New Orleans Soul
New Orleans was a major pushpin in America's R&B map during the 1950s, but it was around the turn of the next decade that the hits coming out of the Crescent City began to change and take on a little more local character... becoming sillier, sexier, lazier, and just a little bit funkier all at once. Finally recognized as a genre unto itself, the subset of early soul known as "New Orleans Soul" fell somewhere between the boogie-woogie and the cha-cha, mining the space between violent heartbreak and drunken street chanting. Here are some prime examples. (Click the song title to hear a sample clip; download the songs here at About.com or through your own provider, and make yourself an iPod playlist or legally burned CD.)
- Oliver Morgan, "Who Shot The La La?"
Certainly the most violent nonsense song you'll ever hear... although there are myriad stories about the real, hidden meaning. "I think it was a .44!"
- Aaron Neville, "Over You"
Another threatening song, unfortunate lyrics courtesy of its time, and from a surprising source.
- Ernie K-Doe, "Mother-In-Law"
Probably the biggest hit to come from New Orleans in the early Sixties, once again riding the line between blues and novelty.
- Lee Dorsey, "Ya Ya"
A nonsense chant from children in the street becomes a rock and roll mainstay.
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Art Neville, "All These Things"
Aaron's brother Art was quite the competition in those days, and this gentle yet powerful ballad proves why.
- Benny Spellman, "Fortune Teller"
The bass vocalist on "Mother In Law" gets a minor hit of his own, an Allen Toussaint attempt at quasi-exotica that became a British Invasion favorite.
- Joe Jones, "You Talk Too Much"
Another national hit, and another novelty. "You talk too much, you even worry my pet"? Really?
- Chuck "Como" Cavet, "Bells In My Heart"
A gorgeous and nearly-forgotten ballad made for prom night.
- Ernie K-Doe, "Te-Ta-Te-Ta-Ta"
Another high-water mark for Ernie, who "boins" through this ethereal cha-cha.
- Aaron Neville, "Waiting At The Station"
Toussaint and Neville score another solid local hit, a slow mournful slice of R&B.
- Jessie Hill, "Ooh Poo Pah Doo (Pts. 1 and 2)"
The instrumental first half made the national charts, strangely enough , but the inscrutable vocal first half endured him to New Orleanians.
- Irma Thomas, "It's Raining"
Possibly the finest moment of her early career, a heartbreaking ballad given even more depth by her delivery.
- Professor Longhair, "Big Chief (Pts. 1 and 2)"
A Mardi Gras standard that melds marching band precision with swinging elan.
- Ernie K-Doe, "T'aint It The Truth"
A rare ballad from K-Doe, who mourns his lost love by mocking you for yours.
- Benny Spellman, "Lipstick Traces"
Another British Invasion fave; listen for the reverse "Mother In Law" vocal effect at the end.
- Chris Kenner, "Land Of 1000 Dances"
The original that spawned a land of 1000 garage and soul bands.
- Barbara George, "I Know (You Don't Love Me No More)"
A rare female kiss-off and a national hit so hip Sam Cooke requested it during his hit "Having A Party."
- Aaron Neville, "Wrong Number (I'm Sorry, Goodbye)"
Either the silliest sublime love ballad from the Crescent City, or the other way around.
- Ernie K-Doe, "A Certain Girl"
Yet another Brit fave, where Ernie refuses to count the chickens of his unhatched crush.
- Chris Kenner, "I Like It Like That"
Another big hit, later covered by the Dave Clark Five.
- Lee Dorsey, "Do Re Mi"
One of Dorsey's many collaborations with Toussaint, grittier and more soulful than usual for the town.
- Robert Parker, "Barefootin'"
This local's mid-Sixties smash crackled with a more raw, guitar-driven arrangement.
- Bobby Marchan, "There Is Something On Your Mind (Pts. 1 and 2)"
The former Huey Smith and the Clowns singer scored a memorable national two-sider with this disturbing page from the crime blotter.
- Aaron Neville, "Let's Live"
So gorgeous a string-laden ballad it could almost be mistaken for Nuyorican soul.
- Lee Dorsey, "Holy Cow"
Dorsey's most affable shaggy-dog story.
