New Orleans…. home of jazz, birthplace of the funk and, some would say, of rock’n’roll. No great controversy there, but The Big Easy’s role in the history of soul music has been less well documented. Part of the ‘History of Soul’ series, this compilation of tracks illustrates the depth and breadth of music produced in the city between 1958 and 1962. Music that went way beyond R&B, taking into soul the joyous rhythms of funky second line parade bands, the gospel-based piano triplets of barrelhouse wizards and the tight horn sections of Allen Toussaint and Dave Bartholomew, whose arrangements from would later inform the classic Stax sound. The familiar names are all here: Irma Thomas, Aaron Neville, Eddie Bo, Bobby Marchan but so are the lesser known but fabulous Ray Washington, Berna Dean, Martha Carter and Chuck Carbo. So prepare to be blown away by some of the most exciting, deep and affecting sounds that ever came from Louisiana and made their way into soul as we know it.
‘This is an amazing value for the price – SO MANY good songs from some of the best classic New Orleans music artists. I stumbled across this gem looking for Ernie K-Doe and discovered so many amazing hits via this compilation!’
Miss Malaprop (New Orleans blogger)
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