Some artists are just so unique they can't be compared to anyone. Dr. John is one of them. The living breathing soul of New Orleans and keeper of its traditions is, unbelievably, white. Or at least his skin is. If I hadn't seen him, I'd swear he's as black as Louis Armstrong. I remember going to his concert at the Pallas theater more than 20 years ago and expecting to hear the traditional jazz & blues of Going Back To New Orleans, only to find him in a much funkier mood, playing stuff from his then forthcoming album Television. The disc opens with the funky number of the same name, similar to the Doctor's classic "Right Place Wrong Time". Most of the album continues in the same vein with subtle variations: "Limbo" sees him switching from piano to organ and "Hold It" sports a faster, almost disco beat. "Shut D Fonk Up" is a Parliament/Funkadelic-style piece with a guest rap by RHCP's Anthony Kiedis. Sly Stone's "Thank You..." sticks close to the original. Berry Gordy's "Money" (covered by many rock'n'rollers, including The Beatles and Stones) is funky-fied like the rest of them. Then there are a few songs in different styles: "Witchy Red" strays into Voodoo Blues territory, exactly what the Doctor does best. "Shadows" is more rhythmical but retains the voodoo edge. The last two songs also play to his strengths, "Lie Too Much" being a piano ballad and "Same Day Service" a humorous bouncy jazz number. Great band (especially the sax and guitar players) and a consistently good album but not among his best. If you want to listen to Dr. John playing funk, "In The Right Place" is your album. If you want to hear him at his best, try "Gris Gris" or "Going Back To New Orleans". I'll present them here in the future, along with half a dozen others...
**** for Television, Witchy Red, Shadows, Money (That's What I Want),Same Day Service
*** for Lissen, Shut D Fonk Up, Thank You (Falletin Me Be Mice Elf Again, U Lie 2 Much
** for Limbo, Spaceship Relationship, Hold It
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