New Orleans Music: R&B, Roots Rock and Soul, Gospel and Funk

Jazz may have been born here, but by the 1950s the music of choice in New Orleans was rhythm & blues, and local talent topped the charts with songs like “Lawdy Miss Clawdy”, “The Fat Man”, and “Working in the Coalmine”. We’ll talk to many key figures in New Orleans R&B, from hitmakers like Lloyd Price, Dr. John, and Aaron Neville and producers Allen Toussaint and Harold Battiste, to bandleader Dave Bartholomew and musicians like drummer Earl Palmer. Plus music recorded in New Orleans’ legendary J&M Studios by Little Richard, Fats Domino and Professor Longhair, and funk, jazz, pop and soul along the way.

HOUR ONE

Open Bed: It Ain't My Fault Smokey Johnson
It Ain't My Fault, Night Train

Good Rockin' Tonight Roy Brown
Mean Old World: The Blues From 1940 To 1994, MCA

The Fat Man Fats Domino
Out Of New Orleans, Bear Family

CLIP:

Stagger Lee Lloyd Price
Greatest Hits, Curb

Lawdy Miss Clawdy Elvis Presley
The King Of Rock 'N' Roll: The Complete 50's Masters, RCA

Instrumental: Alberta Lloyd Glenn
Honky Tonk Train, Night Train

CLIP: Earl Palmer on Little Richard

Lucille Little Richard
The Specialty Story, Specialty

I Didn't Want to Do it The Spiders
Crescent City Soul: The Sound of New Orleans 1947-1974, EMI

SEGMENT: Sal Doucette, Ernest McLean, Cosimo Matassa and Dave Bartholomew

I Hear You Knockin Smiley Lewis
Shame, Shame, Shame, Bear Family

Trick Bag Earl King
Come On: The Complete Imperial Recordings, Okra-Tone

Instrumental: Big Wheel Clifton Chenier
Chess New Orleans, Chess

CLIP: Allen Toussaint

CLIP: Cosimo Matassa on Toussaint

CLIP:

Working in the Coal Mine Lee Dorsey
Wheelin' and' Dealin': The Definitive Collection, Arista

A Certain Girl Ernie K-Doe
Crescent City Soul: The Sound Of New Orleans 1947-1974, EMI

CLIP: Irma Thomas

It's Raining Irma Thomas
Sweet Soul Queen Of New Orleans: The Irma Thomas Collection, Razor & Tie

I Know Barbara George
Gumbo Stew, Ace

CLIP: Harold Battiste on AFO

Olde Wine AFO Executives
Gumbo Stew, Ace

CLIP: Aaron Neville on the Neville Brothers

Voodoo Neville Brothers
Yellow Moon, A&M

HOUR TWO

Open Bed: When The Saints Go Marching In Tuts Washington
New Orleans Piano Professor, Rounder

Country Boy Down in New Orleans Snooks Eaglin
Country Boy Down in New Orleans, Arhoolie

Kingfish Randy Newman
Good Old Boys, Reprise

Creole Blues Albert Nicholas, Danny Barker, et al
Jazz a la Creole, GHB

Corrine Died on the Battlefield Danny Barker
Jazz a la Creole, GHB

Meet De Boys On The Battlefront Wild Tchoupitoulas
The Wild Tchoupitoulas, Mango

CLIP:

Iko, Iko Dixie Cups
Mardi Gras In New Orleans, Volume 2, Mardi Gras

Hiko Hiko Donald Harrison
Indian Blue, Candid

Instrumental: Cissy Strut The Meters
Funkify Your Life, Rhino

I Been Hoodooed Dr. John
In The Right Place, ATCO

CLIP: Dr. John on piano

Mamie's Blues Jelly Roll Morton
Jelly Roll Morton, Vol. III: New York, Washington And The Rediscovery, Smithsonian

Junco Partner James Booker
Junco Partner, Hannibal/Rykodisc

Instrumental: Big Chief Forgotten Souls Brass Band
Don't Forget 'Em, N.O. Music Online

CLIP: Allen Toussaint on piano professors

CLIP: Quint Davis on Professor Longhair

SEGMENT: Sal Doucette, Harold Battiste on New Orleans R&B

I'm Walkin Rebirth Brass Band
Feel Like Funkin' It Up, Rounder

Walking To New Orleans Fats Domino
Out of New Orleans, Bear Family

End Bed: Walkin Home Donald Harrison with Dr. John
Indian Blue, Candid

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