My Favorite Allen Toussaint Covers

ON YOUR WAY DOWN
Little Feat

"The same dudes you misuse on your way up
You might meet up
On your way down"

I bought "Dixie Chicken" because of incredible reviews. And when I broke the shrinkwrap and dropped it on the turntable...I didn't understand it, not at all. But I kept playing it, BECAUSE I PAID FOR IT! That's what's different from today, music was scarce, we didn't have much of it, and when we made an investment, we wrung it for everything it was worth. And I became enraptured by the song "Juliette" and then this, an Allen Toussaint number I did not know previously.

Every other song on "Dixie Chicken" is written by the band (well, Fred Tackett eventually was in the band), this is the only cover, but it sounded like one of their own, I didn't find out it was a cover until I read the credits. And at that point, back in '73, I knew Allen Toussaint's name but could not associate it with any specific work, there was no internet for instant research. But from that point on Toussaint's name was parked in my brain, I kept a look out for it, since I loved "On Your Way Down" so much. Because of the sound, because of the above lyric.

Because it's true. Very few ascend to the pinnacle and stay there. Even the biggest movie star fades. A legendary artist can't sell a record. The people who used to greet you with open arms no longer do. This is a life lesson I learned in music that I keep repeating to myself. That's the essence of great music, something that worms itself into your brain and illuminates truth at the same time. "On Your Way Down" does this. Listen. You might not get it on the first play through, but let it play in the background, then the song will inhabit your brain...forever!

SNEAKIN' SALLY THROUGH THE ALLEY
Robert Palmer

From the unheralded funky solo debut, which few knew, long before Robert danced on MTV and became simply irresistible. I took a chance on it, I bought it as a promo, for $1.99 I'd take a risk.

Really, you have to play the first three tracks in a row, they segue into each other.

The opener is Lowell George's "Sailing Shoes" from Little Feat's album before "Dixie Chicken."

Then comes "Hey Julia."

And then the piece-de-resistance, "Sneakin' Sally Through The Alley."

I'd like to tell you exactly what makes "Sneakin' Sally Through The Alley" so magical. But like all great music it's indescribable, you just know it when you hear it. You can credit Lowell George's tasteful slide, Leo Nocentelli's guitar, George Porter, Jr.'s bass, Art Neville's keyboards and then there's Robert's vocal, all put together in a brew that oozes New Orleans. But the underpinning is the song, with its great change from the verse to the chorus.

"Trying to talk double-talk, get myself in trouble talk"

I know what you mean!

WHAT IS SUCCESS
Bonnie Raitt

Bonnie Raitt's 1974 album "Streetlights" was a disappointment after what had come before, it was slick where the first two had been rough, and Jerry Ragovoy's production eviscerated too much of Bonnie's sassiness.

But not on "What Is Success."

"When should one change his mind
And jump the fence
For the dollar sign"

If you haven't asked yourself this question you've never entered the workplace, or maybe you're an automaton brainwashed by your parents to play it safe, in the process sacrificing your life.

"What is success
Is it doin' your own thing
Or to join the rest"

It's easier to be a member of the herd. You're fearful if you strike out on your own...you'll be alone, never mind broke.

"Living in hope
That someday you'll be in with the winners"

You've got to take a risk to win, but not everybody does, never mind take a risk, but win. Chances are you won't. But what will you do when you fail? Put on a record and resonate. That's what artists provide, sustenance, consolation, truth when we can't get any. That was the essence of Allen Toussaint.

WHAT DO YOU WANT THE BOY TO DO?
Allen Toussaint

Produced by the Elektra legend Paul Rothchild, "Home Plate" was rough where its predecessor was smooth, Bonnie was back, albeit without a hit, that had to wait for the subsequent Rothchild album, "Sweet Forgiveness," with Bonnie's cover of "Runaway." But there's so much goodness on "Home Plate," from J.D. Souther's "Run Like A Thief" to Fred Tackett's "Fool Yourself" (from the aforementioned "Dixie Chicken") to Eric Kaz's masterpiece "I'm Blowin' Away" to Bill Payne and Fran Tate's great Pleasin' Each Other" to my personal favorite, John and Johanna Hall's "Good Enough."

But the album opens with a raucous, full-bore baking of this Allen Toussaint number.

"What do you want the boy to do
Don't you see you're breaking the child in two"

Talk about girl power! Bonnie personified it, and still does.

YES WE CAN CAN
The Pointer Sisters

From the Blue Thumb debut, with the cover of Lamb's "River Boulevard," this was long before "Automatic," long before the sisters were considered chart-ruling popsters. Although "Yes We Can Can" made it all the way to number 11, the Pointer Sisters were seen as hipsters, produced by David Rubinson, this was FM music, although ignored by too many outlets that were skewing white.

Talk about funky... The original 6:02 version that opens the album would burn up dance floors today, it's got more soul and makes your body move more than most EDM.

Can we make it?

I know that we can can. If we rally around the music, that evidences the truth we all know but have to hear.

MOTHER-IN-LAW
Herman's Hermits

Yes. That band. From the U.S. debut, which I played incessantly.

The Brits knew their American music, especially black delta tracks like this.

This sounds like a period piece, from the midsixties British Invasion, but if you were alive back then it will feel so good, check it out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ac-G8R6d4w

(It's not on Spotify.)

WORKING IN THE COAL MINE
Devo

From the "Heavy Metal" soundtrack, wherein the modern men from Ohio take a classic and make it their own whilst still maintaining the song's magic. With the synths and the robotic feel, I actually prefer this to the original!

PLAY SOMETHING SWEET (BRICKYARD BLUES)
Frankie Miller

From the sadly ignored British bluesman's second album, "High Life," Miller's originals were world class (I point you to Kim Carnes's cover of "When I'm Away From You" from her smash LP "Mistaken Identity"), but his voice and interpretive powers were so great he could take anything and make it sound like an original, like this, which was also covered by Sylvester and B.J. Thomas and James Montgomery and Maria Muldaur and Three Dog Night IN THE SAME YEAR!

"Play somethin' sweet, play somethin' mellow
Play somethin' I can sink my meet in like Jello"

You see, you know it, you just had to be reminded!

GET OUT OF MY LIFE, WOMAN
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band

Released just one or two years too early, "East-West" influenced a legion of players, just as many as the Velvet Underground or Patti Smith's debuts, but the band has not gotten the public recognition it's deserved.

Mark Naftalin shines on keys, but how can you do anything but marvel over a track that includes not only Butterfield, but Elvin Bishop and deity Mike Bloomfield.

WHAT DO YOU WANT THE GIRL TO DO
Boz Scaggs

Every baby boomer knows this iteration, that's how big "Silk Degrees" was, Boz Scaggs was Adele back in 1976.

WHAT DO YOU WANT THE GIRL TO DO
Lowell George

The opening cut from his one and only solo record, which Lowell was promoting on his ill-fated tour. Lowell's take is more subtle than Bonnie and Boz's, it amps up but it's that funky intro that closes you.

FORTUNE TELLER
The Rolling Stones

This is so fresh, so magical, such a window back to the midsixties, it makes you want to jet back there right now, when you had to leave the house to feel the music in you. This is so simple in a way so much of today's music is so complicated. Without comping and additional tracks there's an honesty and a raw humanity that you can only marvel at. And the irony is this is exactly what the Stones have sold on tour, then and now. You go to see them and they're rough, but then they lock on and your jaw falls open. Because it's about catching lightning in a bottle as opposed to perfecting an image and sound for a public who you thinks wants it but doesn't. People want truth, reflected back to them, never forget it.

JAVA
Al Hirt

There's not a baby boomer alive who doesn't know this. That's how it was back when we were all addicted to the transistor, back in '64, when we were waiting for the Beatles and their brethren on radio stations that spoke to us and only us.

What bugs me about Allen Toussaint's passing is that he was here, for decades, and few cared. You could go see him, he was accessible, but he had to die for so many to realize what they'd missed.

There are more out there. Writing legends, passe stars, be sure to see them at least once, because they're not going to be here forever.

Just like you.

Spotify playlist: http://spoti.fi/20L9Kxz


--
Visit the archive: http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/
--
http://www.twitter.com/lefsetz
--
If you would like to subscribe to the LefsetzLetter,
http://www.lefsetz.com/lists/?p=subscribe&id=1

If you do not want to receive any more LefsetzLetters, http://lefsetz.com/lists/?p=unsubscribe&uid=0eecea7b60b461717065cbde887c8e25

To change your email address http://lefsetz.com/lists/?p=preferences&uid=0eecea7b60b461717065cbde887c8e25




-- powered by phpList, www.phplist.com --