Dr. John "Locked Down"

One more gratis offering from fellow music lover, BK.  This is another heritage artist of which I own zero full-lengths, much like the earlier post on Bonnie Raitt.  No one in my age category will forget "Right Place, Wrong Time" from 1973.  Many called him NOLA's equivalent to Springsteen, a regional legend first before going nationwide.  Maybe, but not quite.  Anyway, one never knew what was going to be in the musical stew of a Dr. John recording.  If you read up a bit on him, you'll see all of these, and other, descriptive terms used:

jazz, blues, pop, rock, voodoo, swamp, steamy, funky, psychedelic, eccentric, r&b, spiritual, carnal, primal. 

I think that's what rocked the boat for me, not knowing what to expect and not quite understanding it afterwards. 

Dr. John has never stopped playing, and it was last year's Bonnaroo festival (named after his followup album to "Right Place...") from which this album was born.  He took the stage with The Black Keys, exposing him to a younger audience.  I remember seeing a NY Times review that concluded with something along the lines of "...I hope they go straight into a studio and record some of that."  Well, not exactly straight to the studio, but the collaboration began shortly thereafter and the results hit the market in early April. 

Title track is certainly a keeper.  Got that Zombies "Time Of The Season" breathy hook going for it.  Here's another video from the album.  Mucho peoples making the music......lots going on.......horns!




The best song on the record is Ice Age.  I find that its mixture of patented Rock & Roll Hall-Of-Famer Dr. John and the generally perceived new-guard boy-wonder, Dan Auerbach, to be the ultimate combination.  I honestly believe there will be Grammy nominations for this album.  The precedent was set by Rick Rubin and Johnny Cash. 

Me?  I'm only retaining two tracks.  I kept three of the Bonnie Raitt.  But if you forced me to add one of the two albums as a whole to my collection, it would be "Locked Down."