Dr. John - In the Right Place

Dr. John: In the Right Place

Album #208 - February 1973

Episode date - January 12, 2022

The Top 500 of The Top 40
    0:00
    0:00

    The characterization of Mac Rebennack as Dr. John was so fluid that he moved freely within the scope of New Orleans music. Essentially, he could do anything that he wanted to do. For example, he moved from the psychedelic cultural voodoo spectacle of his debut album “Gris-Gris” to “In the Right Place” is a matter of five years.

    For his first few albums, he remained the same character, a guise that bothered nobody except perhaps the honchos at Atlantic Records, who were surely wondering why they signed somebody who couldn’t even sell a record to his own friends. None of his first three releases touched the album charts, but famous cohorts like Eric Clapton and Mick Jagger appeared as guests on his fourth release (“The Sun, Moon & Herbs”), helping to push that album to #184.

    “Dr. John’s Gumbo” followed, and it dropped all the shaman shenanigans, allowing Dr. John the opportunity to become a direct spokesman for New Orleans popular culture by playing songs associated with the city but written by others. That album was a surprising success on every level, but I still don’t think anyone was prepared to see Dr. John become a pop star.

    That’s just what happened when he released the follow-up “In the Right Place.” The title track became an instant classic top 40 hit (as was the album). With assistance from the Meters as his backing band, and Allen Toussaint joining on piano and production, what could go wrong? Rebennack wrote almost everything here, and the falls in line as a perfect pairing with its predecessor. The die was cast, and in a city with no shortage of legendary figures, Dr. John is now permanently enshrined as the most recognizable character of New Orleans.

    Feature tracks:

    Right Place, Wrong Time

    Same Old Same Old

    Just the Same

    Qualified

    Travelling Mood

    Peace Brother Peace

    Life

    Such a Night

    Shoo Fly Marches On

    I've Been Hoodood

    Cold Cold Cold

    February 1973 - Billboard Charted #24

    Related Shows

    Aerosmith - Toys in the Attic

    Aerosmith: Toys in the Attic

    Album #246 - April 1975

      0:00
      0:00
      Steely Dan Katy Lied

      Steely Dan: Katy Lied

      Album #245 - March 1975

        0:00
        0:00
        Young Americans - David Bowie

        David Bowie: Young Americans

        Album #244 - March 1975

          0:00
          0:00
          Earth, Wind & Fire: That's the Way of the World

          Earth, Wind & Fire: That's the Way of the World

          Album #243 - March 1975

            0:00
            0:00
            Led Zeppelin, Physical Graffiti,  In The Light, Bron-Yr-Aur, Down by the Seaside, Ten Years Gone, Night Flight, The Wanton Song, Boogie With Stu, Black Country Woman, Sick Again

            Led Zeppelin: Physical Graffiti - Part 2

            Album #242 - February 1975

              0:00
              0:00
              Led Zeppelin: Physical Graffiti

              Led Zeppelin: Physical Graffiti - Part 1

              Album #242 - February 1975

                0:00
                0:00
                Tower Of Power: Urban Renewal

                Tower Of Power: Urban Renewal

                Album #241 - January1975

                  0:00
                  0:00
                  Bob Dylan - Blood On The Tracks

                  Bob Dylan: Blood On The Tracks - Part 2

                  Album #240 - January 1975

                    0:00
                    0:00
                    Bob Dylan Blood On The Tracks

                    Bob Dylan: Blood On The Tracks - Part 1

                    Album #240 - January 1975

                      0:00
                      0:00
                      Roxy Music: Country Life

                      Roxy Music: Country Life

                      Album #239 - November 1974

                        0:00
                        0:00
                        Kraftwerk: Autobahn

                        Kraftwerk: Autobahn

                        Album #238 - November 1974

                          0:00
                          0:00
                          Randy Newman - Good Old Boys

                          Randy Newman: Good Old Boys

                          Album #237 - September 1974

                            0:00
                            0:00