Toussaint Overture

Rarely do I focus on a single artist or group in putting together my weekly radio program Al compás del mundo. There have been many dedications to the distinctive and varied sounds of specific countries or regions but rarely does the spotlight shine on one individual. Today’s exception stems from the fact that Allen Toussaint was more often in the background than a performer, yet came to represent the music of his native New Orleans like few others. [Continues below.]

Al compás del mundo Listo 207, 11-13-25 – the music of Allen Toussaint, New Orleans

01 Aaron Neville - Hercules

02 Ernie K-Doe - So Good

03 The Rubaiyats - Omar Khayyam

04 Lee Dorsey - Sneakin' Sally Thru the Alley

05 Willie West - Greatest Love

06 Allen Toussaint and The Stokes - Two Cents

07 Curly Moore - Don't Pity Me

08 Jessie Hill - Oogsey Moo

09 Benny Spellman - If You Love Her

10 Betty Harris - Bad Luck

11 Allen Toussaint - Poor Boy, Got to Move

12 Maurice Williams - How to Pick a Winner

13 Etta James - Wheel of Fire

14 Diamond Joe - Wait a Minute Baby

15 Zilla Mayes - All I Want Is You

16 Art Neville - All These Things

17 The Prime Mates - Hot Tamales, Part 1

18 Lee Dorsey - Working in the Coal Mine

19 Ernie K-Doe - Here Come the Girls

20 The Rubaiyats – Tomorrow

Toussaint played his piano and sang on plenty of recordings, but during a lengthy and prolific career he was more often noted as a song writer, arranger, and producer. Other people sang songs that he had worked on – Dr. John’s “Right Place, Wrong Time,” Labelles’s “Lady Marmalade,” and Al Hirt’s pop hit “Java.” He was instrumental in the careers of many New Orleans leading lights (some of them represented here,) like Lee Dorsey, Etta James, Ernie K-Doe, Irma Thomas, and a studio band whose members later formed The Meters. The titles in this playlist come from the 1960s and 70s and paint a vivid picture of a musical city and a musician’s musician.

Comments

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