New Orleans, Louisiana music: Playlist of Mardi Gras songs

With Mardi Gras (or, as some spell it, “Mardi Gra”) coming up, I thought I would post a few New Orleans music suggestions for your listening and partying enhancement. Here, in no particular order, is a bunch of New Orleans and Louisiana music gems I have collected over the years. Some are mandatory Mardi Gras music classics, others are just my personal picks. I have linked the individual titles to Amazon.com for easy purchase and downloading.

You may also want to check out the Alton Brown gumbo recipe and fix yourself a big batch before proceeding any further.

“Tipitina” by Professor Longhair (also available on iTunes) — I first heard this on the soundtrack from the 1987 Dennis Quaid movie The Big Easy and it’s probably my favorite Mardi Gras song of all. I have no idea what “Fess” is singing, but he sure is having fun — as seen above, performing with the Meters.

“Mardi Gras Day” by Kermit Ruffins with the Rebirth Brass Band (also available on iTunes) — This is actually a Dr. John (Mac Rebennack) song, but the Kermit Ruffins version with the big bass drum and the trombones instantly transports you right down to the French Quarter..

“Iko Iko” by Dr. John (also available on iTunes) — Speaking of Dr. John, here’s his rollicking take on the New Orleans classic popularized by the Dixie Cups in 1965. Wikipedia has some interesting details on the song’s origin and meaning, and this video lets you watch his hands as he plays.

“The Second Line” by Stop, Inc. (also available on iTunes) — I have found virtually no information about this song or the artists, and yet it is one of the essential Mardi Gras tunes. “Second line,” of course, is New Orleans brass band parade/funeral parade tradition.

“They All Ask’d For You” by Rockin’ Dopsie, Jr. (also available on iTunes) — A catchy little inquiry from your friends at the zoo, courtesy of Zydeco music’s crown prince Rockin’ Dopsie. Down a few hurricane cocktails and you’ll be singing the refrain in no time.

“Tu Le Ton Son Ton (Every Now and Then)” by Clifton Chenier (also available on iTunes) — Clifton Chenier was known to play a little zydeco music too. Even I have been known to start dancing to this one.

“Crescent City” by Emmylou Harris (also available on iTunes) — I don’t find the Lucinda Williams original at Amazon.com, but Emmylou’s cover of her tribute to New Orleans nightlife is a very good one, and this song quotes the Clifton Chenier number I just noted. Above is Emmylou performing it on Letterman.

“Tasso / One-Step de McGree” by Beausoleil avec Michael Doucet — Mardi Gras is not just a city celebration; Cajun people in the country also know how to laissez les bon temps roulet (“let the good times roll”), and here’s just a sample of that from one of their greatest musicians, Michael Doucet.

“La danse de Mardi Gras” by Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys (also available on iTunes) — A Cajun music Mardi Gras favorite. Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys have been nominated for two Grammy Awards so far, and are still going strong with a website promising a new album coming this summer. The video shows them cooking at a Cajun dance party in Lafayette, Louisiana last month.

“Under A Stormy Sky” by Daniel Lanois (also available on iTunes) — Speaking of Cajun music (and therefore Acadians), I have to include at least one song from the 1989 album Acadie by Daniel Lanois, the famous producer of albums such as U2’s The Joshua Tree. Okay, so it’s technically not music for Mardi Gras, and it’s French-Canadian and not Louisianan, but the people and the music have the same DNA.

“Feels Like Rain” by Buddy Guy (also available on iTunes) — Like sneaking away from the noisy party to share the sticky heat of an impending hurricane with that special someone, this John Hiatt song is even better with added goosebumps from Buddy Guy’s guitar. Here we see Buddy jamming with John Mayer.

“Walkin’ To New Orleans” by Fats Domino (also available on iTunes) — Bobby Charles wrote this song for New Orleans native Fats Domino in just 15 minutes and it hit #6 on the 1960 pop chart.

“Fire On The Bayou” by The Meters (also available on iTunes) — This signature song and title track from the 1975 album by The Meters was recorded at the same time the masters of New Orleans funk were opening for the Rolling Stones.

“Mardi Gras Mambo” by The Meters (also available on iTunes) — That same Meters album also sported a remake of the Mardi Gras classic that Meters founder Art Neville recorded for Chicago’s Chess Records in 1954 with the Hawketts, but I don’t see the original at Amazon. I bought my copy from iTunes.

“Carnival Time” by Al Johnson (also available on iTunes) — Singer and piano player Al “Carnival Time” Johnson is especially known for one particular 1960 Mardi Gras classic. Can you guess what it is? Above, complete with irritating full-screen logo, is Al in his 2007 Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame induction performance.

“Big Chief (Complete Version)” by Professor Longhair (also available on iTunes) — No Mardi Gras playlist could be complete (and Buzz Kilman certainly wouldn’t approve) without the Earl King song “Big Chief.” It was a hit for Professor Longhair in 1964.

“Fire Water” by The Wild Magnolias (also available on iTunes) — Big Chief has been the moniker of various Wild Magnolias leaders going back to the 1950s, and he likes plenty of funk and fire water.

“Go To The Mardi Gras” by Professor Longhair (also available on iTunes) — We might as well add a third Professor Longhair tune here now, too. This one is the best-loved Ron Records version from 1959.

“Mardi Gras In New Orleans” by Olympia Brass Band (also available on iTunes) — Shall we make it four? Tell you what: Instead of the classic Professor Longhair original, excellent though it is, I’m going with this cover by the Olympia Brass Band for its street parade atmosphere, and because it is eight long minutes of pure Mardi Gras fun.

“Do Whatcha Wanna” by Rebirth Brass Band (also available on iTunes) — In the Fat Tuesday spirit of indulgence, here is another eight minutes of New Orleans brass band lubrication from the Rebirth Brass Band’s album of the same name dated 1991, right before Kermit Ruffins parted. The video clip shows the RBB rocking the French Quarter last April.

“When The Saints Go Marching In (Live In Dublin)” by Bruce Springsteen with the Sessions Band (also available on iTunes) — I love this version of “Saints” because of the way Bruce and the band slow it way down and let each word ring. This is after-party music, perhaps for the beginning of Ash Wednesday when the sinners go shuffling home. If you want a more traditional smoking jazz jam, try an outstanding Sidney Bechet recording.

So that’s my list of Mardi Gras / New Orleans music so far. I’ll try to add more here as I think of it.