Track Listing

1. Dorothy
2. Mac's Boogie
3. Memories Of Professor Longhair
4. The Nearness Of You
5. Delicado
6. Silent Night (bonus track)
7. Dance A La Negres (bonus track)
8. Wade In The Water (bonus track)
9. Honey Dripper
10. Big Mac
11. New Island Midnight
12. Saints
13. Pinetop
14. Careless Love (Previously unreleased bonus track)
15. Deep Blues (Previously unreleased bonus track)
16. Ti-Na-Na (Previously unreleased bonus track)
17. Dorothy (take 2) (Previously unreleased bonus track)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #162909 in Music
• Released on: 2002-10-08
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered

Amazon.com
By the early '80s, Dr. John was mostly in demand as a session player and ad jingle writer, but he cut a pair of back-to-back solo piano albums that proved he was still capable of greatness. The first, Dr. John Plays Mac Rebennack, ranges widely, from joyous tributes ("Memories of Professor Longhair," "Pinetop") and slow blues ("New Island Blues," "Saints") to graceful standards such as "Dance à la Negres" and "Wade in the Water." With the exception of a gentle version of "The Nearness of You" and a peppy take on "Silent Night," this album is all instrumental--a joy if you're a fan of solo piano, though perhaps a bit wearing if you're not. (The 2002 reissue adds four previously unreleased bonus tracks.) --Keith Moerer

Customer Reviews

A classic. An essential for anyone who loves the instrument
Where does one begin?

This album is an education, a history lesson and an eye opening challenge to anyone who loves and plays jazz, rock/pop or even classical piano.

This album is a stunning rarity: a dignified instrumental presentation of a piano
style rarely heard in a solo setting-by the master himself.

This is clearly a labor of love for the Doc. This is from his gut.

On this amazing disk of wonderful compositions, Dr. John reveals the inner workings of his New Orleans, funky, bluesy piano style and leaves you scratching your head, dying for more, and (if you play the piano seriously) will send you running to the piano for the next year to figure it all out - leaving you more in awe of his accomplishment.

Every once in a while an album comes along that inspires a musician to grow and challenges their preconceptions about the possibilities of their instrument, their musical vocabulary and technique.....for me, this was one of em.

10 stars if I could give them

Solo piano.... New Orleans style!
If you enjoy New Orleans piano (Professor Long Hair, James Booker and Allen Toussant) then this CD is a must have! The good Doc goes smoothly through a nice group of songs, and since he is playing solo on this CD, you can really hear his talent. He only sings twice, so the piano is center stage on this one. All of the New Orleans greats are blended together in one guy. The CD recording and piano are top quality.

Nothing but
As Mac Rebennack he built a solid reputation as an inspired session player, able to inject a little New Orleans life into any song. As Dr. John, the Night Tripper he earned a small, devoted following and one hit record, "Right Place, Wrong Time." In 1981, he dropped the voodoo trappings of his stage act, sat down at the piano and played this lovely set of original tunes and New Orleans standards. The piano work here is less ornate that of Rebennack's predecessors, Professor Longhair and Tuts Washington, but every note sounds heartfelt. For those who think of Dr. John as a funky New Orleans singer, this album will demonstrate his solid musicianship and his abilities as a tunesmith. Out of print for several years, this remastered recording adds a few unreleased tunes and makes one of the great moments in Dr. John's brilliant career available once again.