Dr. John, The Night Tripper - The Sun, Moon & Herbs

Artist:  Dr. John, The Night Tripper
Album:  The Sun, Moon & Herbs
Genre:   Rhythm & Blues,Bayou Funk,Psychedelic
Labe:  Atlantic
Recording Date: 1971

Format: CD
Quality:  FLAC
Size: 213.9 MB

Originally intended as a triple album, The Sun, Moon & Herbs was chopped up, whittled down and re-assembled into this single-disc release, and while Dr. John never liked this version much, perhaps the single disc is testament to the "less is more" theory. The seven cuts are all quite lengthy and the spells Dr. John and his consorts weave are dark and swampy. "Black John the Conqueror" comes from old Cajun folklore which the good Dr. has modernized and given a beat. The swampy "Craney Crow" is the younger sibling of his earlier "Walk On Guilded Splinters" and has a similar effect on the listener. "Pots on Fiyo (Fils Gumbo)" combines Latin American rhythms with lots of Cajun chants and spells. The vocals are nearly incomprehensible and actually serve as another instrument in the mix. "Zu Zu Mamou" is so thick that you can almost cut the music with a knife. Here, the atmosphere takes on a whole other meaning altogether. The Sun, Moon & Herbs is best listened to on a hot, muggy night with the sound of thunder rumbling off in the distance like jungle drums. Dr. John was definitely onto something here, but just what is left up to the listener.  AMG

-Dr. John — vocals, piano, organ, guitar, vibes & percussion
-Eric Clapton — guitar
-Ronnie Barron — keyboards
-Graham Bond — alto saxophone
-Tommy Ferrone — rhythm guitar
-Steve York — bass
-Jesse Boyce — bass
-Carl Radle — bass
-Walter Davis Jr. — piano
-Jim Gordon — percussion, conga
-John Boudreaux — drums
-Vic Brox — pocket trumpet & organ
-Ray Draper — tuba, percussion & background vocals
-Wayne Jackson — trumpet, horn
-Chris Mercer — saxophone
-Jerry Jumonville — saxophone
-James Mitchell — baritone saxophone
-Ed Logan — tenor saxophone
-Andrew Love — tenor saxophone
-Bobby Keys — tenor saxophone
-Jim Price — trumpet
-Jack Hale — trombone
-Kenneth Terroade — flute
-Calvin "Fuzzy" Samuels — percussion
-Freeman Brown — percussion
-Fred Staehle — trap drums
-Mick Jagger, Shirley Goodman, Tammi Lynn, P. P. Arnold, Bobby Whitlock — background vocals

01. "Black John the Conqueror" (6:20)
02. "Where Ya at Mule" (4:56)
03. "Craney Crow" (6:40)
04. "Familiar Reality-Opening" (Rebennack, Jesse Hill) (5:25)
05. "Pots on Fiyo (Filé Gumbo) / Who I Got to Fall on (If the Pot Get Heavy)" (5:48)
06. "Zu Zu Mamou" (7:57)
07. "Familiar Reality-Reprise" (1:53)

FLAC