Rating:
Genre:
R&B
Release Date: 11/20/1995
Kent Soul has done an exceptional job in remastering and reissuing
Allen Toussaint's classic sophomore long-player -- which was known simply as
Allen Toussaint -- and the "bonus" selection, a vocal-less
blues-meets-
funk titled
"Number Nine." When these songs first surfaced circa 1970,
Toussaint (piano/vocals) had become a decade-long veteran of the New Orleans' Crescent City
soul movement. Under his own name as well as the pseudonym of
Naomi Neville, he was a composer, producer, and even a recording session musician. He left a trail of influential
R&B titles that would resound back across the pond in the form of cover versions by the likes of
the Rolling Stones (
"Pain in My Heart"),
the Yardbirds (
"A Certain Girl"), and
the Who (
"Fortune Teller"), along with countless others.
Toussaint's uncanny musical malleability resulted in a diverse yet solid second solo outing. He is supported by
Mac Rebennack (organ/guitar) (aka
Dr. John),
Terry Kellman (guitar),
Eddie Hohner (bass),
Freddie Staehle (drums),
John Boudreaux (drums),
Clyde Kerr (trumpet),
Earl Turbinton (alto sax), and none other than
Merry Clayton (backing vocals) and
Venetta Fields -- perhaps the most in demand studio voices of the
rock & roll era. The dramatic
"From a Whisper to a Scream" perfectly captures the synergy existing between
Toussaint's ultra cool delivery and the understated yet piercing lyrical indictment. Other highlights include the
pop-oriented, upbeat, and classy
"Sweet Touch of Love," the author's interpretation of
"Everything I Do Gonh Be Funky" and
"Working in the Coalmine." The latter pair were likewise formerly charting sides
Toussaint had inked for vocalist
Lee Dorsey. Looking forward to the ensuing years,
Toussaint garnered sizable clout for providing
Bonnie Raitt with
"What Is Success." The instrumentals
"Either" and
"Louie" foreshadow the type of stylish no-nonsense
soul that informed his collaborations with
the Meters.
"Pickles" on the other hand is comparatively jazzier and doused in the revelry of Mardi Gras, complete with a catchy call-and-response. Finally,
Toussaint's masterful touch and craftsman-like imprint is evident on the uplifting take of
Vince Guaraldi's
"Cast Your Fate to the Wind" as he explores alternate textures that lead the melody to some memorable places. While his mid-'70s platters for
Warner Brothers may have provided him with additional exposure, this is a sonic touchstone worth repeated examinations.
~Lindsay Planer, All Music Guide
;)
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