"Things Happen That Way" posthumous Dr. John release

[Meters Fan]

This sounds smelly. Drops on 9/23. Heavy contributions from Mr. Cleary. Et Toi!

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/sep/21/dr-john-new-orleans-elusive-genius

[duende]

The new Walk On Guilded Splinters might be my favorite (in spite of a reflexive reaction to the good doctor's vocals toward the end conjuring a bit too much John Bell).

[jjazznj]

Finally! I've been waiting for a long time for this to come out.

I totally disagree with that Guardian writer on a few points; Anutha Zone and Ske-Dat-De-Dat: The Spirit of Satch had some great songs on each, not flat and dogshit like they wrote.

Nothing wrong with that new version of "I Walk On Guilded Splinters" but it pales in comparison to the spooky, swampy original. Why mess with perfection?

[jjazznj]

I'm listening to this album as I write. Overall pretty good. Unfortunately Dr John does not play any piano on it, Jon Cleary plays his parts. Rickie Lee Jones, who Mac won a Grammy with on their duet of "Makin' Whoopie" back in 1989, was on 3 songs but they scrapped her vocals as they could not agree on her getting paid.

https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/keith_spera/article_39a3b9c6-39c5-11ed-904e-abba47440bbb.html

https://bestclassicbands.com/dr-john-final-album-things-happen-that-way-8-19-22/

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/dr-john-interview-final-album-b2171687.html

[Kemp]

I'm listening to this album as I write. Overall pretty good. Unfortunately Dr John does not play any piano on it, Jon Cleary plays his parts. Rickie Lee Jones, who Mac won a Grammy with on their duet of "Makin' Whoopie" back in 1989, was on 3 songs but they scrapped her vocals as they could not agree on her getting paid.

https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/keith_spera/article_39a3b9c6-39c5-11ed-904e-abba47440bbb.html

https://bestclassicbands.com/dr-john-final-album-things-happen-that-way-8-19-22/

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-e...-b2171687.html

Really? The Dr. plays no piano? I like Cleary, a lot, but, he ain't Mac.

[Canine Horror]

Really? The Dr. plays no piano? I like Cleary, a lot, but, he ain't Mac.

Unfortunately, playing keys was not an option it seems, due to Mac's poor health.

[freebo]

This is the album Shane Theriot helped him with...

https://www.nola.com/gambit/music/article_dc7cb29a-3553-11ed-b3f7-4337d29c57ce.html

[Lit]

I'm listening to this album as I write. Overall pretty good. Unfortunately Dr John does not play any piano on it, Jon Cleary plays his parts. Rickie Lee Jones, who Mac won a Grammy with on their duet of "Makin' Whoopie" back in 1989, was on 3 songs but they scrapped her vocals as they could not agree on her getting paid.

https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/keith_spera/article_39a3b9c6-39c5-11ed-904e-abba47440bbb.html

https://bestclassicbands.com/dr-john-final-album-things-happen-that-way-8-19-22/

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-e...-b2171687.html

I like the album, but imo scrapping RLJ's vocals is a big loss. Especially on "I Walk on Guilded Splinters."

[BrettM]

Very interesting history of the album in Rolling Stone of all places:

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/m...ay-1234595476/

Confirms that more after-the-fact work was done on the album than there probably should have been.

The good news is that most of the country tracks were lef intact. To my mind those are the album's real treasures anyway.

[jjazznj]

Really? The Dr. plays no piano? I like Cleary, a lot, but, he ain't Mac.

So that is what I read but I heard today from the producer Shane Theriot that Mac actually did play on some of it.

As much as I like Lukas Nelson I would have rather heard the stripped down version of "I Walk On Guilded Splinters". Not sure why they even bothered to remake that song and "Such A Night" which they left off the album.

[belyin]

Very interesting history of the album in Rolling Stone of all places:

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/m...ay-1234595476/

Confirms that more after-the-fact work was done on the album than there probably should have been.

The good news is that most of the country tracks were lef intact. To my mind those are the album's real treasures anyway.

Maybe in its own way all the lawyerly and familial "trickerations" are as an apt tribute to Mac and his 60+ years in the music bizness as the record itself cuz as he all too well knew "things happen that way."

[Lit]

I’ve let it play through a few times now while driving around. I’m drawn to the “I Walk On Guilded Splinters” remake more and more each time I land on it, almost in spite of myself.

I’m annoyed enough that they scrapped Rickie Lee’s backing vocals on it, but to now learn that they they scrubbed everything except his vocals and had Lukas and POTR record a backing track after he died makes me really want to dislike it and look for a disconnect. But damn it sounds good to these ears upon repeated listens. His vocal is really great, and they played to it seamlessly.

I would also really love to hear the original version.

jjazznj , any chance that your buddy Sha-zane will let you hear it?

[Meters Fan]

Wish I didn't know about all of that. Desitively so.

[Polkaholic]

Unfortunately, playing keys was not an option it seems, due to Mac's poor health.

There are credits for Dr. John playing either piano or keys on every track on the CD.

Not having read anything about post-production edits before listening, and simply listening to the album as an album, I think it’s absolutely lovely; bittersweet and just a bit tear-inducing. After a debut listen late last night, I’m hearing it for the second time this morning. It’s ideal Sunday morning music.

[Canine Horror]

There are credits for Dr. John playing either piano or keys on every track on the CD.

Not having read anything about post-production edits before listening, and simply listening to the album as an album, I think it’s absolutely lovely; bittersweet and just a bit tear-inducing. After a debut listen late last night, I’m hearing it for the second time this morning. It’s ideal Sunday morning music.

Yes, you are right. Shane Theriot did mention this on OZ on Friday. He did also say and I'm paraphrasing here, that at some point, due to his weakening health the Dr. could only contribute minimally and that even that was a huge strain for him, which makes me sad.