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Allen toussaint songbook12/10/2023 ![]() ![]() By no means does this contain all of Toussaint's great songs - some of the versions are by no means close to definitive, either, with the Judds' perfectly fine version of "Working in the Coal Mine" being the main example - but this illustrates his depth and range and, best of all, it's wildly entertaining. Robert Palmer got seriously funky with "Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley" (assisted by Little Feat leader/guitarist Lowell George, who was a huge Toussaint fan and is heard here covering "What Do You Want the Girl to Do"), Frankie Miller tore into "Shoo Rah," Bonnie Raitt laid down a seductive groove on "What Is Success," and Boz Scaggs ushered "Hercules" toward the slick Southern California coast. Rolling with the Punches does a better job in illustrating the full range of Toussaint's gifts and influence, touching upon classic '60s New Orleans sides (Dorsey's "Holy Cow" Benny Spellman's "Fortune Teller"), how his music got funkier as the '70s began (Ernie K-Doe's "Here Come the Girls" Dorsey's "Occapella," which Toussaint produced Don Covay's "Everything I Do Gonh Be Funky the Pointer Sisters' "Yes We Can"), and, especially, how many rockers and blue-eyed soul singers relied upon his songs. As good as this was, it only scratched the surface (after all, his greatest singer, Lee Dorsey, was nowhere to be found). Ten years prior, EMI released Finger Poppin' and Stompin' Feet: 20 Classic Allen Toussaint Productions for Minit Records 1960-1962, a terrific primer that focused on Toussaint's hitmaking prime as a producer, pianist, and writer for Irma Thomas, Ernie K-Doe, Jessie Hill, Benny Spellman, Aaron Neville, and the Showmen. They're not the first label to showcase Toussaint's writing. Songbook (Deluxe Edition) Allen Toussaint R&B/SOUL 2013 The devastation that Hurricane Katrina unleashed on New Orleans led Allen Toussaint to relocate to New York City, where he performs regularly at Joe’s Pub. I'll Be Rolling (With the Punches) - Millie JacksonĪllen Toussaint is unquestionably one of the great American songwriters of the 20th century, so it is no surprise Ace Records dedicated a volume of their ongoing Songbook series to the New Orleans R&B titan. What Do You Want the Girl to Do - Lowell George Brickyard Blues (Play Somethin' Sweet) - Maria Muldaur Whoever's Thrilling You (Is Killing Me) - Z.Z. Sneakin' Sally Thru' The Alley - Robert Palmer Everything I Do Gonh Be Funky (From Now On) - Don Covay Discover more music, concerts, videos, and pictures with the largest catalogue online at Last.fm. Toussaint fans, however, would be wise to begin with this track. Listen free to Allen Toussaint Songbook (Introduction, Its Raining and more). In addition to penning this jam, Toussaint contributed piano, backing vocals and arrangements to the album, which also features the Meters behind Dr. John album that inspired the name of an entire festival decades later. This lesser-known track appears on Desitively Bonnaroo, a Toussaint-produced Dr. It also functions as a stepping stone in his progression from songwriter to piano player to producer Toussaint’s original version yields a lighter touch on his album, Everything I Do Gonh Be Funky. ![]() In Toussaint’s later years, however, it became a regular component of his live sets.Īmong Toussaint’s best-loved artist collaborations was his long-running professional relationship with Irma Thomas, who recorded this song, now a standard in the New Orleans songbook. Originally recorded by Benny Spellman when Toussaint was the house producer for Minit Records, “Fortune Teller” was originally credited to the invented songwriter Naomi Neville and made famous by the Rolling Stones and the Who. 50 Years Later, They Haven't Come Homeĭespite his famously colorful suit-sandal-sock combos and flashy cars, Toussaint remained humble throughout his career, writing songs under a pseudonym and making zero fuss when others took credit - or chart-topping spots - for his work. ![]()
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