a cassette machine?, 26 Jan 2001
Which only goes to show that you don't have to be 24 bit digital to be magical. I first heard this in 1970 and it's every bit as compelling as it was then. This was that brief mock-Voodoo Night Tripper episode before Mack decided to show off his piano playing skills instead. Nonetheless, great songs, arrangments and delivery.

Classic, but Short Playing Time., 27 Sep 2000
I think the first edition of the rolling stone record guide gave this album, like, 2 stars. I discovered it in my flatmates record collection, and have always found it's voodoo tinged atmosphere with it's haunting female backing vocals very compelling, especially the opening and closing tracks. I bought a best of Dr John album lately, but his other stuff was very differenty from this, and not really what I hoped it would be. This album however, is the bees knees.

Start with the Meters, whose hard funk is so efficient there's not a wasted note or out-of-sync beat. Add producer Allen Toussaint's wonderful vocal and horn arrangements. Top them off with seven Rebennack originals plus four well-chosen covers, and you have an album that seemed to arrive out of nowhere at the time of its original 1973 release. It still sounds garden-fresh today, not just the monster hits, "Right Place, Wrong Time" and "Such a Night", but also the chain-gang funk of "Same Old Same Old", the verbal insults of "Qualified", even the second-line soul of "Shoo Fly Marches On". The closest thing to a weak link is "Peace Brother Peace", in which Rebennack anoints himself the Dr Feelgood of love and happiness. But the Meters sound as if they believe every word he's singing, so who are we to argue? --Keith Moerer

a novice writes...., 16 Apr 2008
I don't know too much about later Dr John. I have had this album on my Ipod for ages without listening and it is with a slightly shamed face that I say I only really sought it out again after hearing cher's (!!)version of Walking on Gilded Splinters on the david Holmes/Cherrystones CD. Like nothing else I own, but fantastic. I treasure the day that I got bored and drunk on the train from Charing X and gave it a go. vocal-wise the nearest comparison is capt. beefhart, but it is far more accessible than that. Just. Really. Really. Good. If you're reading this review - forget Cher, concentrate on the Davis Holmes and if that sounds right then give it a pop. late edit: reading other reviews I would just say that the running time might be short - but give me 30 minutes of this over 120 minutes of benign Coldplay/keane/Snow Patrol any day of the week. It's good. And it is interesting. What more can you want?

unique, 26 Nov 2007
I'm no great fan of the doctor's blues piano he was later famous for, but this album is different from that and unlike much else you're likely to hear. Harold Battiste's arrangements make Dr John's songs sound weird and wonderful. The mixture of styles somehow work together here in a way that he has not achieved since. Everyone I've played this to loves it. Definitely one to buy.

It just works, 03 Jan 2004
I can still remember the first time I heard this record. I fell in love with the magic of it. I was also shocked as I'd heard a fair amount of Dr John but nothing like this. I gained a whole new respect for him off the back of this album.

It's very different and I'm very poud to have it in my collection. Odd moments include raspberry blowing and pig noises...??? But it all fits nicely.

A great album, treat yourself to something different, [in hippy voice] open your mind man.

Recorded in a basement on a cassette machine?, 26 Jan 2001
Which only goes to show that you don't have to be 24 bit digital to be magical. I first heard this in 1970 and it's every bit as compelling as it was then. This was that brief mock-Voodoo Night Tripper episode before Mack decided to show off his piano playing skills instead. Nonetheless, great songs, arrangments and delivery.

Classic, but Short Playing Time., 27 Sep 2000
I think the first edition of the rolling stone record guide gave this album, like, 2 stars. I discovered it in my flatmates record collection, and have always found it's voodoo tinged atmosphere with it's haunting female backing vocals very compelling, especially the opening and closing tracks. I bought a best of Dr John album lately, but his other stuff was very differenty from this, and not really what I hoped it would be. This album however, is the bees knees.

Spicy New Orleans Gumbo, 02 Oct 2001
This is New Orleans music at its finest.From the syncopated rhythyms of the mighty Meters (surely the funkiest outfit since James Brown) to the gravel voiced voodoo of the good Doctor. The horn arrangements of Allen Toussaint also deserve a special mention. Standout tracks for me are 'Right place wrong time'(checkout the bass line of George Porter jnr) and 'Qualified' which paste an idiot grin to my face every time I hear them. A top 100 album for sure.

a novice writes...., 16 Apr 2008
I don't know too much about later Dr John. I have had this album on my Ipod for ages without listening and it is with a slightly shamed face that I say I only really sought it out again after hearing cher's (!!)version of Walking on Gilded Splinters on the david Holmes/Cherrystones CD. Like nothing else I own, but fantastic. I treasure the day that I got bored and drunk on the train from Charing X and gave it a go. vocal-wise the nearest comparison is capt. beefhart, but it is far more accessible than that. Just. Really. Really. Good. If you're reading this review - forget Cher, concentrate on the Davis Holmes and if that sounds right then give it a pop. late edit: reading other reviews I would just say that the running time might be short - but give me 30 minutes of this over 120 minutes of benign Coldplay/keane/Snow Patrol any day of the week. It's good. And it is interesting. What more can you want?

unique, 26 Nov 2007
I'm no great fan of the doctor's blues piano he was later famous for, but this album is different from that and unlike much else you're likely to hear. Harold Battiste's arrangements make Dr John's songs sound weird and wonderful. The mixture of styles somehow work together here in a way that he has not achieved since. Everyone I've played this to loves it. Definitely one to buy.

It just works, 03 Jan 2004
I can still remember the first time I heard this record. I fell in love with the magic of it. I was also shocked as I'd heard a fair amount of Dr John but nothing like this. I gained a whole new respect for him off the back of this album.

It's very different and I'm very poud to have it in my collection. Odd moments include raspberry blowing and pig noises...??? But it all fits nicely.

A great album, treat yourself to something different, [in hippy voice] open your mind man.

Recorded in a basement on a cassette machine?, 26 Jan 2001
Which only goes to show that you don't have to be 24 bit digital to be magical. I first heard this in 1970 and it's every bit as compelling as it was then. This was that brief mock-Voodoo Night Tripper episode before Mack decided to show off his piano playing skills instead. Nonetheless, great songs, arrangments and delivery.

Classic, but Short Playing Time., 27 Sep 2000
I think the first edition of the rolling stone record guide gave this album, like, 2 stars. I discovered it in my flatmates record collection, and have always found it's voodoo tinged atmosphere with it's haunting female backing vocals very compelling, especially the opening and closing tracks. I bought a best of Dr John album lately, but his other stuff was very differenty from this, and not really what I hoped it would be. This album however, is the bees knees.

Spicy New Orleans Gumbo, 02 Oct 2001
This is New Orleans music at its finest.From the syncopated rhythyms of the mighty Meters (surely the funkiest outfit since James Brown) to the gravel voiced voodoo of the good Doctor. The horn arrangements of Allen Toussaint also deserve a special mention. Standout tracks for me are 'Right place wrong time'(checkout the bass line of George Porter jnr) and 'Qualified' which paste an idiot grin to my face every time I hear them. A top 100 album for sure.

Superb R & R Memories, 16 Sep 2007
For anyone like myself who was a young record buyer in the 1950's, this CD is a great trip down Memory Lane, and the music stands up very well after all these years.

Antoine "Fats" Domino (b. 1928, New Orleans) emerged in the mid 1950s from the strictly African-American R & B scene ("The Fat Man" was recorded as early as 1949) to "cross over" onto the mainstream Pop charts. He had a great run of singles successes on both sides of the Atlantic, with "Blueberry Hill", "Ain't That A Shame", "Whole Lotta Lovin'" and others, all covered on this CD.

Just what did he have that others didn't? Well, he projected a relaxed, easy-going image and really looked as if he was enjoying making music, and his rich New Orleans accent kind of added extra charm and appeal. His piano work wasn't frantic like Little Richard or Jerry Lee Lewis, but had a full, bluesy sound, which was well complemented by the brass section that was usually part of the set-up. His up-tempo numbers like "I'm Walkin'" were tailor-made for the dancers, and he was very much in the right place at the right time when Rock 'N' Roll hit the airwaves and the record stores in the mid-to late 1950's. His happy-go-lucky style transferred very well to the cinema screen and he landed spots in the major R'N'R films at this time.

Like many other American acts, the advent of The Beatles and the British Invasion spelled the end of his big success on records, but he continued touring and making a good living in the music business.

He remained based in New Orleans, and as the years went by toured less and less, claiming the food wasn't any good anywhere else!

The Hurricane Katrina disaster was feared to have taken his life in 2005, but he emerged comparatively unscathed, having been rescued by helicopter, and was still making appearances in New Orleans into 2007.

Whether, like me, you're an ageing aficionado of 1950's music, or a younger listener curious to know what Fats Domino was all about, go out and get this and experience musical history in the making.

Tremendous, 21 Mar 2001
Being a young fan of Rock and Roll, I was only really aware of Blueberry Hill from the Fat man, but having bought this, I realise not only how much of a showman he is, but his varying talents. The Fat Man, the song, has a tremendous piano solo, and his unmistakeable voice make this a must buy for all Rock and Roll fans. Simply Superb

Goin' Back traces a century of Crescent City musical history, starting in the mid-19th century with Louis Moreau Gottschalk, a classical composer influenced by the African chants and slave dances he witnessed in New Orleans' Congo Square. With support from some of the city's most prominent musical pioneers (including Danny Barker, Pete Fountain, and the Neville Brothers), Dr John breathes new life into the work of Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong, James Booker, Professor Longhair, Fats Domino, Smiley Lewis, and Huey Piano Smith. From early jazz to junkie blues, Goin' Back covers it all, ranging from well-trod standards ("Basin Street Blues", "Careless Love") to otherwise forgotten jewels ("I Thought I Heard Buddy Bolden Say", "How Come My Dog Don't Bark"). What's most remarkable is how utterly alive and timeless it sounds. --Keith Moerer

a novice writes...., 16 Apr 2008
I don't know too much about later Dr John. I have had this album on my Ipod for ages without listening and it is with a slightly shamed face that I say I only really sought it out again after hearing cher's (!!)version of Walking on Gilded Splinters on the david Holmes/Cherrystones CD. Like nothing else I own, but fantastic. I treasure the day that I got bored and drunk on the train from Charing X and gave it a go. vocal-wise the nearest comparison is capt. beefhart, but it is far more accessible than that. Just. Really. Really. Good. If you're reading this review - forget Cher, concentrate on the Davis Holmes and if that sounds right then give it a pop. late edit: reading other reviews I would just say that the running time might be short - but give me 30 minutes of this over 120 minutes of benign Coldplay/keane/Snow Patrol any day of the week. It's good. And it is interesting. What more can you want?

unique, 26 Nov 2007
I'm no great fan of the doctor's blues piano he was later famous for, but this album is different from that and unlike much else you're likely to hear. Harold Battiste's arrangements make Dr John's songs sound weird and wonderful. The mixture of styles somehow work together here in a way that he has not achieved since. Everyone I've played this to loves it. Definitely one to buy.

It just works, 03 Jan 2004
I can still remember the first time I heard this record. I fell in love with the magic of it. I was also shocked as I'd heard a fair amount of Dr John but nothing like this. I gained a whole new respect for him off the back of this album.

It's very different and I'm very poud to have it in my collection. Odd moments include raspberry blowing and pig noises...??? But it all fits nicely.

A great album, treat yourself to something different, [in hippy voice] open your mind man.

Recorded in a basement on a cassette machine?, 26 Jan 2001
Which only goes to show that you don't have to be 24 bit digital to be magical. I first heard this in 1970 and it's every bit as compelling as it was then. This was that brief mock-Voodoo Night Tripper episode before Mack decided to show off his piano playing skills instead. Nonetheless, great songs, arrangments and delivery.

Classic, but Short Playing Time., 27 Sep 2000
I think the first edition of the rolling stone record guide gave this album, like, 2 stars. I discovered it in my flatmates record collection, and have always found it's voodoo tinged atmosphere with it's haunting female backing vocals very compelling, especially the opening and closing tracks. I bought a best of Dr John album lately, but his other stuff was very differenty from this, and not really what I hoped it would be. This album however, is the bees knees.

Spicy New Orleans Gumbo, 02 Oct 2001
This is New Orleans music at its finest.From the syncopated rhythyms of the mighty Meters (surely the funkiest outfit since James Brown) to the gravel voiced voodoo of the good Doctor. The horn arrangements of Allen Toussaint also deserve a special mention. Standout tracks for me are 'Right place wrong time'(checkout the bass line of George Porter jnr) and 'Qualified' which paste an idiot grin to my face every time I hear them. A top 100 album for sure.

Superb R & R Memories, 16 Sep 2007
For anyone like myself who was a young record buyer in the 1950's, this CD is a great trip down Memory Lane, and the music stands up very well after all these years.

Antoine "Fats" Domino (b. 1928, New Orleans) emerged in the mid 1950s from the strictly African-American R & B scene ("The Fat Man" was recorded as early as 1949) to "cross over" onto the mainstream Pop charts. He had a great run of singles successes on both sides of the Atlantic, with "Blueberry Hill", "Ain't That A Shame", "Whole Lotta Lovin'" and others, all covered on this CD.

Just what did he have that others didn't? Well, he projected a relaxed, easy-going image and really looked as if he was enjoying making music, and his rich New Orleans accent kind of added extra charm and appeal. His piano work wasn't frantic like Little Richard or Jerry Lee Lewis, but had a full, bluesy sound, which was well complemented by the brass section that was usually part of the set-up. His up-tempo numbers like "I'm Walkin'" were tailor-made for the dancers, and he was very much in the right place at the right time when Rock 'N' Roll hit the airwaves and the record stores in the mid-to late 1950's. His happy-go-lucky style transferred very well to the cinema screen and he landed spots in the major R'N'R films at this time.

Like many other American acts, the advent of The Beatles and the British Invasion spelled the end of his big success on records, but he continued touring and making a good living in the music business.

He remained based in New Orleans, and as the years went by toured less and less, claiming the food wasn't any good anywhere else!

The Hurricane Katrina disaster was feared to have taken his life in 2005, but he emerged comparatively unscathed, having been rescued by helicopter, and was still making appearances in New Orleans into 2007.

Whether, like me, you're an ageing aficionado of 1950's music, or a younger listener curious to know what Fats Domino was all about, go out and get this and experience musical history in the making.

Tremendous, 21 Mar 2001
Being a young fan of Rock and Roll, I was only really aware of Blueberry Hill from the Fat man, but having bought this, I realise not only how much of a showman he is, but his varying talents. The Fat Man, the song, has a tremendous piano solo, and his unmistakeable voice make this a must buy for all Rock and Roll fans. Simply Superb

Jack you dead, 18 Aug 2007
If this cd dosen't make you dance, sing, move your neck in a rocking motion, feel good, tap your hands on your legs waiting at a red light, laugh, even cry some, if this cd dosen't do any of the above then.. Jack you dead.

Pure nectar, 16 Sep 2005
As a first time listener to DR John this is indeed one of the best albums i have listened to for ages. It takes the listener through an historical journey through New Orleans and is by far a masterpiece. Absolutely a must for any Music fan and i MEAN any music fan

If you're buying only one Dr John album this is the one!, 16 Nov 2001
Every facet of his talent is displayed, and his love and appreciation of New Orleans music shine through in this superb collection. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Do yourself a favour and absorb the history of New Orleans music through it's greatest living ammbasador.

Mac Dr John Rebennack playing songs from the canon of Duke Ellington is as natural as the break of day. But the gris-gris king interprets Ellington in a way unlike anyone else. "Mood Indigo", arranged for Dr. John's six-man New Orleans group, takes on a fresh, heartfelt immediacy with the good doctor's vocals and piano locked into a relaxed groove. He sings another slice of essential Ellingtonia, "Do Nothing 'Til You Hear from Me", with a lighthearted nonchalance that epitomises the worthiest New Orleans performers. Dr. John packages snippets of his keyboard playing as panaceas for the soul on a funked-up interpretation of "Caravan", even spinning off on a "Wade in the Water" tangent before wrapping up the song. But with so many Duke Ellington nuggets to dust off for reinterpretation, one wonders why Dr. John elected to go with popular numbers that get covered again and again. To his credit, he does serve up the lesser-known "The Flaming Sword", where his piano is luminous in the Calypso fashion of Professor Longhair, and he offers delightful, funkified updates of the Ellington obscurities "On the Wrong Side of the Railroad Tracks" and "I'm Gonna Go Fishin'". --Frank-John Hadley

a novice writes...., 16 Apr 2008
I don't know too much about later Dr John. I have had this album on my Ipod for ages without listening and it is with a slightly shamed face that I say I only really sought it out again after hearing cher's (!!)version of Walking on Gilded Splinters on the david Holmes/Cherrystones CD. Like nothing else I own, but fantastic. I treasure the day that I got bored and drunk on the train from Charing X and gave it a go. vocal-wise the nearest comparison is capt. beefhart, but it is far more accessible than that. Just. Really. Really. Good. If you're reading this review - forget Cher, concentrate on the Davis Holmes and if that sounds right then give it a pop. late edit: reading other reviews I would just say that the running time might be short - but give me 30 minutes of this over 120 minutes of benign Coldplay/keane/Snow Patrol any day of the week. It's good. And it is interesting. What more can you want?

unique, 26 Nov 2007
I'm no great fan of the doctor's blues piano he was later famous for, but this album is different from that and unlike much else you're likely to hear. Harold Battiste's arrangements make Dr John's songs sound weird and wonderful. The mixture of styles somehow work together here in a way that he has not achieved since. Everyone I've played this to loves it. Definitely one to buy.

It just works, 03 Jan 2004
I can still remember the first time I heard this record. I fell in love with the magic of it. I was also shocked as I'd heard a fair amount of Dr John but nothing like this. I gained a whole new respect for him off the back of this album.

It's very different and I'm very poud to have it in my collection. Odd moments include raspberry blowing and pig noises...??? But it all fits nicely.

A great album, treat yourself to something different, [in hippy voice] open your mind man.

Recorded in a basement on a cassette machine?, 26 Jan 2001
Which only goes to show that you don't have to be 24 bit digital to be magical. I first heard this in 1970 and it's every bit as compelling as it was then. This was that brief mock-Voodoo Night Tripper episode before Mack decided to show off his piano playing skills instead. Nonetheless, great songs, arrangments and delivery.

Classic, but Short Playing Time., 27 Sep 2000
I think the first edition of the rolling stone record guide gave this album, like, 2 stars. I discovered it in my flatmates record collection, and have always found it's voodoo tinged atmosphere with it's haunting female backing vocals very compelling, especially the opening and closing tracks. I bought a best of Dr John album lately, but his other stuff was very differenty from this, and not really what I hoped it would be. This album however, is the bees knees.

Spicy New Orleans Gumbo, 02 Oct 2001
This is New Orleans music at its finest.From the syncopated rhythyms of the mighty Meters (surely the funkiest outfit since James Brown) to the gravel voiced voodoo of the good Doctor. The horn arrangements of Allen Toussaint also deserve a special mention. Standout tracks for me are 'Right place wrong time'(checkout the bass line of George Porter jnr) and 'Qualified' which paste an idiot grin to my face every time I hear them. A top 100 album for sure.

Superb R & R Memories, 16 Sep 2007
For anyone like myself who was a young record buyer in the 1950's, this CD is a great trip down Memory Lane, and the music stands up very well after all these years.

Antoine "Fats" Domino (b. 1928, New Orleans) emerged in the mid 1950s from the strictly African-American R & B scene ("The Fat Man" was recorded as early as 1949) to "cross over" onto the mainstream Pop charts. He had a great run of singles successes on both sides of the Atlantic, with "Blueberry Hill", "Ain't That A Shame", "Whole Lotta Lovin'" and others, all covered on this CD.

Just what did he have that others didn't? Well, he projected a relaxed, easy-going image and really looked as if he was enjoying making music, and his rich New Orleans accent kind of added extra charm and appeal. His piano work wasn't frantic like Little Richard or Jerry Lee Lewis, but had a full, bluesy sound, which was well complemented by the brass section that was usually part of the set-up. His up-tempo numbers like "I'm Walkin'" were tailor-made for the dancers, and he was very much in the right place at the right time when Rock 'N' Roll hit the airwaves and the record stores in the mid-to late 1950's. His happy-go-lucky style transferred very well to the cinema screen and he landed spots in the major R'N'R films at this time.

Like many other American acts, the advent of The Beatles and the British Invasion spelled the end of his big success on records, but he continued touring and making a good living in the music business.

He remained based in New Orleans, and as the years went by toured less and less, claiming the food wasn't any good anywhere else!

The Hurricane Katrina disaster was feared to have taken his life in 2005, but he emerged comparatively unscathed, having been rescued by helicopter, and was still making appearances in New Orleans into 2007.

Whether, like me, you're an ageing aficionado of 1950's music, or a younger listener curious to know what Fats Domino was all about, go out and get this and experience musical history in the making.

Tremendous, 21 Mar 2001
Being a young fan of Rock and Roll, I was only really aware of Blueberry Hill from the Fat man, but having bought this, I realise not only how much of a showman he is, but his varying talents. The Fat Man, the song, has a tremendous piano solo, and his unmistakeable voice make this a must buy for all Rock and Roll fans. Simply Superb

Jack you dead, 18 Aug 2007
If this cd dosen't make you dance, sing, move your neck in a rocking motion, feel good, tap your hands on your legs waiting at a red light, laugh, even cry some, if this cd dosen't do any of the above then.. Jack you dead.

Pure nectar, 16 Sep 2005
As a first time listener to DR John this is indeed one of the best albums i have listened to for ages. It takes the listener through an historical journey through New Orleans and is by far a masterpiece. Absolutely a must for any Music fan and i MEAN any music fan

If you're buying only one Dr John album this is the one!, 16 Nov 2001
Every facet of his talent is displayed, and his love and appreciation of New Orleans music shine through in this superb collection. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Do yourself a favour and absorb the history of New Orleans music through it's greatest living ammbasador.

Dr John-Duke Elegant, 15 Feb 2008
I discovered Dr John quite by chance about 3 years ago, and can honestly say this man is without doubt one of the most talented musicians ever. Having then purchased lots of his work, I thought he could really not get much better, till I purchased online a copy of Duke Elegant. To take the work Of Duke Ellington is one thing but to actually throw your own funky, jazzy beat to it, in the way Dr John has is pure magic.Every track on this Cd is just pure class. There are some Cds you play where you flick through to your favourites as you decifer which tracks you like and hate etc. However with Duke Elegat, you just put it on and admire every single track. It is so funky you just cannot stop your foot moving. I cannot believe anyone buying Duke Elegant would be disappointed. If you are a serious lover of good pure music, Duke Elegant is a must for your collection. Probably the best CD i have ever purchased.

Get "Fonk-ied" with the Doctor, 23 Nov 2002
It's a brave man who takes on the tracks written and made famous in the 1930's,1940's and one song from the 1950's by the Duke of Jazz,"Duke Ellington". The good doctor does it with a great deal style, makes them his own by adding his own brand of "fonk" giving each track amazin' bass that whomps out. These songs may hark back to another time but "Doctor John" makes them sound bang up to date, try listening to "I'm gonna go fishin'" without tappin' your feet, you have no chance it's a fonk out groove of the first order. Highly recommended for pre-going listening to get in the party mood...

Well worth a listen, 05 Mar 2000
I went to the "Duke Elegant" concert at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, an electifying experience. The good Dr was on top form and the tracks that he performed from the album made its purchase essential; I was not disappointed. Fishing is my favourite track but that takes nothing away from the rest.

After the studio bloat of 1971's The Sun, Moon & Herbs, Gumbo is a tightly focused return to Mac Rebennack--aka Dr John--'s musical roots. His band is full of Louisiana legends (Harold Battiste, Lee Allen) plus lesser known but equally important 'Nawlins heroes: Ronnie Barron, Alvin Robinson, and a wonderful trombonist known simply as Streamline. Together, they rage through a dozen New Orleans classics, not only the work of Professor Longhair and Huey Smith, but also Earl King and Ray Charles, who lived in the Crescent City while leading the house band at the Dew Drop Inn. Many of these songs are closely associated with the 1950s, but Gumbo never sounds forced or nostalgic; it's great work from start to finish. --Keith Moerer

a novice writes...., 16 Apr 2008
I don't know too much about later Dr John. I have had this album on my Ipod for ages without listening and it is with a slightly shamed face that I say I only really sought it out again after hearing cher's (!!)version of Walking on Gilded Splinters on the david Holmes/Cherrystones CD. Like nothing else I own, but fantastic. I treasure the day that I got bored and drunk on the train from Charing X and gave it a go. vocal-wise the nearest comparison is capt. beefhart, but it is far more accessible than that. Just. Really. Really. Good. If you're reading this review - forget Cher, concentrate on the Davis Holmes and if that sounds right then give it a pop. late edit: reading other reviews I would just say that the running time might be short - but give me 30 minutes of this over 120 minutes of benign Coldplay/keane/Snow Patrol any day of the week. It's good. And it is interesting. What more can you want?

unique, 26 Nov 2007
I'm no great fan of the doctor's blues piano he was later famous for, but this album is different from that and unlike much else you're likely to hear. Harold Battiste's arrangements make Dr John's songs sound weird and wonderful. The mixture of styles somehow work together here in a way that he has not achieved since. Everyone I've played this to loves it. Definitely one to buy.

It just works, 03 Jan 2004
I can still remember the first time I heard this record. I fell in love with the magic of it. I was also shocked as I'd heard a fair amount of Dr John but nothing like this. I gained a whole new respect for him off the back of this album.

It's very different and I'm very poud to have it in my collection. Odd moments include raspberry blowing and pig noises...??? But it all fits nicely.

A great album, treat yourself to something different, [in hippy voice] open your mind man.

Recorded in a basement on a cassette machine?, 26 Jan 2001
Which only goes to show that you don't have to be 24 bit digital to be magical. I first heard this in 1970 and it's every bit as compelling as it was then. This was that brief mock-Voodoo Night Tripper episode before Mack decided to show off his piano playing skills instead. Nonetheless, great songs, arrangments and delivery.

Classic, but Short Playing Time., 27 Sep 2000
I think the first edition of the rolling stone record guide gave this album, like, 2 stars. I discovered it in my flatmates record collection, and have always found it's voodoo tinged atmosphere with it's haunting female backing vocals very compelling, especially the opening and closing tracks. I bought a best of Dr John album lately, but his other stuff was very differenty from this, and not really what I hoped it would be. This album however, is the bees knees.

Spicy New Orleans Gumbo, 02 Oct 2001
This is New Orleans music at its finest.From the syncopated rhythyms of the mighty Meters (surely the funkiest outfit since James Brown) to the gravel voiced voodoo of the good Doctor. The horn arrangements of Allen Toussaint also deserve a special mention. Standout tracks for me are 'Right place wrong time'(checkout the bass line of George Porter jnr) and 'Qualified' which paste an idiot grin to my face every time I hear them. A top 100 album for sure.

Superb R & R Memories, 16 Sep 2007
For anyone like myself who was a young record buyer in the 1950's, this CD is a great trip down Memory Lane, and the music stands up very well after all these years.

Antoine "Fats" Domino (b. 1928, New Orleans) emerged in the mid 1950s from the strictly African-American R & B scene ("The Fat Man" was recorded as early as 1949) to "cross over" onto the mainstream Pop charts. He had a great run of singles successes on both sides of the Atlantic, with "Blueberry Hill", "Ain't That A Shame", "Whole Lotta Lovin'" and others, all covered on this CD.

Just what did he have that others didn't? Well, he projected a relaxed, easy-going image and really looked as if he was enjoying making music, and his rich New Orleans accent kind of added extra charm and appeal. His piano work wasn't frantic like Little Richard or Jerry Lee Lewis, but had a full, bluesy sound, which was well complemented by the brass section that was usually part of the set-up. His up-tempo numbers like "I'm Walkin'" were tailor-made for the dancers, and he was very much in the right place at the right time when Rock 'N' Roll hit the airwaves and the record stores in the mid-to late 1950's. His happy-go-lucky style transferred very well to the cinema screen and he landed spots in the major R'N'R films at this time.

Like many other American acts, the advent of The Beatles and the British Invasion spelled the end of his big success on records, but he continued touring and making a good living in the music business.

He remained based in New Orleans, and as the years went by toured less and less, claiming the food wasn't any good anywhere else!

The Hurricane Katrina disaster was feared to have taken his life in 2005, but he emerged comparatively unscathed, having been rescued by helicopter, and was still making appearances in New Orleans into 2007.

Whether, like me, you're an ageing aficionado of 1950's music, or a younger listener curious to know what Fats Domino was all about, go out and get this and experience musical history in the making.

Tremendous, 21 Mar 2001
Being a young fan of Rock and Roll, I was only really aware of Blueberry Hill from the Fat man, but having bought this, I realise not only how much of a showman he is, but his varying talents. The Fat Man, the song, has a tremendous piano solo, and his unmistakeable voice make this a must buy for all Rock and Roll fans. Simply Superb

Jack you dead, 18 Aug 2007
If this cd dosen't make you dance, sing, move your neck in a rocking motion, feel good, tap your hands on your legs waiting at a red light, laugh, even cry some, if this cd dosen't do any of the above then.. Jack you dead.

Pure nectar, 16 Sep 2005
As a first time listener to DR John this is indeed one of the best albums i have listened to for ages. It takes the listener through an historical journey through New Orleans and is by far a masterpiece. Absolutely a must for any Music fan and i MEAN any music fan

If you're buying only one Dr John album this is the one!, 16 Nov 2001
Every facet of his talent is displayed, and his love and appreciation of New Orleans music shine through in this superb collection. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Do yourself a favour and absorb the history of New Orleans music through it's greatest living ammbasador.

Dr John-Duke Elegant, 15 Feb 2008
I discovered Dr John quite by chance about 3 years ago, and can honestly say this man is without doubt one of the most talented musicians ever. Having then purchased lots of his work, I thought he could really not get much better, till I purchased online a copy of Duke Elegant. To take the work Of Duke Ellington is one thing but to actually throw your own funky, jazzy beat to it, in the way Dr John has is pure magic.Every track on this Cd is just pure class. There are some Cds you play where you flick through to your favourites as you decifer which tracks you like and hate etc. However with Duke Elegat, you just put it on and admire every single track. It is so funky you just cannot stop your foot moving. I cannot believe anyone buying Duke Elegant would be disappointed. If you are a serious lover of good pure music, Duke Elegant is a must for your collection. Probably the best CD i have ever purchased.

Get "Fonk-ied" with the Doctor, 23 Nov 2002
It's a brave man who takes on the tracks written and made famous in the 1930's,1940's and one song from the 1950's by the Duke of Jazz,"Duke Ellington". The good doctor does it with a great deal style, makes them his own by adding his own brand of "fonk" giving each track amazin' bass that whomps out. These songs may hark back to another time but "Doctor John" makes them sound bang up to date, try listening to "I'm gonna go fishin'" without tappin' your feet, you have no chance it's a fonk out groove of the first order. Highly recommended for pre-going listening to get in the party mood...

Well worth a listen, 05 Mar 2000
I went to the "Duke Elegant" concert at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, an electifying experience. The good Dr was on top form and the tracks that he performed from the album made its purchase essential; I was not disappointed. Fishing is my favourite track but that takes nothing away from the rest.

The greatest of the great Dr John, 31 May 2007
GUMBO is one of my all-time favourite albums and my favourite in the cannon of my favourite jazz piano player, Dr John.

Back in the 1970s, a pal of mine was a huge Dr John fan and tried very hard to get me enthused about the Voodoo mumblings that made up albums like Gris-Gris and Remedies ... to no avail. Until I heard GUMBO. Though I didn't know it at the time, I was to become a massive fan (via The Blues Brothers) of artists like Junior Wells and the later Atlantic and Stax musicians. What Dr John showed me here was where those musicians took their inspiration from.

I don't think many will argue that Dr John isn't one of the best living jazz pianists we have, and his perky barrel-house style is very much in evidence here. And because of this album, I've sought out opportunities to see the great man live and seen his playful duets with Jools Holland on telly, all richly rewarding experiences.

In retrospect, of course, I came to appreciate Dr John's other work, and have marvelled at the range of famous musicians who've queued up to work with him (Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Mick Jagger, the list goes on), making him the quintessential musician's musician.

Contrary to other reviews about Dr John's work, I'm more inclined to say that if you want an introduction to one of the greatest musicians of the last fifty years, then start here, with a taste of GUMBO.

A documentary of New Orleans music - right timely & timeless, 25 Apr 2002
This was a revelation and refreshing revisitation in those heady hippie days at the time it was released some thirty years ago, and is all the greater for its continued freshness to this day.

Quite simply, it was a firm favourite when issued (not long after seeing Mac live at the 1970 Bath Festival). It is still a top ranking all-time classic and is possibly the essential one to have - but of course there are so many great offerings that it is hard to choose.

So as one of the central characters in the history of rock/fonk/r&b, with authentic respect for his peers, and a true originator to boot - this album sums it up!

I will continue to turn out to hear the man in action whenever possible.

Just try it. Its good for the soul.

Ray C

Good, but not as good as 'Gris Gris', 02 Feb 2001
This is certainly a good album, but not as rewarding as the album 'Gris Gris'. Dr John is a very contemporary and original artist, with some brilliant songs on his repetoire. However, if you have never heard any Dr John before, I would suggest buying 'Gris Gris' first. For die hard fans, though, this is a must.

Rhythm reigns supreme on Creole Moon, which cuts a sinuous, syncopated groove through the various styles that have informed the good Doctor's career. The bayou funk of "Bruha Bembe" recalls the juju mysteries of Dr. John's "Night Tripper" phase, the opening "You Swore" adheres to the hip-shaking tradition of "Right Place, Wrong Time" and the jazzier sophistication of "Holdin' Pattern", "Queen of Cold" and the title track show how far he has extended his musical terrain. Among the highlights are four songs co-written with the late Doc Pomus, including the soulful balladry of "Imitation of Love". Guitarist Sonny Landreth and fiddler Michael Doucet contribute Cajun seasoning to this musical gumbo, while saxophonist David "Fathead" Newman and trombonist Fred Wesley provide stellar brass support. --Don McLeese

a novice writes...., 16 Apr 2008
I don't know too much about later Dr John. I have had this album on my Ipod for ages without listening and it is with a slightly shamed face that I say I only really sought it out again after hearing cher's (!!)version of Walking on Gilded Splinters on the david Holmes/Cherrystones CD. Like nothing else I own, but fantastic. I treasure the day that I got bored and drunk on the train from Charing X and gave it a go. vocal-wise the nearest comparison is capt. beefhart, but it is far more accessible than that. Just. Really. Really. Good. If you're reading this review - forget Cher, concentrate on the Davis Holmes and if that sounds right then give it a pop. late edit: reading other reviews I would just say that the running time might be short - but give me 30 minutes of this over 120 minutes of benign Coldplay/keane/Snow Patrol any day of the week. It's good. And it is interesting. What more can you want?

unique, 26 Nov 2007
I'm no great fan of the doctor's blues piano he was later famous for, but this album is different from that and unlike much else you're likely to hear. Harold Battiste's arrangements make Dr John's songs sound weird and wonderful. The mixture of styles somehow work together here in a way that he has not achieved since. Everyone I've played this to loves it. Definitely one to buy.

It just works, 03 Jan 2004
I can still remember the first time I heard this record. I fell in love with the magic of it. I was also shocked as I'd heard a fair amount of Dr John but nothing like this. I gained a whole new respect for him off the back of this album.

It's very different and I'm very poud to have it in my collection. Odd moments include raspberry blowing and pig noises...??? But it all fits nicely.

A great album, treat yourself to something different, [in hippy voice] open your mind man.

Recorded in a basement on a cassette machine?, 26 Jan 2001
Which only goes to show that you don't have to be 24 bit digital to be magical. I first heard this in 1970 and it's every bit as compelling as it was then. This was that brief mock-Voodoo Night Tripper episode before Mack decided to show off his piano playing skills instead. Nonetheless, great songs, arrangments and delivery.

Classic, but Short Playing Time., 27 Sep 2000
I think the first edition of the rolling stone record guide gave this album, like, 2 stars. I discovered it in my flatmates record collection, and have always found it's voodoo tinged atmosphere with it's haunting female backing vocals very compelling, especially the opening and closing tracks. I bought a best of Dr John album lately, but his other stuff was very differenty from this, and not really what I hoped it would be. This album however, is the bees knees.

Spicy New Orleans Gumbo, 02 Oct 2001
This is New Orleans music at its finest.From the syncopated rhythyms of the mighty Meters (surely the funkiest outfit since James Brown) to the gravel voiced voodoo of the good Doctor. The horn arrangements of Allen Toussaint also deserve a special mention. Standout tracks for me are 'Right place wrong time'(checkout the bass line of George Porter jnr) and 'Qualified' which paste an idiot grin to my face every time I hear them. A top 100 album for sure.

Superb R & R Memories, 16 Sep 2007
For anyone like myself who was a young record buyer in the 1950's, this CD is a great trip down Memory Lane, and the music stands up very well after all these years.

Antoine "Fats" Domino (b. 1928, New Orleans) emerged in the mid 1950s from the strictly African-American R & B scene ("The Fat Man" was recorded as early as 1949) to "cross over" onto the mainstream Pop charts. He had a great run of singles successes on both sides of the Atlantic, with "Blueberry Hill", "Ain't That A Shame", "Whole Lotta Lovin'" and others, all covered on this CD.

Just what did he have that others didn't? Well, he projected a relaxed, easy-going image and really looked as if he was enjoying making music, and his rich New Orleans accent kind of added extra charm and appeal. His piano work wasn't frantic like Little Richard or Jerry Lee Lewis, but had a full, bluesy sound, which was well complemented by the brass section that was usually part of the set-up. His up-tempo numbers like "I'm Walkin'" were tailor-made for the dancers, and he was very much in the right place at the right time when Rock 'N' Roll hit the airwaves and the record stores in the mid-to late 1950's. His happy-go-lucky style transferred very well to the cinema screen and he landed spots in the major R'N'R films at this time.

Like many other American acts, the advent of The Beatles and the British Invasion spelled the end of his big success on records, but he continued touring and making a good living in the music business.

He remained based in New Orleans, and as the years went by toured less and less, claiming the food wasn't any good anywhere else!

The Hurricane Katrina disaster was feared to have taken his life in 2005, but he emerged comparatively unscathed, having been rescued by helicopter, and was still making appearances in New Orleans into 2007.

Whether, like me, you're an ageing aficionado of 1950's music, or a younger listener curious to know what Fats Domino was all about, go out and get this and experience musical history in the making.

Tremendous, 21 Mar 2001
Being a young fan of Rock and Roll, I was only really aware of Blueberry Hill from the Fat man, but having bought this, I realise not only how much of a showman he is, but his varying talents. The Fat Man, the song, has a tremendous piano solo, and his unmistakeable voice make this a must buy for all Rock and Roll fans. Simply Superb

Jack you dead, 18 Aug 2007
If this cd dosen't make you dance, sing, move your neck in a rocking motion, feel good, tap your hands on your legs waiting at a red light, laugh, even cry some, if this cd dosen't do any of the above then.. Jack you dead.

Pure nectar, 16 Sep 2005
As a first time listener to DR John this is indeed one of the best albums i have listened to for ages. It takes the listener through an historical journey through New Orleans and is by far a masterpiece. Absolutely a must for any Music fan and i MEAN any music fan

If you're buying only one Dr John album this is the one!, 16 Nov 2001
Every facet of his talent is displayed, and his love and appreciation of New Orleans music shine through in this superb collection. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Do yourself a favour and absorb the history of New Orleans music through it's greatest living ammbasador.

Dr John-Duke Elegant, 15 Feb 2008
I discovered Dr John quite by chance about 3 years ago, and can honestly say this man is without doubt one of the most talented musicians ever. Having then purchased lots of his work, I thought he could really not get much better, till I purchased online a copy of Duke Elegant. To take the work Of Duke Ellington is one thing but to actually throw your own funky, jazzy beat to it, in the way Dr John has is pure magic.Every track on this Cd is just pure class. There are some Cds you play where you flick through to your favourites as you decifer which tracks you like and hate etc. However with Duke Elegat, you just put it on and admire every single track. It is so funky you just cannot stop your foot moving. I cannot believe anyone buying Duke Elegant would be disappointed. If you are a serious lover of good pure music, Duke Elegant is a must for your collection. Probably the best CD i have ever purchased.

Get "Fonk-ied" with the Doctor, 23 Nov 2002
It's a brave man who takes on the tracks written and made famous in the 1930's,1940's and one song from the 1950's by the Duke of Jazz,"Duke Ellington". The good doctor does it with a great deal style, makes them his own by adding his own brand of "fonk" giving each track amazin' bass that whomps out. These songs may hark back to another time but "Doctor John" makes them sound bang up to date, try listening to "I'm gonna go fishin'" without tappin' your feet, you have no chance it's a fonk out groove of the first order. Highly recommended for pre-going listening to get in the party mood...

Well worth a listen, 05 Mar 2000
I went to the "Duke Elegant" concert at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, an electifying experience. The good Dr was on top form and the tracks that he performed from the album made its purchase essential; I was not disappointed. Fishing is my favourite track but that takes nothing away from the rest.

The greatest of the great Dr John, 31 May 2007
GUMBO is one of my all-time favourite albums and my favourite in the cannon of my favourite jazz piano player, Dr John.

Back in the 1970s, a pal of mine was a huge Dr John fan and tried very hard to get me enthused about the Voodoo mumblings that made up albums like Gris-Gris and Remedies ... to no avail. Until I heard GUMBO. Though I didn't know it at the time, I was to become a massive fan (via The Blues Brothers) of artists like Junior Wells and the later Atlantic and Stax musicians. What Dr John showed me here was where those musicians took their inspiration from.

I don't think many will argue that Dr John isn't one of the best living jazz pianists we have, and his perky barrel-house style is very much in evidence here. And because of this album, I've sought out opportunities to see the great man live and seen his playful duets with Jools Holland on telly, all richly rewarding experiences.

In retrospect, of course, I came to appreciate Dr John's other work, and have marvelled at the range of famous musicians who've queued up to work with him (Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Mick Jagger, the list goes on), making him the quintessential musician's musician.

Contrary to other reviews about Dr John's work, I'm more inclined to say that if you want an introduction to one of the greatest musicians of the last fifty years, then start here, with a taste of GUMBO.

A documentary of New Orleans music - right timely & timeless, 25 Apr 2002
This was a revelation and refreshing revisitation in those heady hippie days at the time it was released some thirty years ago, and is all the greater for its continued freshness to this day.

Quite simply, it was a firm favourite when issued (not long after seeing Mac live at the 1970 Bath Festival). It is still a top ranking all-time classic and is possibly the essential one to have - but of course there are so many great offerings that it is hard to choose.

So as one of the central characters in the history of rock/fonk/r&b, with authentic respect for his peers, and a true originator to boot - this album sums it up!

I will continue to turn out to hear the man in action whenever possible.

Just try it. Its good for the soul.

Ray C

Good, but not as good as 'Gris Gris', 02 Feb 2001
This is certainly a good album, but not as rewarding as the album 'Gris Gris'. Dr John is a very contemporary and original artist, with some brilliant songs on his repetoire. However, if you have never heard any Dr John before, I would suggest buying 'Gris Gris' first. For die hard fans, though, this is a must.

Monkey & Baboon, 23 Nov 2005
Another great album from a very underated musican, in the notes of the cd Dr. John says that this is a very personal album and you can hear that in the lyrics.
From the first track You Swore then onto Holdin' Pattern all the way to the final track One 2 A.M. too many this is a great CD. buy it!!!!!

Musical ýGumboý, 06 May 2004
With the release of this album in 2001 the good doctor has gone back to his roots, all musical influences mixed up in his own unique style.
The front cover for those of you who don't know is a picture of the voodoo character "Baron Samedi" or Doctor Saturday; the use of this cover alone gives the listener an indication of what the contents are going to be like.
This album clocks in at just over 68 minutes long and is a mix of styles and superb musicianship.

The drum intro of "You Swore" gets the proceedings to a great start with the keyboards of the good doctor playing the main theme that has more than a hint of Stevie Wonder in it's construction ala "Superstition" with an answering back chorus sung by Catherine Russell and Nikki Richards (Creole Molls) with percussion fills in-between the spaces created by the vocals and a wonderful sax solo on the fade out of the song.

With the sound of Calypso styled keyboards the track "In the name of you" played against the sound of the saxophone, that the element that makes this track stand out ids the use of the off beat for the percussion and the guitar being played the same way as the drums giving the overall effect of extra percussion.

For the track "Food for Thot" (spot the unique spelling for thought) David Barnard plays a sweat filled bass line which locks in with the trombone sound of Fred Wesley along with the sound of the James Brown influenced choppy guitar sound Renard Poché along with the featured artist on B3 electric piano who is playing along with everyone else a big hint of 8-bar blues.

The song "Holdin' Pattern" uses a funky sounding lead guitar to full effect to the track a backbone for all the other players to play against, such as the doctor doing fills on the keyboards along with the angst sounding fiddle played by Michael Doucet in the middle 8 giving the song a sense of despair.

The sound of the Caribbean is the next influence in this potpourri of styles that Doctor John borrows from for the song "Bruha Beme" the main theme of this track is conveyed on the flute, which is played superbly by Charley Miller along with the relentless sound of the keyboard which along with the constant bass sound and with the backing singers adding an underling punch for the Doctor's singing.

"Imitation of Love" is an old time blues ballad in the style of Ray Charles or T-Bone Walker with the excellent crooning vocals of the good doctor telling the story of two people living and loving together, this track has an excellent jazz sounding guitar in the middle 8, with the sound of the piano carrying the main theme all the way through the song.

With the following song the style of the blues and funk are used to make "Now that you got me" along with the signature vocals of the featured artist and the use of a voice box guitar which is ably played by Renard Doché which gives the track a retro feel.
When the listener gets to the title track, which is the longest on the collection at just over 8 minutes "Creole Moon" is in 3 parts with the start, which has a Latin feel about it that is played on the piano and sax which gives the track a grand feel, then in the middle section you feel transported to Trinidad with the horn section giving you the party sound which is played off the piano and drums along with rock steady bass, for the third and final section the pace becomes romantic and the piano now sounds like it's part of a love theme in a film along with the sax which can be heard on the fade out.

For the love song "Georgianna" another style is used this time Cajun along with others influences such as Gospel and French these are blended together to give something that is totally the style of Doctor John that give the perfect backdrop to the soulful vocals, this along side the stunning fiddle playing of Michael Doucet make this song a bit of personal favourite on this album.

With the use of a big drum sound the track "Monkey and Baboon" is announced, along with the horns and electric guitar, which brings home the vocals which along with all the other elements recalls the days of Vaudeville tunes and minstrel shows of old, then at the last section of the track a electric slide guitar is used to bring the song home this is played to great effect by Sonny Landreth.

With the sound of Latin percussion that has a little hint of Salsa played on the piano the song "Take what I can get" begins the song also has a feel of the church about it.
The key track for the whole collection "Queen of Cold" which has a very exciting trumpet introduction played by Kevin Louis that fits neatly into the sound of the bass and drums and the vamping style employed by Doctor John playing the piano recall the sound of such legends as Duke Ellington, with other touches such as Cuban and funk, with just a tiny feel of flamenco about the trumpet sound.

The party track on the album is the song called "Litein'" that has bits of Cuban funk about it, check out the bass line by David Bernard along with the Brazilian percussion by Michael Skinkus and Curtis Pierre and the Latin grooves supplied by the horn section which is ably lead by Fred Westley's trombone along with the new Orleans vocals of the Doctor make this a song that makes you want to get up and dance.

The song "One 2 a.m. to many" which Doctor John has chosen to close this album is a more start forward song, which has a feel of the streets of New Orleans with the sound of the piano playing the main theme of the track along with the saxophone, which makes you feel like you walking home from a great all night party.

A perfect end to an excellent album, a treat for fans of well played and executed music.

Yet another winner from the good Dr., 14 Oct 2001
With Creole Moon Dr John has gone back to his roots of being the Night Tripper. This album is a cross between the the very funky and spiritual
"Anutha Zone" and the excellent Grammy winning "Goin Back to New Orleans".

If you are a fan of Dr John then this album will not disappoint, highlights are the excellent "Monkey and Baboon" and the title track "Creole Moon", this is the kind of album you could listen to 100 times and always pick out things that you haven't noticed before - BUY IT!

a novice writes...., 16 Apr 2008
I don't know too much about later Dr John. I have had this album on my Ipod for ages without listening and it is with a slightly shamed face that I say I only really sought it out again after hearing cher's (!!)version of Walking on Gilded Splinters on the david Holmes/Cherrystones CD. Like nothing else I own, but fantastic. I treasure the day that I got bored and drunk on the train from Charing X and gave it a go. vocal-wise the nearest comparison is capt. beefhart, but it is far more accessible than that. Just. Really. Really. Good. If you're reading this review - forget Cher, concentrate on the Davis Holmes and if that sounds right then give it a pop. late edit: reading other reviews I would just say that the running time might be short - but give me 30 minutes of this over 120 minutes of benign Coldplay/keane/Snow Patrol any day of the week. It's good. And it is interesting. What more can you want?

unique, 26 Nov 2007
I'm no great fan of the doctor's blues piano he was later famous for, but this album is different from that and unlike much else you're likely to hear. Harold Battiste's arrangements make Dr John's songs sound weird and wonderful. The mixture of styles somehow work together here in a way that he has not achieved since. Everyone I've played this to loves it. Definitely one to buy.

It just works, 03 Jan 2004
I can still remember the first time I heard this record. I fell in love with the magic of it. I was also shocked as I'd heard a fair amount of Dr John but nothing like this. I gained a whole new respect for him off the back of this album.

It's very different and I'm very poud to have it in my collection. Odd moments include raspberry blowing and pig noises...??? But it all fits nicely.

A great album, treat yourself to something different, [in hippy voice] open your mind man.

Recorded in a basement on a cassette machine?, 26 Jan 2001
Which only goes to show that you don't have to be 24 bit digital to be magical. I first heard this in 1970 and it's every bit as compelling as it was then. This was that brief mock-Voodoo Night Tripper episode before Mack decided to show off his piano playing skills instead. Nonetheless, great songs, arrangments and delivery.

Classic, but Short Playing Time., 27 Sep 2000
I think the first edition of the rolling stone record guide gave this album, like, 2 stars. I discovered it in my flatmates record collection, and have always found it's voodoo tinged atmosphere with it's haunting female backing vocals very compelling, especially the opening and closing tracks. I bought a best of Dr John album lately, but his other stuff was very differenty from this, and not really what I hoped it would be. This album however, is the bees knees.

Spicy New Orleans Gumbo, 02 Oct 2001
This is New Orleans music at its finest.From the syncopated rhythyms of the mighty Meters (surely the funkiest outfit since James Brown) to the gravel voiced voodoo of the good Doctor. The horn arrangements of Allen Toussaint also deserve a special mention. Standout tracks for me are 'Right place wrong time'(checkout the bass line of George Porter jnr) and 'Qualified' which paste an idiot grin to my face every time I hear them. A top 100 album for sure.

Superb R & R Memories, 16 Sep 2007
For anyone like myself who was a young record buyer in the 1950's, this CD is a great trip down Memory Lane, and the music stands up very well after all these years.

Antoine "Fats" Domino (b. 1928, New Orleans) emerged in the mid 1950s from the strictly African-American R & B scene ("The Fat Man" was recorded as early as 1949) to "cross over" onto the mainstream Pop charts. He had a great run of singles successes on both sides of the Atlantic, with "Blueberry Hill", "Ain't That A Shame", "Whole Lotta Lovin'" and others, all covered on this CD.

Just what did he have that others didn't? Well, he projected a relaxed, easy-going image and really looked as if he was enjoying making music, and his rich New Orleans accent kind of added extra charm and appeal. His piano work wasn't frantic like Little Richard or Jerry Lee Lewis, but had a full, bluesy sound, which was well complemented by the brass section that was usually part of the set-up. His up-tempo numbers like "I'm Walkin'" were tailor-made for the dancers, and he was very much in the right place at the right time when Rock 'N' Roll hit the airwaves and the record stores in the mid-to late 1950's. His happy-go-lucky style transferred very well to the cinema screen and he landed spots in the major R'N'R films at this time.

Like many other American acts, the advent of The Beatles and the British Invasion spelled the end of his big success on records, but he continued touring and making a good living in the music business.

He remained based in New Orleans, and as the years went by toured less and less, claiming the food wasn't any good anywhere else!

The Hurricane Katrina disaster was feared to have taken his life in 2005, but he emerged comparatively unscathed, having been rescued by helicopter, and was still making appearances in New Orleans into 2007.

Whether, like me, you're an ageing aficionado of 1950's music, or a younger listener curious to know what Fats Domino was all about, go out and get this and experience musical history in the making.

Tremendous, 21 Mar 2001
Being a young fan of Rock and Roll, I was only really aware of Blueberry Hill from the Fat man, but having bought this, I realise not only how much of a showman he is, but his varying talents. The Fat Man, the song, has a tremendous piano solo, and his unmistakeable voice make this a must buy for all Rock and Roll fans. Simply Superb

Jack you dead, 18 Aug 2007
If this cd dosen't make you dance, sing, move your neck in a rocking motion, feel good, tap your hands on your legs waiting at a red light, laugh, even cry some, if this cd dosen't do any of the above then.. Jack you dead.

Pure nectar, 16 Sep 2005
As a first time listener to DR John this is indeed one of the best albums i have listened to for ages. It takes the listener through an historical journey through New Orleans and is by far a masterpiece. Absolutely a must for any Music fan and i MEAN any music fan

If you're buying only one Dr John album this is the one!, 16 Nov 2001
Every facet of his talent is displayed, and his love and appreciation of New Orleans music shine through in this superb collection. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Do yourself a favour and absorb the history of New Orleans music through it's greatest living ammbasador.

Dr John-Duke Elegant, 15 Feb 2008
I discovered Dr John quite by chance about 3 years ago, and can honestly say this man is without doubt one of the most talented musicians ever. Having then purchased lots of his work, I thought he could really not get much better, till I purchased online a copy of Duke Elegant. To take the work Of Duke Ellington is one thing but to actually throw your own funky, jazzy beat to it, in the way Dr John has is pure magic.Every track on this Cd is just pure class. There are some Cds you play where you flick through to your favourites as you decifer which tracks you like and hate etc. However with Duke Elegat, you just put it on and admire every single track. It is so funky you just cannot stop your foot moving. I cannot believe anyone buying Duke Elegant would be disappointed. If you are a serious lover of good pure music, Duke Elegant is a must for your collection. Probably the best CD i have ever purchased.

Get "Fonk-ied" with the Doctor, 23 Nov 2002
It's a brave man who takes on the tracks written and made famous in the 1930's,1940's and one song from the 1950's by the Duke of Jazz,"Duke Ellington". The good doctor does it with a great deal style, makes them his own by adding his own brand of "fonk" giving each track amazin' bass that whomps out. These songs may hark back to another time but "Doctor John" makes them sound bang up to date, try listening to "I'm gonna go fishin'" without tappin' your feet, you have no chance it's a fonk out groove of the first order. Highly recommended for pre-going listening to get in the party mood...

Well worth a listen, 05 Mar 2000
I went to the "Duke Elegant" concert at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, an electifying experience. The good Dr was on top form and the tracks that he performed from the album made its purchase essential; I was not disappointed. Fishing is my favourite track but that takes nothing away from the rest.

The greatest of the great Dr John, 31 May 2007
GUMBO is one of my all-time favourite albums and my favourite in the cannon of my favourite jazz piano player, Dr John.

Back in the 1970s, a pal of mine was a huge Dr John fan and tried very hard to get me enthused about the Voodoo mumblings that made up albums like Gris-Gris and Remedies ... to no avail. Until I heard GUMBO. Though I didn't know it at the time, I was to become a massive fan (via The Blues Brothers) of artists like Junior Wells and the later Atlantic and Stax musicians. What Dr John showed me here was where those musicians took their inspiration from.

I don't think many will argue that Dr John isn't one of the best living jazz pianists we have, and his perky barrel-house style is very much in evidence here. And because of this album, I've sought out opportunities to see the great man live and seen his playful duets with Jools Holland on telly, all richly rewarding experiences.

In retrospect, of course, I came to appreciate Dr John's other work, and have marvelled at the range of famous musicians who've queued up to work with him (Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Mick Jagger, the list goes on), making him the quintessential musician's musician.

Contrary to other reviews about Dr John's work, I'm more inclined to say that if you want an introduction to one of the greatest musicians of the last fifty years, then start here, with a taste of GUMBO.

A documentary of New Orleans music - right timely & timeless, 25 Apr 2002
This was a revelation and refreshing revisitation in those heady hippie days at the time it was released some thirty years ago, and is all the greater for its continued freshness to this day.

Quite simply, it was a firm favourite when issued (not long after seeing Mac live at the 1970 Bath Festival). It is still a top ranking all-time classic and is possibly the essential one to have - but of course there are so many great offerings that it is hard to choose.

So as one of the central characters in the history of rock/fonk/r&b, with authentic respect for his peers, and a true originator to boot - this album sums it up!

I will continue to turn out to hear the man in action whenever possible.

Just try it. Its good for the soul.

Ray C

Good, but not as good as 'Gris Gris', 02 Feb 2001
This is certainly a good album, but not as rewarding as the album 'Gris Gris'. Dr John is a very contemporary and original artist, with some brilliant songs on his repetoire. However, if you have never heard any Dr John before, I would suggest buying 'Gris Gris' first. For die hard fans, though, this is a must.

Monkey & Baboon, 23 Nov 2005
Another great album from a very underated musican, in the notes of the cd Dr. John says that this is a very personal album and you can hear that in the lyrics.
From the first track You Swore then onto Holdin' Pattern all the way to the final track One 2 A.M. too many this is a great CD. buy it!!!!!

Musical ýGumboý, 06 May 2004
With the release of this album in 2001 the good doctor has gone back to his roots, all musical influences mixed up in his own unique style.
The front cover for those of you who don't know is a picture of the voodoo character "Baron Samedi" or Doctor Saturday; the use of this cover alone gives the listener an indication of what the contents are going to be like.
This album clocks in at just over 68 minutes long and is a mix of styles and superb musicianship.

The drum intro of "You Swore" gets the proceedings to a great start with the keyboards of the good doctor playing the main theme that has more than a hint of Stevie Wonder in it's construction ala "Superstition" with an answering back chorus sung by Catherine Russell and Nikki Richards (Creole Molls) with percussion fills in-between the spaces created by the vocals and a wonderful sax solo on the fade out of the song.

With the sound of Calypso styled keyboards the track "In the name of you" played against the sound of the saxophone, that the element that makes this track stand out ids the use of the off beat for the percussion and the guitar being played the same way as the drums giving the overall effect of extra percussion.

For the track "Food for Thot" (spot the unique spelling for thought) David Barnard plays a sweat filled bass line which locks in with the trombone sound of Fred Wesley along with the sound of the James Brown influenced choppy guitar sound Renard Poché along with the featured artist on B3 electric piano who is playing along with everyone else a big hint of 8-bar blues.

The song "Holdin' Pattern" uses a funky sounding lead guitar to full effect to the track a backbone for all the other players to play against, such as the doctor doing fills on the keyboards along with the angst sounding fiddle played by Michael Doucet in the middle 8 giving the song a sense of despair.

The sound of the Caribbean is the next influence in this potpourri of styles that Doctor John borrows from for the song "Bruha Beme" the main theme of this track is conveyed on the flute, which is played superbly by Charley Miller along with the relentless sound of the keyboard which along with the constant bass sound and with the backing singers adding an underling punch for the Doctor's singing.

"Imitation of Love" is an old time blues ballad in the style of Ray Charles or T-Bone Walker with the excellent crooning vocals of the good doctor telling the story of two people living and loving together, this track has an excellent jazz sounding guitar in the middle 8, with the sound of the piano carrying the main theme all the way through the song.

With the following song the style of the blues and funk are used to make "Now that you got me" along with the signature vocals of the featured artist and the use of a voice box guitar which is ably played by Renard Doché which gives the track a retro feel.
When the listener gets to the title track, which is the longest on the collection at just over 8 minutes "Creole Moon" is in 3 parts with the start, which has a Latin feel about it that is played on the piano and sax which gives the track a grand feel, then in the middle section you feel transported to Trinidad with the horn section giving you the party sound which is played off the piano and drums along with rock steady bass, for the third and final section the pace becomes romantic and the piano now sounds like it's part of a love theme in a film along with the sax which can be heard on the fade out.

For the love song "Georgianna" another style is used this time Cajun along with others influences such as Gospel and French these are blended together to give something that is totally the style of Doctor John that give the perfect backdrop to the soulful vocals, this along side the stunning fiddle playing of Michael Doucet make this song a bit of personal favourite on this album.

With the use of a big drum sound the track "Monkey and Baboon" is announced, along with the horns and electric guitar, which brings home the vocals which along with all the other elements recalls the days of Vaudeville tunes and minstrel shows of old, then at the last section of the track a electric slide guitar is used to bring the song home this is played to great effect by Sonny Landreth.

With the sound of Latin percussion that has a little hint of Salsa played on the piano the song "Take what I can get" begins the song also has a feel of the church about it.
The key track for the whole collection "Queen of Cold" which has a very exciting trumpet introduction played by Kevin Louis that fits neatly into the sound of the bass and drums and the vamping style employed by Doctor John playing the piano recall the sound of such legends as Duke Ellington, with other touches such as Cuban and funk, with just a tiny feel of flamenco about the trumpet sound.

The party track on the album is the song called "Litein'" that has bits of Cuban funk about it, check out the bass line by David Bernard along with the Brazilian percussion by Michael Skinkus and Curtis Pierre and the Latin grooves supplied by the horn section which is ably lead by Fred Westley's trombone along with the new Orleans vocals of the Doctor make this a song that makes you want to get up and dance.

The song "One 2 a.m. to many" which Doctor John has chosen to close this album is a more start forward song, which has a feel of the streets of New Orleans with the sound of the piano playing the main theme of the track along with the saxophone, which makes you feel like you walking home from a great all night party.

A perfect end to an excellent album, a treat for fans of well played and executed music.

Yet another winner from the good Dr., 14 Oct 2001
With Creole Moon Dr John has gone back to his roots of being the Night Tripper. This album is a cross between the the very funky and spiritual
"Anutha Zone" and the excellent Grammy winning "Goin Back to New Orleans".

If you are a fan of Dr John then this album will not disappoint, highlights are the excellent "Monkey and Baboon" and the title track "Creole Moon", this is the kind of album you could listen to 100 times and always pick out things that you haven't noticed before - BUY IT!

Junco Partner james Booker, 12 Jan 2007
Excellent. every household should own a copy of good nite Irene.

The Piano Prince of New Orleans, 22 Jul 2002
People do forget what James Booker was all about sometimes. He was classically trained from an early age and taught himself boogie-woogie etc etc. A piano prodigy in New Orleans is not going to be short of influences and it shows. Art Neville reckons he was the best and who are we to argue.

The Black Minute Waltz is a masterpiece. A remarkable interpretation of the piece, and showing staggering technique. On The Sunny Side of The Street was one of Jools Holland's Desert Island Disks - say no more I think! The medley of Until the Real Thing Comes Along etc is wonderful and surprisingly coherent considering its constituent parts. Pixie suggests that JB had at least three hands working for him and defies belief in places.

Booker was the best, maybe not the smoothest and not for the faint hearted, but go and get that Russ Conway album if that's what you are after. Buy, Marvel and Love.

A mad preacher let loose on the keys..., 08 Jul 2001
Two stars for this?! It's frankly hard to believe that anyone could write such a misguided review of a recording as great as this one. Listening to this record for the first time is a truly extraordinary experience as Booker runs the gamut of human experience from all out joy to the depths of despair, all the while his fingers never missing a trick(his modulations on Put Out The Light are truly a wonder to behold). To criticize James Booker for his classical interpretations is to entirely miss the point as his eclectic magpie mind was an integral part of what made him such an extraordinary, individualistic artist. James Booker was possessed of a tremendous depth of feeling and astonishing piano technique;it's amazing that listening to someone who's life was so essentially tragic can make you feel so good but it does and this is one of the best places to hear him. Five stars and a half, mate.

a novice writes...., 16 Apr 2008
I don't know too much about later Dr John. I have had this album on my Ipod for ages without listening and it is with a slightly shamed face that I say I only really sought it out again after hearing cher's (!!)version of Walking on Gilded Splinters on the david Holmes/Cherrystones CD. Like nothing else I own, but fantastic. I treasure the day that I got bored and drunk on the train from Charing X and gave it a go. vocal-wise the nearest comparison is capt. beefhart, but it is far more accessible than that. Just. Really. Really. Good. If you're reading this review - forget Cher, concentrate on the Davis Holmes and if that sounds right then give it a pop. late edit: reading other reviews I would just say that the running time might be short - but give me 30 minutes of this over 120 minutes of benign Coldplay/keane/Snow Patrol any day of the week. It's good. And it is interesting. What more can you want?

unique, 26 Nov 2007
I'm no great fan of the doctor's blues piano he was later famous for, but this album is different from that and unlike much else you're likely to hear. Harold Battiste's arrangements make Dr John's songs sound weird and wonderful. The mixture of styles somehow work together here in a way that he has not achieved since. Everyone I've played this to loves it. Definitely one to buy.

It just works, 03 Jan 2004
I can still remember the first time I heard this record. I fell in love with the magic of it. I was also shocked as I'd heard a fair amount of Dr John but nothing like this. I gained a whole new respect for him off the back of this album.

It's very different and I'm very poud to have it in my collection. Odd moments include raspberry blowing and pig noises...??? But it all fits nicely.

A great album, treat yourself to something different, [in hippy voice] open your mind man.

Recorded in a basement on a cassette machine?, 26 Jan 2001
Which only goes to show that you don't have to be 24 bit digital to be magical. I first heard this in 1970 and it's every bit as compelling as it was then. This was that brief mock-Voodoo Night Tripper episode before Mack decided to show off his piano playing skills instead. Nonetheless, great songs, arrangments and delivery.

Classic, but Short Playing Time., 27 Sep 2000
I think the first edition of the rolling stone record guide gave this album, like, 2 stars. I discovered it in my flatmates record collection, and have always found it's voodoo tinged atmosphere with it's haunting female backing vocals very compelling, especially the opening and closing tracks. I bought a best of Dr John album lately, but his other stuff was very differenty from this, and not really what I hoped it would be. This album however, is the bees knees.

Spicy New Orleans Gumbo, 02 Oct 2001
This is New Orleans music at its finest.From the syncopated rhythyms of the mighty Meters (surely the funkiest outfit since James Brown) to the gravel voiced voodoo of the good Doctor. The horn arrangements of Allen Toussaint also deserve a special mention. Standout tracks for me are 'Right place wrong time'(checkout the bass line of George Porter jnr) and 'Qualified' which paste an idiot grin to my face every time I hear them. A top 100 album for sure.

Superb R & R Memories, 16 Sep 2007
For anyone like myself who was a young record buyer in the 1950's, this CD is a great trip down Memory Lane, and the music stands up very well after all these years.

Antoine "Fats" Domino (b. 1928, New Orleans) emerged in the mid 1950s from the strictly African-American R & B scene ("The Fat Man" was recorded as early as 1949) to "cross over" onto the mainstream Pop charts. He had a great run of singles successes on both sides of the Atlantic, with "Blueberry Hill", "Ain't That A Shame", "Whole Lotta Lovin'" and others, all covered on this CD.

Just what did he have that others didn't? Well, he projected a relaxed, easy-going image and really looked as if he was enjoying making music, and his rich New Orleans accent kind of added extra charm and appeal. His piano work wasn't frantic like Little Richard or Jerry Lee Lewis, but had a full, bluesy sound, which was well complemented by the brass section that was usually part of the set-up. His up-tempo numbers like "I'm Walkin'" were tailor-made for the dancers, and he was very much in the right place at the right time when Rock 'N' Roll hit the airwaves and the record stores in the mid-to late 1950's. His happy-go-lucky style transferred very well to the cinema screen and he landed spots in the major R'N'R films at this time.

Like many other American acts, the advent of The Beatles and the British Invasion spelled the end of his big success on records, but he continued touring and making a good living in the music business.

He remained based in New Orleans, and as the years went by toured less and less, claiming the food wasn't any good anywhere else!

The Hurricane Katrina disaster was feared to have taken his life in 2005, but he emerged comparatively unscathed, having been rescued by helicopter, and was still making appearances in New Orleans into 2007.

Whether, like me, you're an ageing aficionado of 1950's music, or a younger listener curious to know what Fats Domino was all about, go out and get this and experience musical history in the making.

Tremendous, 21 Mar 2001
Being a young fan of Rock and Roll, I was only really aware of Blueberry Hill from the Fat man, but having bought this, I realise not only how much of a showman he is, but his varying talents. The Fat Man, the song, has a tremendous piano solo, and his unmistakeable voice make this a must buy for all Rock and Roll fans. Simply Superb

Jack you dead, 18 Aug 2007
If this cd dosen't make you dance, sing, move your neck in a rocking motion, feel good, tap your hands on your legs waiting at a red light, laugh, even cry some, if this cd dosen't do any of the above then.. Jack you dead.

Pure nectar, 16 Sep 2005
As a first time listener to DR John this is indeed one of the best albums i have listened to for ages. It takes the listener through an historical journey through New Orleans and is by far a masterpiece. Absolutely a must for any Music fan and i MEAN any music fan

If you're buying only one Dr John album this is the one!, 16 Nov 2001
Every facet of his talent is displayed, and his love and appreciation of New Orleans music shine through in this superb collection. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Do yourself a favour and absorb the history of New Orleans music through it's greatest living ammbasador.

Dr John-Duke Elegant, 15 Feb 2008
I discovered Dr John quite by chance about 3 years ago, and can honestly say this man is without doubt one of the most talented musicians ever. Having then purchased lots of his work, I thought he could really not get much better, till I purchased online a copy of Duke Elegant. To take the work Of Duke Ellington is one thing but to actually throw your own funky, jazzy b