Dr. John: Mercernary: The Songs of Johnny Mercer

If you like to hear someone who still has a voice -- and a signature style -- tackling another great American Songbook, this is a better choice than most, with a distinctive area sound that's strictly Mac Rebennack and a few musical surprises to boot.

The Night Tripper was going back to Hoagy Carmichael and the like long before any of his rock contemporaries; further back, in fact, than almost anyone outside of Linda Ronstadt. The difference between Mac Rebennack, a/k/a Dr. John, and everyone else is that Mac kept his soul when he did it. Can you imagine Linda giving this album this name?

Actually, Mercernary gets its punny title from the fact that this native of Savannah, GA, operated outside the Hollywood system and inside it at the same time, much like Mac has always done with rock. A concept suggested by his daughter after hearing Mercer's version of Johnny Burke and Jimmy Van Heusen's "Personality" (irony!), it's fleshed out by the good Doctor and his crack band of Crescent City vets over eleven actual more legit Johnny compositions. (The lone original, an apologia entitled "I Ain't No Johnny Mercer" and crafted out of several Mercerisms, is unnecessary and insubstantial at best.)

Since the groove is as essential to Dr. John as the melody, it might be expected that he'd transform these chestnuts accordingly, and he does -- there's a little soul-jazz, some stride piano, West Coast blues, second-line fonk and Big Easy R&B classicism. Better still, Mac's sly delivery fits Mercer's lyrics -- some of the cleverest in all of pre-war pop -- like a ragged but lovable old overcoat. Recommended for anyone who thinks pre-rock Americana is an assisted living facility for worn-out rock stars. And for anyone who enjoys a smart tune.