Southern Nights (Allen Toussaint album) explained

Southern Nights
Type:Studio
Artist:Allen Toussaint
Cover:SouthernNights.jpg
Released:May 1975
Recorded:1975
Studio:Sea-Saint Studio, New Orleans
Length:35:43
Label:Reprise
Prev Title:Life, Love and Faith
Prev Year:1972
Next Title:Motion
Next Year:1978

Southern Nights is a concept album by American singer, songwriter, and producer Allen Toussaint, released in May 1975.[1] Seminal to the development of New Orleans rhythm and blues, the album draws on funk and soul styles while "flirting with neo-psychedelia".[2] Two singles were released in support of the album, "Country John" backed with "When the Party's Over" and "Southern Nights" backed with "Out of the City". Although neither single charted, Glen Campbell's cover of the title track would top Billboards country, pop and adult contemporary charts in 1977.[3] Released in May 1975 by Reprise Records, the album has been subsequently reissued multiple times on both LP and CD.[4]

Music

"Southern Nights", which would become Toussaint's signature song, was written as a tribute to evenings spent with his Creole family in his native Louisiana.[5] [6] It was brought to the attention of Glen Campbell by Campbell-collaborator Jimmy Webb.[7] [8] Campbell released a cover version on the album Southern Nights in February 1977, which spent four weeks at the top of the country, pop and adult contemporary charts. Toussaint's version of the song was very different from the "cheerful catchiness and...bright, colorful feel" of Campbell's;[9] Stephen Thomas Erlewine described it as featuring a "swirling, trippy arrangement that plays like a heat mirage", while The Times-Picayune remarked in 2009 on its "strange psychedelic-swamp-water sound."[10] In 1994, Toussaint came out of a lengthy hiatus as a performer to record the song in a duet with Chet Atkins for the compilation album Rhythm, Country and Blues.

Bonnie Raitt also had success with her cover of "What Do You Want the Girl to Do", retitled "What Do You Want the Boy to Do?" and released on 1975's Home Plate.[11]

Reception

According to 2002's Louisiana Music, the album is regarded as "perhaps...[Toussaint's] signature record";[12] in 1994, Toussaint himself characterized the album as his best.[13] Although overall a critical success, it was not financially successful and was not universally well received.[14] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic indicates that the album should be "part of any serious soul collection", but notes that the presence of instrumental filler material "prevents [it] from being a full-fledged masterpiece".

Track listing

All tracks composed by Allen Toussaint.

  1. "Last Train" – 3:01
  2. "Worldwide" – 2:42
  3. "Back in Baby's Arms" – 4:49
  4. "Country John" – 4:45
  5. "Basic Lady" – 2:58
  6. "Southern Nights" – 3:36
  7. "You Will Not Lose" – 3:42
  8. "What Do You Want the Girl to Do?" – 3:40
  9. "When the Party's Over" – 2:38
  10. "Cruel Way to Go Down" – 3:52

Personnel

Performers

Production

Release history

RegionDateLabelFormatCatalog
United StatesMay 1975Reprise RecordsStereo LPMS 2186
United KingdomMarch 1985Edsel RecordsStereo LPED 155
United StatesApril 1996Reprise RecordsCD7599 26596-2
United States2000Warner.EspCD7599265962
United States2006Water RecordsCDWATR 177
United States2008Reprise RecordsCD75407

Notes and References

  1. Holland. Bill. 24 September 2005. Q&A Allen Toussaint. Billboard Magazine. 117. 39. 20. 0006-2510. 2009-06-28.
  2. News: Pareles . Jon . July 23, 1984 . Allen Toussaint plays solo piano at the public . 2009-06-28 . New York Times.
  3. Web site: [{{AllMusic|class=song|id=t384233|pure_url=yes}} Southern Nights ]. Hogan . Ed . AllMusic . 2009-06-28.
  4. Book: Strong, Martin Charles. The Great Rock Discography. 6. The National Academies. 2002. 1-84195-312-1.
  5. Book: Bronson, Fred. The Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits: The Inside Story Behind Every Number One Single on Billboards Hot 100 from 1955 to the Present. 5. Billboard Books. 2003. 0-8230-7677-6. 461.
  6. Web site: Allen Toussaint and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band @ Bridgewater Hall. Taylor. Paul. 14 June 2007. citylife.co.uk. 2009-06-28.
  7. News: Selvin. Joel. Toussaint explores life outside Big Easy: Katrina forced him out of New Orleans but the R&B maestro's roots run deep. San Francisco Chronicle. May 14, 2007. 2009-06-28.
  8. News: Spera. Keith. Hundreds fill Howlin' Wolf for Snooks Eaglin's final appearance. The Times-Picayune. February 27, 2009. 2009-06-28.
  9. Web site: [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r109186|pure_url=yes}} Southern Nights (Glen Campbell) ]. Erlewine . Stephen Thomas . AllMusic . 2009-06-28.
  10. News: MacCash. Doug. Michalopoulos sticks with a tried-and-true Jazz Fest poster formula. March 20, 2009. Times-Picayune. 2009-06-28.
  11. Web site: [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r16089|pure_url=yes}} Home Plate ]. AllMusic . 2009-06-28 . Erlewine . Stephen Thomas.
  12. Book: Koster, Rick. Louisiana Music: a journey from R&B to zydeco, jazz to country, blues to gospel, Cajun music to swamp pop to carnival music and beyond. Da Capo Press. 2002. 0-306-81003-4. 78. registration.
  13. News: Sweeney. Philip. Aloof from the linear motion: Allen Toussaint is the man they say invented funk. Philip Sweeney met him in New Orleans. The Independent. 25 July 1994. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/aloof-from-the-linear-motion-allen-toussaint-is-the-man-they-say-invented-funk-philip-sweeney-met-him-in-new-orleans-1416142.html . May 24, 2022 . subscription . live. 2009-06-28.
  14. Book: Buckley, Peter. The Rough Guide to Rock. 2003. 3. Rough Guides. 1-84353-105-4. 1095.