Vinegar Joe
Artist: Vinegar Joe
Dr. John's Gumbo/In the Right Place
Artist: Dr. John

Mobile Fidelity reissued two of Dr. John's best albums, 1972's Gumbo and 1973's In the Right Place, on one gold disc in 1994. These records arguably represent his artistic peak, and this is a good way to acquire them, but fans should know that this disc costs more than buying the two records separately. For audiophiles, this won't be a problem,... Read More

Sound Off: The Jamie Masters
Artist: Titus Turner

Titus Turner's complete masters for the Jamie label (plus a few previously unreleased cuts) are collected on this single import CD. Compared to his bluesy R&B recordings for the OKeh label in the '50s, Turner's Jamie recordings are quite different, in more of a teen-oriented Bill Haley-rock'n'roll vein, including several novelties and twist... Read More

Blues, Barrelhouse & Boogie Woogie: 1946-1955
Artist: Amos Milburn

Here's a very reasonable compromise between the pricey Mosaic box and EMI's incomplete single-disc treatment of Milburn's Aladdin legacy: a three-disc, 66-song package that's heavy on boogies and blues and slightly deficient in the ballad department (to that end, his smash "Bewildered" was left off). Everything that is aboard is top-drawer,... Read More

Complete Aladdin Recordings
Artist: Floyd Dixon

It's a matter of opinion as to whether Dixon's Aladdin output was his peak; many would give his Specialty sides (available on the Marshall Texas Is My Home compilation) the nod. Still, his late-'40s and early-'50s work for the label included some of his most popular and best tracks, such as "Wine, Wine, Wine," "Call Operator 210," "Tired, Broke... Read More

The Motown Sessions, 1962-1964
Artist: Amos Milburn

Signed to Motown years after his peak as an R&B star, Milburn's association with the label turned out to be something of a non-event, producing only an obscure album and flop single. A commercial non-event, that is; Milburn's skills were still intact, resulting in some fine if somewhat uncharacteristic performances. This compilation reissues... Read More

The Complete Aladdin Recordings of Amos Milburn
Artist: Amos Milburn

Seven discs tracing the entire 1946-1957 Aladdin Records legacy of jump blues pioneer Amos Milburn, whose rippling boogie-based piano talent and predilection of songs about booze made him a postwar R&B superstar. One hundred forty-five tracks in all (including plenty of unissued goodies) tab this as the ultimate collection for Milburn fans. He... Read More

The Very Best of Dr. John
Artist: Dr. John

Dr. John has recorded many great albums, but it's difficult to argue with such a perfect distillation of his catchy, grooving, slapdash pop work as this Rhino set. Coming out of the R&B studio subculture of New Orleans, the former Mac Rebennack possessed songwriting smarts and reams of recording expertise, each of which had reached their peak by... Read More

Mos' Scocious: Anthology
Artist: Dr. John

Over his 35 years of recording, Mac "Dr. John" Rebennack has worn many hats, from '50s greasy rock & roller to psychedelic '70s weirdo to keeper of the New Orleans music flame. All of these modes, plus more, are excellently served up on this two-disc anthology. From the early New Orleans sides featuring Rebennack's blistering guitar work ("Storm... Read More

Resurrection of the Bayou Maharajah
Artist: James Booker

For a man of such talent and influence, New Orleans piano legend James Booker is amazingly underrecorded. This disc, along with its partner (Spiders on the Keys) offer up some measure of what the folks of the Big Easy might have heard if they caught James Booker on one of his "on" nights (he was a known drug user and inconsistent in his... Read More

Dr. John's Gumbo
Artist: Dr. John

Dr. John's Gumbo bridged the gap between post-hippie rock and early rock & roll, blues, and R&B, offering a selection of classic New Orleans R&B, including "Tipitina" and "Junko Partner," updated with a gritty, funky beat. There aren't as many psychedelic flourishes as there were on his first two albums, but the ones that are present enhance his... Read More

Dr. John Plays Mac Rebennack
Artist: Dr. John

Dr. John was always respected as a consummate pianist, but he didn't make a solo, unaccompanied piano record until 1981's Dr. John Plays Mac Rebennack. The wait was well worth it. His music had always been impressive, but this is the first time that his playing had been put on full display, and it reveals that there's even more depth and... Read More

From a Whisper to a Scream
Artist: Esther Phillips

Her version of "Home Is Where the Hatred Is" became an anthem, plus proved tragically prophetic. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide Read More

Anutha Zone
Artist: Dr. John
Community Score: 6.00

Dr. John has spent so much time turning out perfectly enjoyable but interchangeable records that it may be easy to forget the spooky voodoo vibes of his earliest, arguably best, records. He may have forgotten it himself, too, but there was a whole generation of British musicians, from Modfather Paul Weller to Spaceman Jason Pierce to the... Read More