Rating:
Genre:
R&B
Release Date: 12/06/2005
This boxed two-fer combines two previously released single-disc collections by
New Orleans R&B pioneers
Ernie K-Doe (
Absolutely the Best, originally released on CD by
Fuel in 2001) and
Chris Kenner (
Land of 1000 Dances, originally released on CD by
Collectables in 2003). What ties the two collections together is the presence on both of New Orleans pianist and producer
Allen Toussaint, who is featured prominently on piano on
Kenner's disc and was the producer for the tracks on
K-Doe's. The
K-Doe set gathers his singles for the
Minit label, including his huge 1961 smash,
"Mother-In-Law," the magnificent
gospel-inflected
"Waiting at the Station," and versions of two fine
Toussaint songs,
"A Certain Girl" and
"I Cried My Last Tear." Kenner's disc collects his singles for
Instant Records, including 1961's
"I Like It Like That, Pt. 1" (
"Pt. 2" was an instrumental rendering of the song), the original version of
"Land of 1000 Dances" (which was later a hit for East L.A.'s
Cannibal & the Headhunters -- they added the na-na-na-na-na hook -- in 1965 and again for
Wilson Pickett -- who Muscle Shoaled it -- a year later), the original of
"Something You Got," and a pair of impressive cuts that never quite broke out,
"What's Wrong with Life" and
"They Took My Money." Placed together like this, these two collections provide a glimpse of the unique
R&B scene that developed in the Crescent City in the early to mid-'60s, a scene that owed plenty to these two guys, not to mention the multiple playing, writing, arranging, and production talents of
Allen Toussaint.
~Steve Leggett, All Music Guide
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