Dr. John - Dr. John Plays Mac Rebennack
Classic Records

By MuzikMan (more articles from this author) 2001-04-24

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Artist: Dr. John
Title: Dr. John Plays Mac Rebennack
Label: Classic Records (www.classicrecords.com)
Genre: New Orleans R & B-Blues-Rock
Format: Digital Audio Disc-DVD CD
(24/96 "Master Tape Sound")

Dr. John’s first solo album "Dr. John Plays Mac Rebennack", was released in 1981. You may ask, who is Mac Rebennack? Well, it’s Dr. John himself, that’s who. The Dr. John moniker is merely an AKA. The Dr. had already made his mark in music in 1973 with the "Right Place, Wrong Time" album, which was backed by the Meters. This was an album that seemingly came out of nowhere, and launched a very successful career.

This solo album was a long time coming. It turned out to be everything and more for his loyal following to ingest. His vibrant and vital New Orleans style piano blues is full of the robust color of life, much like the life in the streets of New Orleans. If you have ever witnessed the Dr. adorned with traditional New Orleans garb onstage, you can see the common ground it has with the music he makes.

This fine D.A.D. remaster from Classic Records was a good choice for a high-end replication. Dr. John’s piano playing is magnificent on this CD. His tone and rhythm are simply beyond definition. He may be recognized more readily by his distinct gravelly vocal style, but it’s his steady hand on the ivories that are the main feature of his repertoire. He is a master at the keyboard, and everything else is an added bonus.

Except for "Silent Night", which somehow sounds too different for a seasonal song, this is a good selection of songs for the Dr. to showcase his abilities. This CD sounds superlative in this format, and audiophiles and Dr. John fans alike will really appreciate this recording. You get the best of both worlds from the Dr. on this album; his rolling and rhythmic piano in all its instrumental glory, and the patented vocals that we synonymously associate with the great city of New Orleans. If there is one artist that embodies the music and culture of a city, it’s Dr. John.

1. Dorothy
2. Mac’s Boogie
3. Memories Of Professor Longhair
4. The Nearness If You
5. Delicado
6. Silent Night
7. Ti-Na-Na
8. Wade In The Water
9. Honey Dripper
10. Big Mac
11. New Island Midnight
12. Saints
13. Pinetop

Tour Dates

DATES- VENUE CITY STATE or COUNTRY
04/29/01 Tipitina's Uptown New Orleans LA
04/29/01 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival New Orleans LA
05/04/01 Firemen's Fairgrounds Thibodaux LA
05/05/01 Tipitina's Uptown New Orleans LA
05/06/01 House of Blues - French Quarter New Orleans LA
05/15/01 Berkeley Community Theatre Berkeley CA
05/18/01 Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino - Events Center Uncasville CT
05/19/01 Egg - Kitty Carlisle Hart Theatre Albany NY
05/26/01 Frontier Ranch Columbus OH
06/10/01 State Theatre Falls Church VA
06/15/01 Britt Festivals Gardens and Amphitheater Jacksonville OR
06/17/01 Sigmund Stern Grove San Francisco CA
06/23/01 Onondaga Community College Syracuse NY
06/29/01 Leinie Lodge at the Koss Pavilion Milwaukee WI
07/22/01 Blues Ranch Winthrop WA
08/26/01 Heritage Amphitheatre Edmonton AB
09/14/01 Casino Magic Bay Saint Louis MS
09/15/01 Travis Park San Antonio TX
09/16/01 One World Theatre Austin TX
09/22/01 Monterey County Fairgrounds Monterey CA
09/28/01 Oak Meadow Park Los Gatos CA
09/29/01 Ironstone Vineyards Murphys CA
11/04/01 Monmouth University - Pollak Auditorium West Long Branch NJ

Discography

TITLE (LABEL) YEAR
Essential Recordings Cleopatra 2001
Duke Elegant * Blue Note Records 2000
Return Of The Mac: In The Studio With... Westside Records - (import) 2000
Hoodoo: The Collection Music Club Records 2000
Funky New Orleans Metro (Import -England) 2000
The Masters Eagle Rock 1999
The Crazy Cajun Recordings Edsel - (import) 1999
Medical School: The Early Recordings... Music Club Records 1999
The Gold Collection Fine Tune 1999
Anutha Zone Virgin 1998
Trader John Aim Records - (import) 1998
Trippin' Live Surefire 1997
Afterglow GRP Records 1995
The Very Best Of Dr. John Rhino Records 1995
Gumbo & In The Right Place [Gold Disc] Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab 1994
Television GRP Records 1994
Mos' Scocious: The Dr. John...[Box] Rhino Records 1993
Goin' Back To New Orleans Warner Bros. Records 1992
In A Sentimental Mood Warner Bros. Records 1989
Such A Night! Making Waves Music - (import) 1988
Dr. John Plays Mac Rebennack Clean Cuts Records 1981
Hollywood Be Thy Name One Way Records 1975
And His New Orleans Congregation Diablo - (import) 1973
In The Right Place Atco 1973
Gumbo Atco 1972
Gris-Gris Collectors' Choice 1968
At His Best Special Music Company N/A
Diggin' Dr. John Pair N/A
New Orleans Swamp [VIDEO] Rhino Video N/A
The Ultimate Dr. John Warner Special Products N/A
The Brightest Smile In Town Clean Cuts Records N/A
Zu Zu Man Topline N/A More Info
On A Mardi Gras Day Great Southern N/A
Loser For You Baby Magnum - (import) N/A
Cut Me While I'm Hot Thunderbolt (import) (UK) N/A
Zu Zu Man Laserlight N/A
Cat And Mouse Game Columbia River Entertainment Group N/A
Next Hex: The Nashville Session '74 Purple Pyramid/Cleopatra N/A
Crawfish Soiree Aim Records - (import) N/A
Hollywood Be Thy Name BGO Records N/A
Right Place Wrong Time & Other Hits Flashback Records N/A
Funky New Orleans Metro N/A
Desitively Bonnaroo [4/24] Label M N/A

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