Gris Gris

Dr. John's Gris-Gris is among the most enduring recordings of the psychedelic era; it sounds as mysterious and spooky in the 21st century as it did in 1968. It is the album where Mac Rebennack established a stage identity that has served him well. A respected studio ace in his native New Orleans, Rebennack was scuffling in L.A. Gris-Gris was his concept, an album that wove various threads of New Orleans music together behind the character of "Dr. John," a real voodoo root doctor from the 19th century. Harold Batiste, another ex-pat New Orleanian and respected arranger in Hollywood, scored him some free studio time left over from a Sonny & Cher session. They assembled a crack band of NOLA exiles and session players including saxophonist Plas Johnson, singers Jessie Hill and Shirley Goodman, and guitarist/mandolinist Richard "Didimus" Washington. Almost everyone played percussion. Gris-Gris sounds like a post-midnight ceremony recorded in the bayou swamp instead of L.A.'s Gold Star Studio where Phil Spector cut hits. The atmosphere is thick, smoky, serpentine, foreboding. Rebennack inhabits his character fully, delivering Creole French and slang English effortlessly in the grain of his half-spoken, half-sung voice. He is high priest and trickster, capable of blessing, cursing, and conning. On the opening incantation "Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya," Dr. John introduces himself as the "night tripper" and boasts of his medicinal abilities accompanied by wafting reverbed mandolins, hand drums, a bubbling bassline, blues harmonica, skeletal electric guitar, and a swaying backing chorus that blurs the line between gospel and soul. On "Danse Kalinda Boom," a calliope-sounding organ, Middle Eastern flute, Spanish-tinged guitars, bells, claves, congas, and drums fuel a wordless chorus in four-part chant harmony as a drum orgy evokes ceremonial rites. The sound of NOLA R&B comes to the fore in the killer soul groove of the breezy "Mama Roux." "Croker Courtboullion" is an exercise in vanguard jazz. Spectral voices, electric guitars, animal cries, flute, and moody saxophone solos and percussion drift in and out of the spacy mix. The set's masterpiece is saved for last, the nearly nearly eight-minute trance vamp in "I Walk on Gilded Splinters" (covered by everyone from Humble Pie, Cher, and Johnny Jenkins to Paul Weller and Papa Mali). Dr. John is brazen about the power of his spells in a slippery, evil-sounding boast. Congas, tom-toms, snaky guitar, and harmonica underscore his juju, while a backing chorus affirms his power like mambo priestesses in unison. A ghostly baritone saxophone wafts through the turnarounds. Droning blues, steamy funk, and loopy R&B are inseparably entwined in its groove. Remarkably, though rightfully considered a psychedelic masterpiece, there is little rock music on Gris-Gris. Its real achievement -- besides being a classic collection of startlingly deep tunes -- is that it brought New Orleans' cultural iconographies and musical traits to the attention of an emergent rock audience.

This is exactly why I started this challenge. I have never heard Dr John before and I absolutely loved it! It is so cool and interesting.

One of the most unique albums I’ve heard in my time. A masterpiece of spooky, weird, and downright catchy stuff. I loved this.

A very bizarre album. Not at all what I expected. The arrangements are generally spare and unusual with a lot ambience and echo and strange noises that seem to come out of nowhere. The backing vocals on the opener Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya are angelic and distant really gorgeous. There are lots of different styles here most of which I can't identify. My first run through the album I was ready to give it a low rating...but my second spin is giving a much more positive perspective. I can't quite say that I live every song but man each song has something at least interesting to offer and deserves closer inspection. 4 🌟

Shamanistic van morrison

Parents in 1968 must have been freaked the fuck out when they heard this coming from their child's bedroom. It's crazy how music changed in ten years between 58 and 68. Ten years ago for us it was like, Bon Iver S/T and Arcade Fire The Suburbs.

Spooky and atmospheric. Accomplished musicianship and swamp animal sounds. Such cray cray.

At first I was thinking "Who is this ripping off Tom Waits?" then I see it was released in 1968. Wow. Ok not surprising he is an influence on Waits. As a Waits fan this is fascinating. I like Gris-Gris and Mama Roux but the vocals on Croker Courtbullion are super annoying. Definitely hear some Zappa-esque things here as well. I don't know if I'd wanna listen to a lot of this again but, damn I gotta give it a 4 just for the respect of this being 1968.

I can see how if you were listening to this album, it would be very difficult to leave your car. Because it would be a difficult decision to unbuckle your seat belt to get out of a car plunging off a cliff. What in the world! To be fair, Mama Roux was interesting, but I can't listen to this ever again.

I had to google the author of 1001 to establish his age. There is a disproportionate amount of content from '67 '68 '69. I was wondering if he was 18 around then. Some of it was a golden age but this type of album does not compare with other eras. Maybe it was the drugs. Cover art 2/5

Love the fusion of genres and the "space" between the instruments that that works most of the time. Some of the songs were definitely a little too "out there" for my liking. All in all a cool & different album

I wasn't crazy about this the first time through, but because it's so short I gave it another listen, and I liked it significantly more the second time. It's fun and weird and sounds like something Dewey Cox would have made.

Love this. Putting instrumentals so low-key that they appear as soundtrack next to something like "Jump Sturdy" is obviously weird, but in this case it's New Orleans weird. I expected something more uptempo when I saw the genre and length, but the way it is feels right.

Unexpectedly amazing. I had wrongly written off Dr John as some proggy old blues appropriator. An amazing blend of Cajun, blues and psych rock here. I and hear how he has influenced the sound of many bands that followed. The layering of some of the tracks is like nothing I have heard from that era Now to explore some of his other albums

There was a guru who calls himself Dr. John, because he has a so-called "spiritual kinship" with a spiritual healer named Dr. John Montaine. That's probably where he got his treasured amulet that he call a "gris gris". Something about New Orleans voodoo. The mysterious man offered some stories about some native communities in New Orleans. Curious, I sat and chewed the stories. I'm not sure and I don't remember if we used some psychedelics, but we probably did. It IS psychedelic. But those nighttime stories - the trippiest ones - bore me. I prefer the festive daytime rituals. I love the vivid and lively imagery of it, especially the stories and songs for Mama Roux - the queen of little red, white, and blue, and Jump Sturdy - who come out of the swamps like a lazy fool. I felt like I was in that little community, happily chanting with them. It felt like a non-horror version of "Midsommar", it's trippy, exotic, and tribal. I'll definitely come back to his stories, but if I do, I'll probably skip the slow, lengthy trippy ones.

I was ready to love this but it’s all a bit messy and weird. Cool to read that he ran away from the law in New Orleans, bringing those swampy influences with him but not as funky as I was expecting.

I dig Dr John's unique brand of psychedelic funk. There's nothing quite like it and it's timeless. At some points it genuinely feels like it's part of a voodoo ritual, other times it's all mellow feel good vibes. Either way it's always dripping with soul.

For when you drop acid and suddenly crave Cajun food. Essential listening if your favorite Manning is Archie and your child is named after Bobby Hebert. It's your favorite album if you still harbor resentment towards HBO for canceling Treme, and you completely understand why the Katrina victims refused to move.

Music to Manson Family to.

Practically unlistenable

Incredible. Fun in every way.

this was really cool and unexpected

I have some qualms about the Dr John phenomena from a cultural standpoint but this is such a testament to his talent, taste, and personality

What an absolutely fantastic album.

A really cool hidden gem! I had never heard of Dr. John, but this is some awesome New Orleans jazz meets psychedelic nightmare fuel

I find this album to be unique, magical and local to Nola flair. Loved it.

Not a single standout song, just an entire standout album, nothing so far has sounded as groovy and gritty as this.

So this was a very interesting mellow and swampy and fun album. Great rhythms hinting at the Caribbean grooves with a very much Creole setting. There’s a hint of a future Tom Waits in here - I loved this. And it was short enough to keep you wanting more

Fantastic stuff as always from The Dr.

Ge mig mer av The Night Trippers sizzling Gris-Gris! Wow! Detta var annorlunda. Mörkt, psykedeliskt, träskigt, långsamt funkigt. Jävlar vad jag gillar det. Dr. John har ett tydligt New Orleans-sound, voodoo-influerad swamp-blues. Liknar Tom Waits Rain Dogs (eller Rain Dogs som liknar Gris-Gris, såklart). I de mörkare låtarna sitter du vid en lägereld i en fuktig bayou i Louisiana. Det är mitt i natten, det regnar, du har hamnat mitt i en voodoo-ritual och vet inte riktigt om du är i fara eller inte. Allt du har att luta dig mot är shamanen Dr. Johns raspiga stämma mässandes Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya. Albumet är perfekt komponerat, lagom kort. Mitt i det skräckinjagande mörkret finns en välkomnande lättsam andningspaus i mitten med Mama Roux, och till en viss del Danse Fambeaux. Bäst är I Walk on Guilded Splinters, med det finns inte en enda svag låt. Om jag skulle tvingas ta ut min top-5 från detta albumet (på 7 låtar) så skulle nog Danse Kalinda Ba Doom och Croker Courtbullion ryka. Ett album som griper tag i en och inte går att sluta lyssna på. Jag kommer hålla hårt i denna talisman. Bästa låt: I Walk on Guilded Splinters.

Such wonderful, swampy, sticky sounds. I can definitely see the influence on future artist like Tom Waits! Can’t wait to give it another listen and explore more Dr John.

super cool surprised I haven't heard it

Dr. John's first album is a feast of New Orleans rock and psychedelia. He leans into his namesake's legend as a voodoo doctor to create a persona that is mesmerizing and menacing. The music itself is slow burning, and simmers like a pot of gumbo to develop and deliver something that sits at a musical crossroads and dares you to classify it. Dr. John found himself in legal trouble and fled to Los Angeles from New Orleans. Apparently, his storied hometown followed him there because he put together a group of New Orleans session musicians and took on the Dr. John moniker. I'm a big fan of New Orleans music and lore and this album manages to weave it all together without becoming yet another forgettable 60s psychedelic album.

Psychedelic voodoo blues.

Wonderfully spooky (the cover artwork is perfect) the music is weird yet accessible. It's got an exotic New Orleans vibe through a psychedelic lense. And Dr John's snake-like vocals are the icing on a highly spiced cake. Absolutely love this, it's rare to find an album where every track is a winner, so it's easily one of my all time favourites.

Can swamp groove be considered a genre? There is some blues, some funk, some R&B, but swamp groove seems a better description to me. It is also music that doesn't seem it can be from anywhere other than New Orleans. If one is a fan (I am), this is where it all began. Dr. John as a persona may simply be a creation by Mac Rebennack, but it is fully formed here. Great saxophone work by Plas Johnson. Wonderful throughout.

I had not heard this one before, but I came to it completely prepared to dislike it because it's late 60s psychedelic and I thought my hippy parents kinda burned me out on this whole genre (although I adore Jimi, Janice and any number of hippy era artists so this is probably one of those dumb prejudices that has no basis in reality). Indeed, I loved this album! So much that I'm giving an album I had never heard until yesterday FIVE STARS. That's serious stuff. This album is hard to put words to, but it's a richly layered Cajun/zydeco cacophony. Extremely well produced, super fun songs, amazing musicianship. I listened to it twice and want to listen to it again right now.

cool

I have a real appreciation for Dr. John and how he incorporates the music and traditions of Acadiana. He's steeped in it.

3/23 Wild, funky, swampy. Deep in the Bayou. Standout Tracks: Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya, Danse Kalinda Ba Doom, Croker Courtbullion, I Walk on Guilded Splinters

While not the best album that normally would be a 3, the whole character and music fit together perfectly and sold the album. Very creative and unique

Insert Bart high on pure syrup squishy gif. This album rules.

A classic if you grew up in SoCal in the 70s/80s.

Interesting

Love some New Orleans Dr. John. Wasn't his best but still enjoyed it thoroughly.

A pleasant surprise. Really enjoyed it

Pretty psychedelic 70s era funk with a touch of the Louisiana sound. Very cool album. Sets a mood/tone. Not sure how often I would listen recurring.

Funky psychedelic music

Exotisch! Darf man sagen, als Vollwestfale, oder? Ich find das ziemlich geil - gleite gerade noch durch "Walk on Guilded Splinters". Zum Glück nur auf Platte, in echt würde mich das viel zu stark ängstigen alles. Super schwül, irre Blicke, jede Menge mir unbekannte Drogen am Start, Magick und Voodoo - weiß man denn, ob's nicht doch wirkt?! Musikalisch zwar nicht immer voll mein Ding, aber für den Headtrip ziemlich perfekt. Machen wir 3,6 draus!

Schönes Kleinod. Sleazy Beatnik Voodoo flambiert in karribischem Rum und von Devandra Banhart mit gegrillten Hühnerherzen serviert; im Hintergrund checkt schon Gonjasufi ab, was sich hier an Kupfer abstauben lassen könnte. Den Doktor würde ich wohl nur in bestimmten Zuständen ertragen können, mich dann aber erwartungsfroh zitternd in seine behandelnden Hände begeben. Mr. Bungle gibt zuckende 3.8

Questo album c'ha un grosso problema che è forse più evidente in assoluto nella prima traccia e quindi è pure un po' un trauma: l'uso a cazzo di cane del pan. Devo dire che nel '60 ogni tanto c'erano questi guizzi creativi nell'uso del pan che sarebbe stato meglio non concretizzare, ma qua sembra che l'ingegnere che ha fatto il misaggio è cascato sui fader del pan mettendoli a caso e poi ha lasciato così. Detto questo, che me lo dovevo togliere, a me sto album m'ha stregato (ah ah ah ah! ;). Cioè come fai a non innamorarti di questa unione di musica tribale, blues e voodoo? Pezzi preferiti "Danse Kalinda Ba Doom" e "Jump Sturdy" ma in generale tutti mi hanno colpito per originalità e personalità e i versi di animali in "I Walk on Guilded Splinters" sono, come Kate Bush sa bene, il modo più veloce per conquistarmi. Direi che forse è un po' meno di 4, tipo un 3.75, però dopo Robbie Williams me sembra il minimo dare 4 al buon Dr. John.

You can tell so easily that this is a New Orleans album, which I think is really cool. However, I didn't love it much past that sort of atmospheric novelty. 7/10

7/10. Some cool sounds, but nothing to drive me wild.

241021 11:02 3.5

I can see why it would be an important album at the time of its release, even if it's not my cup of tea today

cool shit. never listened to this before. last track is a jam

Started rough but once it clicked I was on board to the end.

Better than I anticipated

Mjög áhugavert! Swamp Rock - blanda af psychadelic og N'awlins rhythm & blues. Geggjuð plata.

A light four, enjoyable stuff. 'Swamp rock' describes it pretty well, but there seem to be several genres influencing this

great album. just totally imbued with the sound of voodoo and the swamps. love zydeco and this is way at the top for me.

Really funky album! I had no idea this was the sound of old Dr. John. Enjoyed a lot. 4/5

4/5. Entertaining, and unique especially for ‘68. Dr. John reminds me of Tom Waits

A while back I spent a lot of time trying to get a copy of this on vinyl because I had heard it was a great album. I finally got it and really enjoyed it, though something about it feels disjointed or incomplete. I really like the seedy mysticism that Dr John does so well here. Really feels different than much of the popular music of its day.

Very novel sounds! Would be a 3 but it was just so damn interesting

It’s fun and mesmerizing. First half was stronger than second half. Track 2 is soo good.

7/10

Well that was a religious experience. It's extremely weird, but I think that's part of the charm. I like the strange chanting in "Danse Kalinda Ba Doom" and "Croker Courtbullion". Very pleasantly surprised. The first song was confusing and I wasn't sure where the album was going, but I got it after the second song and thoroughly enjoyed the rest.

Interesting stuff, not something I would have ever listened to outside of this.

Very very interesting. As a listener, I couldn't always predict what was coming next, but it always made sense. 3.5, but close enough to a 4.

You've got to love the late 60s. A wacky, brilliant little treasure like this could never get made today. This is really a singular kind of album from a singular artist. It's got a laid back and chill style of delivery but with a totally trippy and spooky psychedelic vibe. It's fascinating. Fave Songs: I Walk on Guilded Splinters, Mama Roux, Danse Kalinda Ba Doom, Jump Sturdy

One crazy spicy gumbo. Love it.

What an interesting combination of genres. An enjoyable listen that surprised me a couple times

Dr. John on jäänyt mun kohdalla aina kuuntelematta. Nyt on tämäkin korjattu. Hyvää psykedeliaa ja ihme vaihtoehtobluesii. Tätä varmaan kannattais oikeesti kuunnella sienissä. Pysyy musta loppuun asti kiinnostavana musana jossa on lainattu paljon vanhaa, mutta on samalla myös luotu aika paljon uutta. En oo ehkä niin suuri psykerockdiggari että tää nousis kärkikahinoihin omien levyjen suhteen, mutta kyllä tää neljän pongon arvoinen on. Hieno. Täytyy tutustua artistin muihinkin levyihin. 4/5

That was quite entertaining, not as weird as I thought.

Funk, soul, and jazz all combined to make the Mardi Gras sound. Dr. John's first album is a fun trek down the Mardi Gras wormhole, this is such a great album. 4/5.

Reminds me of First Utterance, or Exuma. Had no idea this existed, very very happy I now do.

Hard for me to describe on my own. Luckily Wikipedia has my back! Some really interesting psychedelic funk/New Orleans R&B. Can't say I've ever listened to an album quite like this one, and for that I'm grateful that this came my way. Weird and sometimes creepy to listen to, it was a unique experience that left me smiling.

Genre: New Orleans R&B 4/5 Another extreme surprise, Dr. John's Gris-Gris IS a haunting, yet highly rewarding musical experience. From its true and honest New Orleans musical roots, to its near-Captain Beefheart style vocals, to its psychedelic arrangements, Gris-Gris continued to excite me as it progressed through its tracklist. The intro, Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya, an intense and mysterious tale of voodoo, featuring growling vocals from Dr. John himself, sets the tone for a real musical treat that normally wouldn't be on my radar. Songs like Danse Kalinda Ba Doom and Croker Courtbullion are tribal trips through the bayous of Louisiana, true tributes to the indigenous history of the area. The album flows beautifully through different soul and R&B backdrops, each just as interesting as the last. The outro, I Walk on Guilded Splinters, is an 8-minute swamp rock jam, ending the album on a musical high note. I was not expecting to enjoy this one as much as I did, but this one will easily slide into the spooky albums list for Halloween play. Very interesting, and very good.

I enjoyed this - had it on in the background whilst doing some work. Definitely outside of what I usually listen to!

Loose, weird, bluesy and experimental. It’s got an energy all it’s own. “Croker Courtbullion” sounds like a broadcast from another world, or maybe a recording from someone’s dream. Hearing his growling, half-spoken delivery, it’s pretty clear we wouldn’t have Tom Waits without Dr. John. Highlights: “Mama Roux,” “Danse Fambeaux,” “Jump Sturdy,” “I Walk on Guilded Splinters”

Blues staple with funky influence - good for a day of home projects or a backyard jaunt.

Really cool and far out record.

In the middle of the night I awaken to find a pack of wolves feasting on the remains of my father. Rather than panic and try to scare them off, I put this record on and dance. I dance so vigorously that the wolves stop eating my dad and begin tapping their feet to the rhythm. Soon Kevin Costner turns up. He smiles.

this album makes me think of the voodoo stuff going on in Live and Let Die, the film obviously, not the Macca soundtrack. that's a good thing. he does a really good job of selling me whatever drugs it is he's selling, i would like some please.

Super cool. Made me feel like I was killing a chicken in a swamp.

It's a bit "out there" - but full of good old funky psychedelic vibes.

Very enjoyable.

Very Tom Waits-y. Interesting album. Loved the music and vocals. Would listen to again.

Rock pantanós i enfebrit, amb multitud de textures provinents dels ritmes de Nova Orleans, sons africans i tot plegat executat amb maestria. Un disc per emmarcar

Some seriously atmospheric voodoo jive here, plenty dark and vaguely haunting. The call-response and groovy, hushed drumming on “Walk on Gilded Splinters” is the highlight. Vintage and authentic.

A heady dose of New Orleans, a mix of R&B and psychedelia. Probably even better when under the influence.

Mecopó mecopó

Dr. John’s southern rock, blues, groove music is authentic and energetic. This record is tight and thoughtful and fun. I liked it mighty biggly.

Love his voice. Music is kinda like African 70s music. Might be best to listen when high

I really enjoyed this in a middle era Tom Waits kind of way. Soulful and utterly insane in the best of all possible ways.

Interesting. Creole blues.

Groovy, dark and druggy, right up one's alley. One was suspicious about Dr. John's later schtick, its authenticity, but this original article is that and fully vintage trippy. bayou psychedelia, real voodoo vibes and grooves here.

Wow this was cool

This album would be perfect to listen to if you ever found yourself lost in the swamps of Louisiana