Track Listing

1. Iko Iko
2. Blow Wind Blow
3. Big Chief
4. Somebody Changed the Lock
5. Mess Around
6. Let the Good Times Roll
7. Junko Partner
8. Stack-a-Lee
9. Tipitina
10. Those Lonely Lonely Nights
11. Huey Smith Medley: High Blood Pressure/Don't You Just Know It/Well I'
12. Little Liza Jane

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #50447 in Music
• Released on: 1990-06-28
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

Album Description
Japanese only SHM-CD (Super High Material CD - playable on all CD players) pressing. Warner.

Amazon.com essential recording
After the studio bloat of 1971's The Sun, Moon & Herbs, Gumbo is a tightly focused return to Rebennack's musical roots. His band is full of Louisiana legends (Harold Battiste, Lee Allen) plus lesser known but equally important 'Nawlins heroes: Ronnie Barron, Alvin Robinson, and a wonderful trombonist known simply as Streamline. Together, they rage through a dozen New Orleans classics, not only the work of Professor Longhair and Huey Smith, but also Earl King and Ray Charles, who lived in the Crescent City while leading the house band at the Dew Drop Inn. Many of these songs are closely associated with the '50s, but Gumbo never sounds forced or nostalgic; it's great work from start to finish. --Keith Moerer

Amazon.com
After earning a name for himself as a high priest of psychedelic voodoo, the man baptized Mac Rebennack returned to his New Orleans roots with this 1972 concoction. Gathering tunes and players he'd encountered in his many years as a Crescent City session pro, Dr. John assembled a loving tribute to the city and the sounds he loved. Tunes such as "Iko Iko," Big Chief," and "Junko Partner" have become roots-music standards over the last quarter century in significant part due to this venerable valentine to the long-lost likes of Sugar Boy & the Cane Cutters, the Spiders, Paul Gayten, and Huey Smith. --Steve Stolder

Customer Reviews

Simply the best.
I know Dr. Johns music note for note (I was born and raised in New Orleans). This is his best album ever. It has the prfect blend of cajun and blues songs like Iko Iko and other favorites. So if you ever have acrawfish boil or if your makin' Jumbalaya, you know just what to listen to...Dr. John's GUMBO.

The Soul Of New Orleans
It is impossible to listen to this CD and not want to grab the next flight to New Orleans. Dr. John hit all the right notes when he put this collection of New Orleans standards together back in the 70's. It sounds as good today as it did then because this is timeless music. Just fantastic R & B with tasty arrangements and the Dr's rockin' piano and growling voice supplying the flavor. This is truly a classic and one I've listened to again and again for years without tiring of it. Not many records that I can say that about.

A signature LP from one of New Orleans greatest
An excellent sounding reissue of Dr. John's 1972 albumful of New Orleans R 'n' B. Mostly featuring his interpretations of classics and hit singles ("Iko Iko" "Mess Around" "Junko Partner" "Stack-A-Lee" "Tipitina", and a medley of Huey 'Piano' Smith tracks), with one original ("Somebody Changed the Clock"), and a great slow blues track called "Let the Good Times Roll" (but not the same song as was a hit single for Shirley and Lee... even though Shirley does, coincidentally, sing backing vocals on the LP).

Great piano playing from Dr. John, along with his growly vocals. Excellent support from a bunch of his New Orleans friends who all found themselves in Los Angeles (where this was recorded) in late '71. Great percussion and horns. The mix of r 'n' b, jazz, blues and traditional New Orleans styles is irresistible.