Search - Various Artists :: Mardi Gras in New Orleans 1

Classics, But Not Enough Of 'Em

Sax Lover | 02/21/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Here are some Mardi Gras classics, but not enough of them; it's way too short. After moving away from my home town New Orleans, I bought this on cassette at the N.O. airport after a visit years ago - just to cure some homesick blues. The lack of liner notes & credits was frustrating, given the number of times these same songs have been covered by many artists, but I loved it from the start.



How can you go wrong with Professor Longhair, the Wild Magnolias, Earl King, Al Johnson's "Carnival Time," plus the simple but quintessential march-behind-the-parade "Second Line" parts 1 & 2 from Stop Incorporated?



I've since filled the gaps with other Carnival classics & vintage recordings from the 50's-70's era of New Orleans's local studios' golden years in early rock'n'roll & soul music, but this collection still has the essence of the Mardi Gras Indian tradition & is a good starting point for getting in the Carnival mood.



Other current artists keep the same spirit alive, but these & other early classics will be heard every year at Carnival time, I guar-an-tee!"