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By Larry
Grogan
Allen Toussaint was a genius. He probably still is but he doesn’t seem
to be doing much these days.
From the late 50’s, he recorded as a performer as Al Tousan (‘Java’)
on RCA and the Stokes
(‘Young Man Old Man’, ‘Whipped Cream’) on ALON and under his own
name (for a variety of labels). He made a much more significant impact as
a composer (under his own name and the pseudonym ‘Naomi Neville’) and
producer.
In the 1960’s he was a one man music industry in New Orleans . Initially
working for other labels like ALON (where he wrote and recorded classics
like ‘But I Couldn’t’ for Willie Harper) Instant and Minit, he broke
off in 1965 (in partnership with Marshal Sehorn) with the Sansu label. It was with Sansu that Toussaint would
make his greatest mark. He wrote and produced some of the greatest soul
and R&B sides to come out of the Crescent City in the 60’s.
Featuring artists that had national success like Lee Dorsey and Betty
Harris, and amazing local talent like Eldridge Holmes, Wallace Johnson and
Diamond Joe, Sansu was for all intents and purposes Toussaint’s label.
He even took the time to perform himself as part of Willie & Allen
(with Willie Harper) and the Rubaiyats.
The label’s offering ranged from the pure pop, upbeat soul, to R&B
and proto-funk. The link between all of these styles was Toussaint’s
memorable songs and production, the talents of the cream of New Orleans
studio musicians and the fantastic singers.
Though Sansu had very few national hits, the label’s offerings
were of a consistently high quality. Toussaint may hold some kind of
(unfortunate) record for the most amazing 45’s never to hit the charts.
This time around I’ve decided to gather ten of my favorite Sansu sides
by a variety of artists from the label’s peak period of 1965 to 1968.
Many of these tracks are available on the Sundazed comp, ‘Get Low
Down!: The Soul of New Orleans, '65-'67’. The Betty Harris tracks are
available on the ‘Soul Perfection Plus’ comp. |
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John Williams &
The Tick Tocks – A Little Tighter – Williams was
one of the more interesting male singers in the Sansu stable. The Tick
Tocks recorded some of the labels best group 45s, including a great
version of Lee Dorsey’s ‘Operation Heartache’. ‘A Little
Tighter’ combines a string backbeat, a twangy guitar and some great
backing vocals. Williams and the Tick Tocks also recorded the massive
‘Do Me Like You Do Me’. Williams
was murdered sometime in the early 70’s. |
| Wallace Johnson –
Baby Go Ahead – Johnson -
who still performs and records today
- possessed one of the richest voices in New Orleans. He had a
deep, smooth tenor and
immaculate control, as good with a ballad as he was with a soul stomper.
‘Baby Go Ahead’ is just such a stomper. Opening with a smooth bass
line, the rhythm section and vocal start simultaneously. The tune has a
solid dance beat, great horn stabs and some New Orleans-style piano
glissandos from Toussaint. The
flipside ‘I’m Grown’ is also quite good. |
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Diamond Joe –
Gossip Gossip – I’ve covered this 45 before, and
like I said then, it’s not only a personal favorite, but one of the best
soul 45s to come out of New Orleans in the 1960’s. Prior to his tenure
with Sansu (all of two 45’s) Diamond Joe Maryland was best known for the
epic ‘Moanin’ and Screamin’ on Minit. ‘Gossip Gossip’ is an
absolute tour de force, with a super powerful vocal by Diamond Joe and a
brilliant horn heavy arrangement by Toussaint. Unjustly obscure, it’s
one of the best soul recordings of the era. Like John Williams, Diamond
Joe was also a victim of murder. |
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