Our team of experts has concluded that Ernie K Doe's "Mother-In-Law" is the greatest song ever recorded. Written by Allen Toussaint and featuring Benny Spellman's perfect back-up singing, it sounds fresh and inspiring after repeated listenings. Thanks for the magic.
Friday, May 3, 2013
Ichiban's #1 Song Of All Time
Friday, August 24, 2012
Willie West Fairchild
Millard Leon West, better known as Willie West, was born in a speck of a town called Raceland that sits an hour drive southwest of New Orleans. West later moved to New Orleans where he cut his teeth recording 45s for fledgling labels such as Frisco and a chance encounter with Allen Toussaint landed him a contract with his Deesu imprint.
As the Meters saw their popularity soaring as the sixties turned to the seventies,Toussaint and his partner Marshall Sehorn called West back into the studio. The result is the subdued funky "Fairchild" featuring Toussaint experimenting with an acoustic guitar, something regularly heard in this same period with his Lee Dorsey and Eldridge Holmes arrangements.
The song almost certainly features most, if not all of the Meters as they were the Toussaint/Sehorn house band at the time.
In recent years, Willie West has found his way back into the recording studio with Finland's Timmion Records with quite notable results such as "The Devil Gives Me Everything Except What I Need." He's also returned to the stage with last years performance at Dig Deeper and a spot at New Orlean's Ponderosa Stomp.
Willie West Fairchild MP3
Monday, August 13, 2012
Star Revue!
There are way too many great Allen Toussaint songs to really pick a favorite, but if I were forced to narrow it down to one, Warren Lee's - Star Revue might be it. This is also one of the greatest name-check songs of all time!
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Allen Toussaint FAQ
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| photo by Jacob Blickenstaff |
Via NYNO Records
Share with us your favorite Jazz Fest memory.
"One year, I don’t remember when, I wrote "It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye" to be performed at just that one show. I remembered how it felt the year before, so I wrote it. At the end of our set, we sang the song, and I remember that it was even more dear to me than when I had written it. When I sang it, it took on all of the feeling beyond just my ability to write a song - it took on the feeling of the moment of living it."
What are your five favorite records in your personal collection?
Vivaldi’s "Four Seasons"
Andrea Bocelli's "The Aria Opera Album"
Etta James' "At Last"
Professor Longhair's "Tipitina" (the original)
Michael McDonald's "What a Fool Believes"
What is the title of your favorite song that you wrote?
"In Your Love"
What is your favorite song written by someone else?
"Alone Again Naturally" by Gilbert O’Sullivan
Do you have any advice to musicians and songwriters?
Yes. Stick to your dream. Be about refining your art and skill daily.
Where is the best place to eat in New Orleans?
The Rib Room, The Grill Room and Commander’s Palace
Where is the best place to catch live music in New Orleans?
Snug Harbor
When is the best time to visit New Orleans?
Jazz Festival
When is your birthday?
January 14
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Get Out Of My Life Woman
Allen Toussaint says he loves every cover version of his "Get Out Of My Life Woman". There are 12 and counting. Presenting Lee Dorsey:
Allen Toussaint Month
August is Allen Toussaint Month on Ichiban. Photo via KSUT.
Aaron Neville - Let's Live (produced by Allen Toussaint)
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