In New Orleans

by Willy DeVille

Overview

Willy DeVille's In New Orleans compiles two recordings the singer and songwriter issued for two different labels: Victory Mixture, released on Sky Ranch in 1990, and Big Easy Fantasy, released by Wotre Records in 1995. The former album was cut at the legendary Sea Saint Studios with a cast of NOLA all-stars including Dr. John, the Meters' George Porter and Leo Nocentelli, Eddie Bo, Wayne Bennett, Allen Toussaint, and more. It's a collection of both well-known and obscure New Orleans tunes from the R&B canon. DeVille's performance in this unlikely setting -- his first independent recording date -- is remarkable. He retains his trademark, old-school soul-rock style and somehow melds it seamlessly into the NOLA tradition. Standouts include fine readings of Ernie K-Doe's "Beating Like a Tom-Tom," Earl Kit Carson's "Big Blue Diamonds," and Toussaint's "Hello My Lover." Big Easy Fantasy, the latter album and the rarest in DeVille's catalog, is a rather confusing yet satisfying compilation -- of sorts. It contains six unissued concert performances that were originally to be included on his Live album, and one track left off the Victory Mixture sessions, as well as another studio number that never found a home on Backstreets of Desire. Of the live tracks, there are three versions of tunes from Victory Mixture including "Key to My Heart," "Every Dog Has Its Day," and "Hello My Lover." (All of them superior to the studio takes.) These and "Jump City," "Iko Iko," and "Meet the Boys on the Battlefront" were cut in concert in New York and Paris, with Bo and members of the Wild Magnolias. Of the two studio numbers, one is a stellar reading of Jack Dupree's "Junker's Blues," and an original, "Just Off Decatur Street," that were later overdubbed in Los Angeles around the time of his DeVille's Backstreets of Desire album. Horns were overdubbed onto the original masters and Chris Spedding overdubbed a dobro on the latter. What's most amazing about Big Easy Fantasy was that it was issued without the approval of DeVille. All of this said, In New Orleans demands consideration because of the rejuvenation of DeVille's musical persona. These are inspired recordings, full of crackling energy that highlights a top-shelf artist who, even when written off, could rise to and thrive in virtually any situation. ~ Thom Jurek

Product Details

Release Date:	04/03/2012
Label:	Big Beat
UPC:	0029667429528

Tracks

1. Hello My Lover
2. It Do Me Good
3. Key to My Heart
4. Beating Like a Tom-Tom
5. Every Dog Has Its Day
6. Big Blue Diamonds
7. Teasin' You
8. Ruler of My Heart
9. Who Shot the La-La
10. Junkers Blues
11. Just Off Decatur Street
12. Jump City
13. Every Dog Has Its Day
14. Hello My Lover
15. Key to My Heart
16. Iko Iko
17. Meet the Boys on the Battlefront

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Willy DeVille   Primary Artist
The Wild Magnolias   Primary Artist
The Mink Deville Band   Primary Artist
The Brass Attack Horns   Primary Artist
Sammy Berfect   Organ (Hammond)
Brian "Breeze" Coyolle   Sax (Tenor),Sax (Baritone)
Dereme Wise   Vocals (Background)
Steve Madaio   Trumpet
Theodore "Bo" Dollis   Vocals,Tambourine
Billy Gregory   Guitar
Chris Spedding   Dobro
Barbara George   Vocals (Background)
Freddy Koella   Guitar
Eddie Bo   Piano,Vocals
Johnny Vidacovich   Drums
Mac Rebennack   Piano
Porgy Jones   Trumpet,Tambourine
Norwood Johnson   Vocals,Drums (Bass)
George Porter   Bass
The Valentines   Vocals (Background)
Big Chief Monk Boudreaux   Vocals,Tambourine
Kerry Brown   Drums
Lon Price   Sax (Tenor)
Wayne Bennett   Guitar
Jim Gilstrap   Vocals (Background)
Kate Markowitz   Vocals (Background)
Rene Coman   Bass
Allen Toussaint   Piano
Leo Nocentelli   Guitar
Valerie Mayo   Vocals (Background)
Isaac Bolden   Piano
YaDonna Wise   Vocals (Background)
Allison Miner   Vocals (Background)
Keith Fazarde   Vibraphone
Ross Brady   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Huey Smith   Composer
Gurrie Van Brug   Memorabilia
Brenda Brandon   Composer
Philippe Le Bras   Associate Producer
Joseph Boudreaux   Arranger
Thomas Terry   Composer
Traditional   Composer
Theodore "Bo" Dollis   Arranger
Clarence Reggie Toussaint   Composer
Earl King   Composer
Ernest Kador   Composer
Garth Cartwright   Liner Notes,Memorabilia
Naomi Neville   Composer
Duncan Cowell   Mastering
Willy DeVille   Arranger,Composer
Carlo Ditta   Producer
Eddie Bocage   Composer
Philippe Rault   Producer,Memorabilia
Allen Toussaint   Composer
Marc Hewitt   Engineer
Jack Dupree   Composer
Claude Gassian   Cover Photo,Photo Courtesy
Hank Waring   Digital Mastering
Earl "Kit" Carson   Composer
Barry Kaiser   Cover Photo,Photography,Photo Courtesy
Neil Dell   Package Design
Dirk W. De Jong   Photography,Photo Courtesy
Roger Branch   Engineer