The Allen Toussaint Collection

by Allen Toussaint

Overview

Allen Toussaint's contribution to New Orleans R&B is indelible and his presence can be felt throughout classic recordings from the late '50s, '60s, and beyond. His name, though, is the province of connoisseurs, those who peruse album jackets looking for who wrote that great song or wrote out that phenomenal arrangement. Many who know his name may not even know that he was a solo recording artist, partially because his discography is a little confusing, as he cut for little New Orleans record labels, then signed with Reprise, before returning to sporadic waxings for indies. Of all the albums and compilations that have poured onto the market, the best, by far, is Reprise's The Allen Toussaint Collection, even if it spotlights just a small portion of his career -- namely, his '70s recordings for Reprise. True, this doesn't have all the great songs he's written, or records he's made, but it does provide an irresistible, comprehensive overview of his best albums. These aren't nearly as gritty as any of his productions of the '60s, lacking the earthiness of, say, Lee Dorsey or the down-and-dirty grind of the Meters. Instead, it's elegant, sexy music -- witness how "From a Whisper to a Scream" eases its way out of the speakers as the collection begins, seducing the listener, not hitting them in the gut. Even the funkiest moments here have style and are delivered subtly, which only makes them funkier, while putting such stylistic detours as the trippy "Southern Nights" into perspective. The individual albums Toussaint made for Reprise range from very good to excellent, yet this simply named collection eclipses them all, since it has all the best moments, expertly sequenced. It may be softer than his famous productions, but it's every bit as good and essential; in fact, it's one of the greatest greatest-hits albums of '70s soul, funk, and R&B. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	04/30/1991
Label:	Reprise
UPC:	0075992654920

Tracks

1. From a Whisper to a Scream
2. What Is Success
3. Am I Expecting Too Much?
4. On Your Way Down
5. Soul Sister
6. Country John
7. Last Train
8. Southern Nights
9. What Do You Want the Girl to Do?
10. You Will Not Lose
11. Night People
12. Lover of Love
13. Motion
14. Viva la Money
15. Happiness
16. With You in Mind

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Allen Toussaint   Primary Artist,Director,Harmonica,Guitar (Acoustic),Vocals (Background),Piano,Vocals
Etta James   Guest Artist,Vocals (Background)
Paulinho Da Costa   Guest Artist,Percussion
Rosemary Butler   Guest Artist,Vocals (Background)
Chuck Rainey   Guest Artist,Bass
Bonnie Raitt   Guest Artist,Vocals (Background)
Larry Carlton   Guest Artist,Guitar
Venetta Fields   Guest Artist,Vocals (Background)
Jeff Porcaro   Guest Artist,Drums
George Porter, Jr.   Bass,Bass (Electric)
Leo Nocentelli   Guitar
Victor Feldman   Percussion
Carl Blouin   Sax (Baritone)
Alfred Roberts   Congas
Francis Rousselle   Trumpet
George Plummer   Guitar
Clyde Williams   Drums
Fred Staehle   Drums
Richard Powell   Bass
Lester Caliste   Trombone
Jim Moore   Flute,Sax (Tenor)
Charles Moore   Guitar
Julia Tillman Waters   Vocals (Background)
Terry Kellman   Guitar
Joan Harmon   Vocals (Background)
Fred Kemp   Sax (Tenor)
Teddy Royal   Guitar
Vincent Toussaint   Guitar
Eddie Hohner   Bass
Deborah Paul   Vocals (Background)
Sharon Neborn   Vocals (Background)
Steve Howard   Trumpet
Earl Turbinton   Sax (Alto)
Joe Lambert   Drums
Squirrel   Congas
Mac Rebennack   Organ,Guitar
Walter Payton   Bass (Upright),Bass (Electric)
Alvin Thomas   Sax (Tenor)
Richard Tee   Piano
Red Tyler   Sax (Baritone)
Gary Brown   Saxophone,Sax (Tenor),Electric Saxophone
Clyde Kerr   Trumpet,Flugelhorn,French Horn
John Boudreaux   Drums
Lon Price   Flute,Sax (Alto),Sax (Tenor)
Ed Greene   Drums
Robert "Pops" Popwell   Bass
Maxine Willard Waters   Vocals (Background)
Merry Clayton   Vocals (Background)
Art Neville   Organ

Technical Credits

Allen Toussaint   Producer,Arranger,Composer
Christine Cano   Design
Don Snowden   Liner Notes
Sydney Byrd   Photography
Vincent Toussaint   Producer
Paul Wexler   Remixing
Skip Godwin   Engineer
Cosimo Matassa   Engineer
Joe Chiccarelli   Assistant Engineer
Charles Greene   Producer
John Stronach   Remixing
Roberta Grace   Engineer
Naomi Neville   Composer
Nick DeCaro   String Arrangements
Marshall Sehorn   Producer
Richard Leech   Assistant Engineer
Ken Laxton   Engineer
Dee Robb   Engineer,Remixing
Lee Herschberg   Remixing