Tuesday 16 February 2010

Music For Mardi Gras


With  New Orleans still on a high after the Saints' Super Bowl victory I'm sure this year's Mardi Gras will be something to remember (Hurricanes and Dixie beer not withstanding). My only Mardi Gras, back in 1996, was one of the most memorable trips of my life. Each year on Fat Tuesday, as well eating pancakes, I also like to have my own little Mardi Gras celebration. These are some of the tunes that make me wish I was in New Orleans today.

MP3: Professor Longhair - Go To The Mardi Gras

I posted this one last year too but it's the definitive Mardi Gras song performed by the definitive New Orleans artist.
Buy Professor Longhair - The London Concert: 7digital | Amazon

MP3: Sugar Boy Crawford & His Cane Cutters - Jock-A-Mo

This 50s gem is from a great 52 track compilation called Crazy Man Crazy! The Roots of Rock'n'Roll I bought on Sunday. The song morphed into The Dixie Cups' hit Iki Iko in 1964.
Buy Crazy Man Crazy! 7digital Amazon

MP3: Fats Domino - Walking To New Orleans

During my Mardi Gras trip I went to a memorable block party hosted by WWOZ DJ The Governor.  The following day he did an entire show of Fats tunes; this one was obviously included.
Buy The Fats Domino Jukebox: 7digitalAmazon

MP3: The Meters - Hey Pocky A-Way

I discovered the New Orleans masters of funk relatively recently while researching one my chicken song posts. This track has become a carnival standard.
Buy The Very Best of The Meters: 7digitalAmazon

MP3: Dejan's Olympia Brass Band - Ain't My Fault

The Olympia Brass Band are New Orleans legends. You may recall this appearance in the Bond film Live and Let Die.


Buy New Orleans - Rebuild, Restore, Rejoice: 7digitalAmazon

MP3: Jerry Lee Lewis - Jambalaya

I'm on a bit of a Jerry Lee kick at the moment after recently reading Joe Bonomo's new book about The Killer. Not technically a Mardi Gras song I guess but jambalaya, crawfish pie and file gumbo would be high on my list of Mardi Gras eats (along with a fried oyster po' boy,  Popeye's chicken and Zapps chips).
Buy Jerry Lee Lewis - Legendary Sun Classics: Amazon

MP3: Tom Waits - I Wish I Was in New Orleans

My sentiments exactly. I remember we played this as we drove over Lake Pontchartrain into New Orleans for Mardi Gras in 1996. "Arm-in-arm down Burgundy, a bottle and my friends and me". Perfect.
Buy Tom Waits - Small Change: 7digital | Amazon

If you have your own favourite Mardi Gras songs, please do leave a comment and tell me what they are. 

Related Posts
I Wish I Was In New Orleans - last year's Mardi Gras post featuring two Professor Longhair tracks and a lethal sangria recipe from Tipitina's
State Songs #19: Louisiana - songs by Lucinda Williams, Guy Clark, The Be Good Tanyas, Stacey Earle & Mark Stuart, Emmylou Harris, Lightnin' Hopkins, Waylon Jennings

Related Links
Home of the Groove - great blog full of Mardi Gras songs and New Orleans R&B

5 comments:

Mondo said...

Love The Meters tune..

Happy Camper said...

thanks!!!!

lifestooshort said...

lovely stuff, helped me through some unwelcome work time on a Sunday afternoon.

If 6 Music does get a reprieve it can only be a matter of time before you get your own show.

Allison @ Bake Like Martha said...

Being from New Orleans I can attest to how completely awesome this playlist is.
Thanks for the music!

Ulf Kjell Gür said...

Watch "Film Noir" by NOWlab. The rest is future...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tHtn5NSQwI

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