Dr John - The Sun, Moon & Herbs [1971]

This classic recording sees Dr John's transformation into the persona of the Night Tripper fully complete. Most notably it benefits from some really fantastic production, sounding deeper and darker than ever before. His status as a cult musician had risen to the extent that the album featured numerous famous guests, with some guitar from one Eric Clapton. Other names that can be dredged up from deep within the smoky haze include Ronnie Barron, Graham Bond, Jim Price, Bobby Keys, Carl Radle, Jim Gordon, Bobby Whitlock and Fuzzy Samuels. Mick Jagger is also somewhere in the background. 

On first listen the pace is so leisurely as to possibly seem uneventful, but if you are patient and allow yourself to succumb to its odd charms it will begin to draw you into a very strange headspace and worm its way under your skin. It is certainly quirky...a kind of funky, gritty, gumbo blues with a mind-bending undercurrent of light psychedelia mixed with equal doses of voodoo and humour.

 The Sun, Moon & Herbs is best listened to on a hot, muggy night with the sound of thunder rumbling off in the distance like jungle drums. A monumental recording!

 

 

 

                                                               Enjoy!