Dr.John-In The Right Place (1973)

Malcolm John Rebennack, better known as Dr. John, was one of the great pioneers of the New Orleans sound, steeped in jazz, blues, and the ancestral music of Mardi Gras, the city's famous Carnival. From a young age, his passion for these genres led him to join local bands and work as part of the backing group for such prestigious musicians as Lloyd Price. For a few years, the guitar was his primary instrument, but due to an accident during a fight, he lost part of one of his fingers. From then on, he dedicated himself to playing the piano, thus beginning an extensive and fruitful career as a session musician. He also launched his solo career in the mid-1960s, right in the midst of the burgeoning psychedelic genre. It wasn't until the end of that decade that his first album, "Gris-Gris", arrived, followed by other interesting records such as "Babylon" and "The Sun", among other works brimming with Creole, R&B, and jazz sounds, all infused with rock and roll. In 1973 came one of his best works, "In The Right Place", his sixth album, which brought him his greatest commercial success, remaining on the Billboard charts for almost eight consecutive months. Recorded in Florida and produced by another giant of the New Orleans scene, Allen Toussaint, it featured collaborations with some of the most respected musicians in the American music scene, including Art Neville, Joseph Modeliste, David Spinozza, Leo Nocentelli, Ralph McDonald, and George Porter. Based on his unmistakable sound, “In The Right Place” is a journey into the realms of R&B, world music, and jazz, featuring irresistible tracks like the carnival-like “Same Old Same Old”, the driving rhythm of “Right Place, Wrong Time”, the laid-back “Just The Same”, the swampy “Traveling Mood”, the funky “Peace Brother Peace”, and the jazzy “Such A Night”. However, John also incorporates elements of other recognizable sounds within traditional American music, such as soul in “Shoo Fly Marches On” and gospel in “I Been Hoodoo”. “In The Right Place” was one of his biggest hits, though the only one to reach the top 10. Throughout his career and countless collaborations, he won an impressive six Grammy Awards. Among many others, that list of collaborations includes The Allman Brothers Band, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, The Band, Bob Seger, and B.B. King.