Mardi Gras Listening: Dr. John, BEST OF THE NIGHT TRIPPER
If Mardi Gras isn’t officially the biggest ongoing party in America, then it’s got to be somewhere in the upper reaches of any such list: it’s such an amazing affair that people plan their vacations around it, making sure that they’re down in New Orleans for Fat Tuesday…and, yes, today is that Tuesday.
While there’s obviously no end to the wonderful music you could select as your soundtrack for Mardi Gras, we’ve got a suggestion that we don’t expect many people to argue with: Dr. John, BEST OF THE NIGHT TRIPPER.
A slightly pared-down version of the two-disc set that was released overseas a few years back, this 27-track digital compilation is nonetheless a great summation of the work that Mac Rebennack – yes, he’s the gentleman better known as Dr. John – has been doing throughout his career, stretching from his 1968 debut GRIS-GRIS all the way through 1992’s GOIN’ BACK TO NEW ORLEANS.
Here’s the full track listing, so you can see what you’re getting into, but trust us when we tell you that this is the perfect soundtrack for eating po’boy, a cup of jambalaya, and your beverage of choice. It’ll help get you in the Mardi Gras mood, but make no mistake, it’s a party all by itself.
1. Mama Roux (Remastered)
2. Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya (Remastered)
3. I Walk on Guilded Splinters (Remastered)
4. Wash, Mama Wash (Remastered)
5. Zu Zu Mamou
6. Chippy, Chippy
7. Where Ya at Mule (Remastered)
8. Iko Iko (Remastered)
9. Big Chief
10. Tipitina (Remastered)
11. Junko Partner (Remastered)
12. Stack-A-Lee
13. Little Liza Jane
14. Right Place Wrong Time
15. Qualified (Remastered)
16. Let the Good Times Roll (Remastered)
17. Such a Night (Remastered)
18. Cold Cold Cold (Remastered)
19. Quitters Never Win (Remastered)
20. What Comes Around (Goes Around) [Remastered]
21. Mos' Scocious (Remastered)
22. (Everybody Wanna Get Rich) Rite Away
23. Let's Make a Better (Remastered)
24. Makin' Whoopee! (Remastered)
25. Accentuate the Positive (Remastered)
26. How Come My Dog Don't Bark (When You Come Around)
27. Goin' Back to New Orleans (Remastered)
