Tag: Allen Toussaint

Meters – Cissy Strut

I’ve been aware of this band for years, but I didn’t think I knew much about them. I started to listen, and yes, I’ve heard this and a couple of others. If you ever need to explain what “funk” feels like, you can skip any lyrics and just drop the needle on this song. These guys are New Orleans through and through. I’ve been posting songs with grooves lately. I don’t think you can beat this one.

It was recorded in 1969 for Josie Records. This song emerged from the Crescent City’s studio scene, which gave us Allen Toussaint, Lee Dorsey, and Dr. John. If you were a rock star in the seventies, you would be traveling to New Orleans to look up the Meters to get that New Orleans style. The Meters recorded with Paul McCartney, Robert Palmer, Dr John, LaBelle, Lee Dorsey, and Allen Toussaint, to name just a few.

In the mid-1960s, keyboardist Art Neville gathered three young musicians who shared his feel for rhythm: Guitarist Leo Nocentelli, bassist George Porter Jr., and drummer Joseph “Zigaboo” Modeliste. Together, they began backing artists like Lee Dorsey under the guidance of producer Allen Toussaint.

This song was their breakout song. They toured with The Rolling Stones in 1975, bringing funk to European stadiums. Their pure talent made them one of the most in-demand rhythm sections on the planet. This song has been used in many movies like Jackie Brown, Red, Legend, and many more. Their songs have been covered by The Grateful Dead, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Widespread Panic, to name a few.

This song peaked at #23 on the Billboard 100 and #4 on the Billboard R&B Charts in 1969. Turn it up and you can hear New Orleans itself pushing through your speakers.

…

Allen Toussaint – Play Something Sweet (Brickyard Blues)

I posted a Dr. John song last week, and I mentioned Allen Toussaint, who works as a producer and writes charts for horns. I had heard about him through Robbie Robertson’s book Testimony, which is a great book—just saying. CB and I started talking, and I had no idea Toussaint was a performer and songwriter—a very successful songwriter. I thought he mostly just did horn charts for musicians so his story and the songs he wrote totally surprised me.

Allen Toussaint started his career in the 1950s. He was born in New Orleans and grew into a huge musician, songwriter, producer, and performer. Toussaint was inspired by Professor Longhair and other New Orleans piano legends. By the time he was a teenager, Toussaint was already working as a keyboardist and songwriter. He has produced, written for, arranged, had his songs covered by, and performed with music giants The Judds, Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Elvis Costello, Patti LaBelle, Dr John, Aaron and Art Neville, Joe Cocker, The Meters, Glen Campbell, The Band, Little Feat, The Rolling Stones, Devo, Ernie K-Doe, Lee Dorsey, Irma Thomas, Etta James, Ramsey Lewis, Eric Gale and the countless others.

That list alone knocked me out. A few of his songs are Mother-in-Law by Ernie K-Doe (1961), Working in the Coal Mine by Lee Dorsey, Fortune Teller (The Rolling Stones), Southern Nights (later a hit for Glen Campbell), and many more. That is a diverse set of songs. Play Something Sweet (Brickyard Blues) I remember as a kid because I had Three Dog Night’s greatest hits and this one was a favorite of mine. Many people have covered this song including Levon Helm, Frankie Miller, B.J. Thomas, and Maria Muldaur. 

This song was released in 1974 and was covered by five artists in a year. It was the Three Dog Night version that was a hit. It peaked at #33 in the US and #25 in Canada for the band. It was released on their Hard Labor album. Toussaint was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998 and he received the National Medal of Arts in 2013 from Former President Barack Obama.

Play Something Sweet (Brickyard Blues)

Well, I tried to run my gameShe said “Man, that’s the same old thing I’ve heard before”And I’m too tired to go for your show (again and again)

And she started to explainShe said “Man, I ain’t saying what you’re playing just can’t make itBut I just can’t take it anymore”

Play something sweet, play something mellowPlay something I can sink my teeth in like JelloPlay something I can understandPlay me some Brickyard Blues

Play something sweet and make it funkyJust let me lay back and grin like a monkeyPlay something I can understandPlay me some Brickyard Blues

Well, I started to sweatShe said “Don’t get upset ’cause you just might break a stringAnd that won’t do a thing for your show

So I said to myselfI said “Self, do you see what is sailing through my soul?”And I gotta have some more, don’t ya know

Play something sweet, play something mellowPlay something I can sink my teeth in like JelloPlay something I can understandPlay me some Brickyard Blues

Play something sweet and make it funkyJust let me lay back and grin like a monkeyPlay something I can understandPlay me some Brickyard Blues

It’s enough to make it light in the darkIt’s enough to make a bite just a barkIt’s enough to make a body move aroundIt’s enough to make a rabbit hug a dogPlay something sweet

Well, I tried to run my gameShe said “Man, that’s the same old thing I’ve heard before”And I’m too tired to go for your show (again and again)

And she started to explainShe said “Man, I ain’t saying what you’re playing just can’t make itBut I just can’t take it anymore”

Play something sweet, play something mellowPlay something I can sink my teeth in like JelloPlay something I can understandPlay me some Brickyard Blues

Play something sweet and make it funkyJust let me lay back and grin like a monkeyPlay something I can understandPlay me some Brickyard Blues

Play something sweet, play something mellowPlay something I can sink my teeth in like JelloPlay something I can understandPlay me some Brickyard Blues

Play something sweet and make it funkyJust let me lay back and grin like a monkeyPlay something I can understandPlay me some Brickyard Blues

…