🎷 AotW: Horizon Dr. John - CITY LIGHTS (SP-732)

[Captain Bacardi]

Dr. John
CITY LIGHTS
A&M/Horizon SP-732

Released 1978

Format: Vinyl/Cassette/CD

Produced by Tommy Li Puma and Hugh McCracken
Assistant Producer: Christine Martin

Songs:

• 1. Dance The Night Away With You (Mac Rebennack/Doc Pomus) - 4:07
  2. Street Side (Mac Rebennack) - 6:01
  3. Wild Honey (Mac Rebennack/Bobby Charles Guidry) - 4:10
  4. Rain (Mac Rebennack) - 4:46
  5. Snake Eyes (Mac Rebennack) - 6:44
  6. Fire Of Love (Mac Rebennack/Alvin Robinson) - 3:58
  7. Sonata/He's A Hero (Mac Rebennack/Doc Pomus) - 5:20
  8. City Lights (Mac Rebennack/Doc Pomus) - 3:24

Musicians:
Dr. John (Mac Rebennack) - Keyboards, Vocals
Steve Gadd - Drums
Will Lee - Bass
Hugh McCracken - Guitar, Slide Guitar, Harmonica
John Tropea - Guitar
Richard Tee - Keyboards
Arthur Jenkins - Percussion
Ronnie Cuber - Baritone Sax
David Sanborn - Alto Sax
George Young - Tenor Sax
Barry Rogers - Trombone
Charlie Miller - Cornet
Neil Larsen - Organ (2, 6)
Buzz Feiten - Guitar Solo (5)
Plas Johnson - Tenor Sax (6, 7)
Alvin Batiste - Clarinet (7)
Background Vocals: Ronnie Barron, George Jones, Tammy Lynn, Alvin Robinson

Strings Arranged and Conducted by Claus Ogerman
Horn & Rhythm Arrangements by Hugh McCracken and Dr. John

Recorded at The Hit Factory, New York
Recorded by Hank Cicalo, Kevin Herron and Al Schmitt
Assistant Engineer: David Prentice
Mixed at Capitol Recording Studios, Hollywood
Mixed by Al Schmitt
Assistant Engineer: Don Henderson
Mastered at The Mastering Lab by Mike Reese
Recorded July & August, 1978

CD Re-release in 2000, pictured above (right) with alternate typography.



Capt. Bacardi

 

[Dave]

Dr. John's FONKY Side O' Things:

Mediocre...!

Naw-O-Leans legend Dr. John making such a slick, yet rather pedestrian album... A dreadful move from the more Bayou Rock he's done throughout his career to becoming a too-mellow, though sometimes boisterous with a slight touch of R&B, EZ List'nin' Act...!

Good, and noticeable cameo by Country Star George Jones (er, is it, really?) on "Fire Of Love"...

Bette Midler covered "Rain" as though doing a non-Mardi Gras or not-quite-Gumbo number, let alone something like "Right Place, Wrong Time", really meant that she means business...

"Dance The Night Away" opens the album in a cunning Waltz-like way, while a good number of something you can really boog-aloo to is found in a song like "Street Song", while "Wild Honey" and "Snake Eyes" are both done in a torchy, romantic vein...

A good avenue for the die-hard to try, though a bit too much like camp or rather, like schlock, for any casual or serious fan, who likely out of respect for Mac Rebbenack, would pass on such an artist of this calibre pulling such schtick...!



Dave

--And if you think this is a "low point" in Dr. John's career, wait til' you hear the even worse and very wretched Tango Palace...! inkshield:

 

[Captain Bacardi]

I just found this album the other day (and made some corrections to the personnel), and I like it. I've always found Dr. John to be enjoyable - his sound fits well within Austin. Most of this album sounds like the band Stuff with vocals, and it almost is. The band really grooves on tunes like "Dance The Night Away" and "Wild Honey", and David Sanborn's sax work is apparent on several tunes. Plas Johnson even gets some solo space on "Fire Of Love". Buzz Feiten plays a cool guitar solo on "Snake Eyes". The one song I really didn't care for was "Rain". It's not a great album, but there's plenty to enjoy here. 3 stars.



Capt. Bacardi

 

[LPJim]

I found the Verve reissue of this album last week. Other than a note under the disc tray about its previous release on A&M/Horizon, there's no A&M label or any other reference to A&M in the package.

The disc looks like a black Verve label from the mid-60s. A replica of the Horizon label would have been nice. Sound quality is quite good, so this is a minor complaint.

JB

 

[Dave]

Pretty much a more pop and R&B sort of outing for Dr. John, well-backed by New York studio greats, and able to carry out some good tunes, avoiding any clutter & competition from the backing, and a perfect, varying vehicle for his voice...

-- Dave

 

[Captain Bacardi]

Pretty much sounds like the group Stuff is backing up Dr. John on this album. Not the best thing's he's ever done but pretty decent nonetheless.