Gris Gris

"Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya" and especially "I Walk on Gilded Splinters" i'm going to keep this album pretty well into my favor though it didn't totally land. I really like it when it heavily leans into the voodoo especially the opening "Gris Gris" track and "Dance Kalinda Ba Doom". And "Mama Roux" kind of gives me the vibes that Dr. Hook would put into their single "Marie Laveaux". But the real standout track is the "Gilded Splinter" closer. That is a Master Jam. Unfortunately there's a big rough patch in the middle of the album with "Dance Fambeaux" and "Cocker Courtbullion" that really drives down this from being a solid four-star album. (7.45) ★★★½

I think Dr. John's voice is really cool. Not every track is as good, but the best tracks here is fantastic, with their swampy quality. 3.5 stars

I thought this was pretty cool. I like the songs were Dr. John really leans into the creepy Cajun voodoo stuff. When he doesn't, he kind of comes across as a poor-man's Randy Newman. But, but the first couple tracks are really cool and the closer is super awesome. "I Walk On Guilded Splinters" sounds like it should be in some southern horror movie. "Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya-Ya" and "Danse Fambeaux" were some other highlights. 3.5 stars.

3.5

et lille besøg til new orleans :)) fed oplevelse, blev overrasket da jeg opdagede at manden er hvid??? 3.5

É curioso... Gostei, vou querer escutar mais vezes.

The songs feel like they could use more meat and substance, but the album's sound itself comes across really different and interesting, like he's just in his humble early years, building up to make a masterpiece someday. It's no surprise that he made substantial and prolific contributions to music history-to-be, like performing the theme song to the 2000s animated Curious George television series

Todo un personaje legendario, uno de los The Wrecking Crew (o The Clique) que ya de por sí merecen un hueco en la historia. Aquí tenemos un disco bizarro con sonidos carvenarios del Nueva Orleans más primitivo. Sonidos similares a los de Captain Beefheart pero desde el pantanoso sur. nada que ver con fricadas (maravillosas también) como las De Screaming Jay Hawkins. El éxito le llegó, a nivel comercial de la mano de Allen Toussaint y el respaldo de The Meters, con In the Right time, wrong place ya en el 73. Abre con la presentaciónn de Gris Gris, tema que da título al álbum. Gris Gris es como se denominan ciertos amuletos relacionados con el voodoo. Danse Kalinda ba doom, instrumental con voces que solo se oyen en África y Nueva Orleans. Sólo Mama Roux tiene algo de melodía, una delicia. Danse Fambeaux es un extraño gospell bugaloo... Croker Courtbullion es un tema jazz que obviamente ha influido a Barry Adamson... Jumbo Sturdy es extrañamente tarareable, con ese coro del más allá. I walk on guilded splinters con esa percusión y voces femeninas es una experiencia magistral de más de 7 minutos. No es Symphaty for the devil de los Stones, esto va más allá.

Un loquito divino. No entendí nada. Pero es un album corto y disfrutable. Como la vivian en esa época eh. Mirá lo que es esa tapa, hermano. Una de George Romero. 6/10

Not a big fan but it is good stuff.

Low 3

huh?

I think I need another listen. I either loved this or hated it and I have no idea which.

Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya Danse Kalimbo Ba Doom Mama Roux I Walk on Guilded Splinters

he's not an actual doctor it's just a handle

Cool vibes, no hits. Historically significant, both sprawling and intimate and creepy

Not my favorite noise, but I did enjoy it, as I am planning a trip to Jazz fest this year. .grabbing my gris gris to go. Listened before? N Saved tracks? N Favorite tracks? N/A ⭐⭐ Didn't hate it or love it.

An album for tripping balls in New Orleans. Head out into the bayou and just get weird. Laissez les bon temps rouler!

I get that he was an influential artist for a specific regional style of music and he has been doing this forever, a flag bearer for the combined N.O. sound and tradition. I wont turn this off if its on and I will nod my head in rhythm if its on. This isnt something I would specifically seek out to listen to. All of that being said just because I dont view this as a masterpiece that needs to be heard (believe me, unless youre really into this specific style you dont need to hear this before you die). Its good. 2.5 isnt an option so I will go with 3 simply because 2 would imply its bad.

It was an interesting style, the New Orleans Bob Dylan, if you will.

Funky voice

Takie 3. Nieźle się zaczyna, ale potem zlewa się w całość i nie wiadomo kiedy jedne utwory przechodzą w inne.

Weet ik niet meer precies

Nothing in it felt overly interesting.

Intriguing

strange and occasionally bizarre but in a way that i can vaguely appreciate for being experimental and Different.

Late 60s blues, jazz. White guy playing voodoo doctor. Gris-Gris is a hybrid of New Orleans R&B and psychedelia. Spooky, swampy, druggy.

3.3 I've had a lot of shite albums this week which I think has really helped this one, relief to have something that hasn't made my day slightly worse. At first I thought it said the year was 1987 so when listening thought it was a really interesting experimental album of someone harking back to old southern rock vibes. Pleasantly surprised to see I misread and it was actually '67! Interesting concept, can't say I loved it, but after the Bee Gees it was a welcome respite.

Dr. John's debut album is a pretty decent listen. Not too long and has some interesting sounds with the trademark New Orleans voodoo and medicine show sound. He has made better records so I would say 3 stars.

Dr. John with a voice that could melt steel beams.

Whimsy and fun

Spooky supernatural and swampy with lots Afro Cuban and Caribbean influences. Felt like something you shouldn’t be listening to, like a secret voodoo incantation or something🧟‍♂️🧟‍♀️

One of those albums which doesn't fit into the 5 star rating system. It's crazy but also whack at points

New Orleans R&B meets 1960's Psychedelia with a Voodoo vibe. Music to get stoned to. I quite liked this laid-back album.

i liked it i like the sounds they make me sway it’s a vibe

You can say this album is a lot like a...cosmic gumbo. Dr. John is steeped in New Orleans traditions, but with that, an awful lot of appropriation. The repetition of these melodies and rhythms can be entrancing and aren't without merit.

Sehr interessantes Werk, weiß aber nicht, ob ich das dann nochmal hören würde.

Listenable.

Album #989 Psychedelic rock mixed with some African jungle beats. It was ok.

Mjög skrýtið en áhugavert.

It was okay

My guess here is that this album was recorded.while on strong acid. An oddball but cool album.

Kinda weird, but kinda fun

Favorite tracks: Danse Kalimba Ba Doom, Mama Roux, Jump Sturdy

Very odd album. I like his voice but he doesn't really sing any melodies. Mama Roux and Jump Sturdy were both awesome songs, bringing the mediocrity of the rest of the album to a nice and average 3 stars.

51/100.

3/5

It's if Lou Reed was from San Francisco instead of New York, and did acid instead of heroin. I didn't really enjoy this, but I'm glad I listened to it?

A gris-gris, also spelled grigri, and sometimes also "gregory" or "gerregery" is a talisman that originated in the Muslim Mande communities of Far West Africa and is believed to protect the wearer from evil or bring luck. Due to Atlantic slavery, the use of the gris-gris was translocated to the Americas and became a significant practice in Louisiana Voodoo and Haitian Vodou. It is also used as a purported method of birth control in some countries. It consists of a small cloth bag, usually inscribed with verses from an ancestor and a ritual number of small objects, worn on the person. Dude is trippin' balls throughout this album.

Having recently been to New Orleans this album has a different meaning, which makes sense in a way I don’t think I would have appreciated otherwise. This was definitely different than the psychedelic rock of the time, particularly because it wasn’t exactly psychedelic, just VERY Creole. Of course, the song Gris Gris Gumbo Ya Ya could easily be argued the other way. This could fit right into the vibe of San Fransisco rock, yet retaining its own regional individuality. I actually really liked this as a cultural and musical concept. Key song for me was I Walk on Guilded Splinters. I have to admit, I don’t know if I have ever heard anything like it, and I would have never looked for it.

Random thoughts: * Surprised to see this album on 1001. I thought it would be the "Right Place Wrong Time" album if they were going to put a Dr. John album on this list. * This was an interesting listen to hear him mix zydeco, bayou, jazz, and rock to create his own sound. I bet this was super unique when it was released. I wonder how this fit into all the other music coming out in 1968( Stone, Beatles, Jimi, Doors, etc). It really makes you appreciate how crazy the late 60s were for music innovation. * I enjoyed the music on this album and was glad I was exposed to it. Highly unlikely to go revisit this album.

It's a 3 for novelty value. Not something I'd choose to play on the regular!

First track and last track are atmospheric moody masterpieces. The middle is fine but has less thought i think making this maybe a 33 minute long EP. And this is part of a larger hypothesis I’m working on where I’m finding albums of a certain vintage 60s through the 80’s had one good track, a lot of filler, and maybe a sneaky “okay” song

Swamp voodoo boogie shit all over the place here. Fun stuff

Unc john heheeh

It's kind of a cosmic gumbo

The prelude to most of the Dr. John music you *do* know.

Pretty cool and fun, but the whole concept of the persona of "Dr. John, the Night Tripper" feels kinda problematic to me.

Pretty nice experience.

2.8

Feels very Zappa and Captain beefheart but I guess that’s because it’s kind of goofy psychedelic music. A lot of it is random chanting and noises (vocally) but to be fair the calm, jazzy instrumentals in the background were consistently nice but maybe a bit repetitive. The sound quality is a bit lacking but it was made in 68 so it’s more understandable. The feel of the album is where it’s most unique but unfortunately for me it just isn’t as engaging with the actual content of the songs. It is quite short though so it definitely works as a condensed album and I appreciate him not making a double album or something out of this like trout mask replica or something. I liked the context of his name as well being based off a voodoo doctor which really fits this psychedelic, trippy sound. Favourites: Mama Roux and Jump sturdy. Overall, 6/10.

Interesting and out there

Quite enjoyed but realistically unlikely to revisit, bordering a 4

This transported me off to the US Deep South, swamp blues and spiritual voodoo magic, and you get a feeling of cultural significance. This is my introduction to Dr John and favourite songs are Jump Sturdy, and the incredibly strange Croker Courtbouillon, which appears to be about fish soup and for some reason stirred up memories ranging from The Addams Family to Scooby Do. Not entirely my thing, but altogether an intriguing listen.

Quite liked this not my normal music but yeah it’s great

Serve me up a cup of this bayou swamp water. A tip of the cap to Dr. John. He gets his finger shot off and somehow channels it into the birth of voodoo funk. I think I’ll take the moss and mud of this psychedelia over the peers of the time chasing sitars and outer space.

Takie to trochę bez tożsamości. Początkowo brzmiało jak muzyka bezdomnych, doświadczonych życiem tylko po to, aby potem przerodzić się w jakieś afrorytmy, egzotyczne i niedopasowane do przeżartego głosu. Trudno mi zrozumieć tę płytę i cieszę się, że jest już za mną. 5/10

It's okay - no strong feelings.

Haunting- great for spooky season.

Wasn't looking forward to slogging my way through this…Then he started singing and I was like DAMNNNNNNNNN! Then came some Alan Lomax Smithsonian field recording-sounding "song." Then came Mama Roux and I was like DAMNNNNNNNNN! Then more field recordings. Finally, in his greatest contribution to music history, he concludes the album by saying, "Golden teeth and golden tones, welcome to my presence...let there be teeth!" And there was Teeth.

Gave me a new appreciation for the music born out of New Orleans.

Kind of a fun Halloween album. I bet in 1968, stumbling upon this was probably trippy AF.

I Only listened to the first song of gris gris, it seems very country like and seemed to have lots of energy. Now that i am writting this i would like to maybe retake my chance with this album after finishing the next one, that is today. Otherwise i wouldnt super rate it without listening to it completly first. Since i would like to atlleast vote im going to vote a 3 star, sorry if this post or review threw you off at first for those who really apreciat this album

This was interesting and suitably odd. At first his voice reminded me a little of Don Van Vliet, but as the album progressed I thought that less. There’s a little psychedelia nonsense that overrides this album, but overall I thought it had some substance. Not sure how many times I would revisit it, but it’s a steady 3/5.

Good

The music is amazing, the vocals haunt my dreams

I think I must have heard of Dr John via an Old Grey Whistle Test from way back when, probably on some kind of clips show. This was OK and had some interesting moments, but lacks a bit of drive for me. I doubt I’d listen again, but it was pleasant enough.

Mid

I thought it would like this more. I like plenty of his songs. But it was a bit irreverent

GO WHITE BOY

Vocals grated after a while but love the guitar work

What an interesting listen. Unlike most other albums I’ve heard. Enjoyed the journey. Not sure how often I’ll revisit

If Albert Hoffman started a Vodún cult in the bayou, this would be the music that would be playing.

This album made me feel like i was in some back alley off of bourbon street talking to some weird street doctor about second rate LSD.

Some of it was good. Some of it was awful. He whistled, there can be no forgiveness, totally lost me the second he puckered.

It was kinda funky, I'm not sure when would I listen to this but I guess I didn't mind it

The last song takes it from a 2 to a 3 Still a bit disappointed that this is where we are now. I need greatness, not okayness Id stick this on again if someone asked for it, otherwise, probably not

Interesting

This album is like sitting in the hostel bar having a beer while some birkenstock-wearing guy in hemp pants and an unbuttoned floral shirt tells the room about how he considers himself more of a 'traveler' than a 'tourist'. You find yourself wondering if all 'travelers' own an Apple Watch, but fearing you are being too cynical, you keep your mouth shut. He proceeds to tell everyone a story about how he was in Bhutan last summer and met an actual shaman. Explaining how this was the most spiritual moment of his life, he proudly claims that he has started to learn how to transverse the axis mundi himself, but of course he's just a beginner. You consider if maybe Bhutan would be a cool place to go and see, but you don't really want to ask this dude for travel tips.

cajun weird

Was a good listen, a bit odd at times

This is a delightfully weird album with weird, far out soundscape jams. Dr. John's voice is both unique yet familiar & adds alot to the New Orleans flared sound but you can tell it's a Dr. John song. Which can go both ways: good or bad. I guess it depends on how you reacted to this sound. 3

Liked the first half a lot. Second side tailed off a bit for me. Interested to listen to more similar music. Probably a 7/10 for me.

Decent

Unquestionably iconic and essential. Doesn't really strike me. *3

🐷 Gris gris potatispolis 🐷 Wow, a shameless Aqua ripoff, classy. Time to make some gumbo

Not terrible, but fairly one dimensional. Almost like 1 long rambling Cajun song.

Ambivalent impression for me. It is an unique album, I don't remember listening to anything similar to this. But, at the same time, I did not connect that much with it.

You certainly can't fault this album for consistency of mood and subject matter. Dr. John is the baddest witch doctor in the swamp, and he's going to spend the whole record telling you all about it, over a deeply eerie bed of orchestration that sounds like it was recorded in a rotting juke shack, or possibly on a flatboat off a bayou sandbar. For pure character and vibe, it scores impossibly high marks. The songs may not all be particularly special, but the grooves spool out like clouds of herbal smoke, while languid solos, bird songs, hand drums, and tolling bells drift in and out of the murk. There really isn't anything like this out there, as far as I've ever heard - it's a cinematic character portrait of a true American oddball original.

Very nice, heavy blues. Proto rap. Like it but a little too hot and miss for me.

This one's a wild ride.

Voodoo man got friends on the other side

3/5

I was previously familiar with Dr. John but not this particular album. This album is pretty good, sound is typical for Dr. John. Mostly catchy but some weird parts. Overall it is good, and I would listen again.

Rare hippiemeuk, met samenzang, gerommel, oerwoudkreten en dierengeluiden. Het moet allemaal klinken alsof ze rond een groot kampvuur dansen, zo lijkt het. Het resultaat is soms irritant, soms wel aardig, met name het laatste nummer (dat ik kende van een cover door Paul Weller) zet de sfeer nog het beste neer. Eentje om misschien nog eens vaker te beluisteren.

De speelse klanken, die alleen in de jaren '60 mogelijk waren, komen je tegemoet. Iets waar ik zelf niet van houd. Maar toch moet ik bekennen dat de plaat mij niet alleen irriteert en mij zelfs ergens wel pakt. Een genre-hater bereiken. Dat is knap! Maar John lijkt daar ook alle moeite voor te hebben gedaan. Het zeer psychedelische karakter is zeker niet ten kostte gegaan van de muzikale kwaliteit en hij heeft een bijzonder prettige balans gevonden met de irritante en toch pakkende (vaak hese) zang. John zet hiermee een unieke sfeer neer. Iets wat ik altijd waardeer. Ik heb zelfs nog even de proef op de som genomen of ik het twee maal kon luisteren. Maar nee, dat is teveel. Zeer terecht opname in de lijst, maar slechts 3 sterren van mij.

Dr John is zo'n naam die je wel vaker (bijv uit de mond van Don Leo Blokhuis) hebt gehoord, maar totaal niet kan plaatsen. Ik denk dat het enige bekende nr "Such a Night" is, maar dat staat niet op dit album. Ik ben daarom benieuwd naar wat de beste man in petto heeft. Vanaf de eerste klanken doet het me experimenteel en psychedelisch aan. Ik denk gelijk aan tijdgenoten Zappa en Capt Beefheart. En dat is niet echt positief. Hij trekt vervolgens een blik wereldmuzikanten open, New Orleans stijl lees ik, zo te horen een melting pot vol Afrikaanse en Caribbische invloeden. Mama Roux is meer herkenbaar, dit had ik min of meer verwacht. Het lijkt of we alle substijlen die in de muziek verwerkt zijn, wel eens eerder gehoord hebben. Maar Dr John verwerkt het wel tot een prima geheel. Ik zou bijna zeggen, een eigen geluid. Het is een beetje vaag, maar ik kan er desondanks wel naar luisteren. Het doet me ook heel funky aan namelijk en die platen bevallen me stiekem meestal wel. Psychedelisch, wereldmuziek, soul, funk, blues, experimenteel. Toch leuk om kennis mee te maken. Het kan een 4 worden, maar ook een 2. Maken we er een 3 van.

Light 3. Very interesting, I’ll give it that, just a little too out there at times.

This has got some cool parts, even though I do not like it that much over all. But it's interesting to see the originals of samples e.g. "Guts - Endless night" (2007) when this is from 68

This was a really weird one. Quite interesting in concept and execution. Entertaining as far as that goes, but not really pleasant listening. A good experience, but won't revisit.

2.6 2x on the cusp of a 2 star but just decent enough

Facinating little trip here. Maybe literally. This interesting, but short bluesy rock record feels like if you were wondering wonderland with alice after you took some shrooms while someone put on a slowed down version of sympathy for the devil. And i like it. Croker courtbullion is a little too experimental for my taste, but all the other tracks have a cool vibe.

It’s cool and also it’s trippy.

As a low down man from da bayou, this really reminded me of home

this was really fun, it had the vibes of one of the 60s era disney movies singing about the characters...i started getting into it and vibing and grooving....

confused by the vibes but like... it was enjoyable! then i saw this is from nola and was like ohhhhhhh right.... now it makes sense. still need half stars cause this is 2.5 for ME

Meh

The soundtrack for the villain in a New Orleans-themed musical.

Dr. John is an absolute legend. This isn't my favorite of his but a wild exploration of some spooky and weird music. Walking on guilded splinters and the title track are top notch but the rest fails to really meet those highs. A fun record to throw on in the background for a Halloween party.

All the songs had similar pacing and stuff

Day 7 First listen- Enjoyed listening to it, trippy. Had its highs and lows! Some songs were very interesting and fun while some were sorta boring. Highlights- Jump Sturdy, Croker Courtbullion. (3/5)

This album was fine! I liked the overall genre of songs but some of them had vocals I didn't enjoy.

Ich hab’s nicht so aufmerksam gehört aber im Hintergrund fand ich’s ganz gut! Angenehm kurz

Zum Teil sehr experimentell, dann wieder überaschend groovy. Fav: I Walk on Guilded Splinters

Not bad. It’s definitely a little weird.

Weird ass album, but it kind of grew on me as I listened to it. Soooooo 60s, and sooooo psychedelic, and also was Dr. John white..?? But also, The Big Easy's one of my favorite cities on the entire planet, so you know I gotta put some respect on him for representing. God-awful album cover. Fave songs: - Mama Roux - I Walk on Guilded Splinters

This was good. I like the vibe, there’s some funky weirdness going on here that’s part voodoo, part psychedelic. Cool vibe. Not great, but solidly good.

very atmospherical, feel like im in a hut in the swamps. reminds me of funkadelic in some spots

odd one

This album is cool, but I feel it needs a heavy amount of drugs to feel totally effective.

New Orleans you say?

a short album at 7 songs over 33 minutes, but really there are only 2-3 songs in slightly different configurations. the Dr. John the Gris Gris man schtick would have been good for a single song perhaps, but not enough to wrap a whole album around. nothing I would ever want to listen to again, though it wasn't torture to make it through.

De gehele atmosfeer is goed cohesief. Vond de liedjes wel enorm langdradig. Maar het was wel een chill album maar niet een waar ik weer naar zou luisteren

This is some weird uncanny valley Blues Rock. It definitely sounds like swamp voodoo music. I don't know exactly how someone came up with this, but drugs must've been involved. I very much liked it. There's so much blues or blues-adjacent rock on this list, at least this one does something unique and memorable with it. But that typeface is soooo ugly! Key tracks: Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya Mama Roux

Maybe I shouldn't read reviews on her before listening. Because so many reviews on here reference to this album being spooky. This really got my hopes up. A New Orleans style spooky album? Sign me up. I have no idea where any of those reviews are coming from. Nothing spooky about this. It is decent though.

Gonzo

Too much mojo for me.

Better than I expected, but I did not care for it.

Psycheldelic RnB -sowas habe ich auch noch nicht gehört. Auf eine sehr eigene Art unterhaltsam. Wild, spannend - nichts für jeden Tag. 3/5

Tom Waits goes to South America. 6/10

What a trip. It's Zappa or Captain Beefheart adjacent without the weird turned up to 11.

Kind of sounds what I imagine New Orleans to sound like. I dig the tribal drumming and the patois. The good songs were Gris-Gris, Mama Roux, Walk on Guilded Splinters.

Best Song: I Walk on Guilded Spiders This was ok at best, it goes from bluesy to weird really quick. I just don't see myself ever listening to it again.

This album is pretty weird. A swampy new Orleans blues album with some psych and occult elements. Pretty cool concept but fails to keep much of my attention 6/10 Favourite: I Walk on Gilded Splinters Least Favourite: Mama Roux

Nyt ollaan kyllä taas siellä osastolla, oudoimpia levyjä tällä listalla. Tosi jännää ja nimenomaan jännää psykedeelistä musiikkia joka varmaan rokkia on pohjimmiltaan, mutta tosi natiivin kuuloista. Voodoo musiikkia. Häröä ja outoa, mutta mielenkiintoisella tavalla hyvää. Parhaat: Danse Kalinda Ba Doom, Croker Courtbullion

Strange one. I felt like I was in a swamp... filled with drugs

Lite tokig. Lite chill. Lite vibes. Lite, undrar vad det här betyder

It was unique...I'm not sure if I liked it or not.

Good tunes thx

Interesting but I wasn’t really into it (2.5/5)

New Orleans is a great city, but it’s also a city of thieves and scoundrels with larceny deep in its heart. In fact, that is a big part of its charm. I’m sorry to inform anyone who paid to listen to this that you just got your pocket picked like a tourist on Lafayette Square. But as New Orleans knows, if a crime is committed with enough style then nobody minds too much.

Unique and has a great groove to most of the songs.

Strange but somewhat enjoyable

Reminds me a bit of Tom Waits. Quite enjoyed it, very weird. Didn't save any tracks though.

Pretty good, jungly, groovy and nice

This was strange. An interesting listen. Definitely worth listening to at least once, just for the experience. I haven't heard anything like this before.

interesting vibe

A little bit too experimental for my taste

Music to trip to.

Coco Robichaux

Was expecting something more psychedelic or experimental. And yes some of both of those things are here but not to the degree i thought I was getting into. It's more just a slightly experimental kinda Louisiana type bluegrass type bayou music. It's pretty decent though all things considering.

2.5 - Not for me

Typical DT John gunbo

Could be a 4. A little Louisiana precursor to Tom Waits and short which is nice.

Swampy/witchy feeling

Back in ‘81 Len tried to get a prescription from Dr John. It was one of the funniest days of my life and Houmous & Chutney career. 2.6

Super weird album, I like it’s for what it was though. Glad I listened to it once, it’s interesting to hear the voodoo psychedelic style, I think three out of five is good.

fun and funky

Not my thing. I think if I understood 60s New Orleans culture I might like it more, but I don't.

No idea what I just listened to.

An interesting listening, must have been extraordinary at the time of release to here something like this. Obvious why it's included here but not one I'd go back to often 3.5*

It's cool and fun but not my fav

This really flicked around on the meter of weird and interesting to weird and unpleasant, but at a shorter runtime that was ok.

Yeah, that is Dr. John! I know Dr. John through a few of his most popular songs, and I was excited to hear Dr. John's debut album where he unleashed his full psychedelic, New Orleans style. Gris-Gris isn't your standard fare and even stands out of these 1001 albums. It's unusual, it's pure swamp, and the chants enthrall you. This album's release in 1968 must've still stood out, even with all the other psychedelic albums of the time, because nothing else sounds like this. As a final note, Tom Waits was a contemporary of Dr. John; though the two musicians share very little between genres, I heard similarities between their blues-style music. Perhaps Dr. John even encouraged Waits to spread his weird wings in the late seventies and beyond? All I'm saying is that Tom Waits' music journey makes more sense after this album.

What a weird fucking album. I have no idea what voodoo rituals I just participated in. I have to admit, I do like the vibe. And the longer I listened, the more I jammed out with the ambience. It's great background music.

Certainly one of the more unique albums I've gotten so far, probably needs a couple of listens to appreciate, a fusion of psychedelic, jazz, eerie chants, and jungle like rhythms. No standout track, not a commercial album for sure, interesting to say the least.

Don’t quite know what to think about this album. It’s certainly different in a multitude of ways. Another album that if not for this list I would never have been aware of but unlike a lot of these unknowns where I would have preferred to have continued my ignorance, this did ignite my interest. 2.5/5 26/3/25

kinda sounds like Tom Jones does experimental bossa nova? idk i guess it was fine for what it is and there were some nice grooves but it was a bit repetitive and nothing really stood out to me

Croker Courtbullion

This kind of album is why I signed up for this. I’m not sure I was ready for Dr John though.

This was a weird one but I didn't hate it. Was giving me 'more accessible Tom Waits' vibes.

Interesting album, haven’t heard anything like it. Good tiki bar vibes.

This was wild. Some groovy tracks, and then some completely unlistenable garbage. Interesting!

A VIBE!

Pretty strange but definitely a fun listen

Ok listen

Probably quite important, and I might get more out of it if I listen closely. But I don't find it that interesting.

Das erste Studioalbum des amerikanischen Musikers Dr. John, bekannt für seine Mischung aus Blues, Jazz, Funk und New Orleans R&B. Das Album wurde in den Cosimo Matassa Studios in New Orleans aufgenommen, einem bedeutenden Ort für die Entstehung von Rhythm and Blues und Rock ’n’ Roll. Es markiert den Beginn einer langen und erfolgreichen Karriere von Dr. John, der für seine einzigartige Verschmelzung von Stilen und seine markante, raue Stimme bekannt ist. Das Album selbst enthält eine Reihe bemerkenswerter Stücke, die seine Vielseitigkeit und Kreativität unter Beweis stellen. Besonders hervorzuheben ist „I Walk on Guilded Splinters“, das zu einem seiner bekanntesten Lieder wurde. Es kombiniert hypnotische Rhythmen mit mystischen und spirituellen Texten, was den „Night Tripper“-Charakter von Dr. John unterstreicht. Ein weiteres prägendes Stück ist „Mama Roux“, das den markanten Einfluss der Cajun- und Voodoo-Traditionen von New Orleans widerspiegelt. Musikalisch bewegt sich Gris-Gris zwischen verschiedenen Genres und experimentiert mit psychedelischen Klängen, was es zu einem frühen Beispiel für die Verschmelzung von traditionellen und modernen Elementen in der amerikanischen Musik macht. Dr. Johns Verwendung von Orgeln, Percussion und anderen klassischen New Orleans-Instrumenten schafft eine dichte, oft mystische Atmosphäre, die dem Album seine besondere Note verleiht. Im Fazit lässt sich sagen, dass Gris-Gris ein vielseitiges und atmosphärisches Album ist, das nicht nur die musikalische Landschaft von New Orleans widerspiegelt, sondern auch Dr. Johns einzigartigen Ansatz zur Musik und Performance etabliert. Es ist ein essentielles Werk für Fans von Blues, Jazz und Psychedelic Rock der späten 60er Jahre.

Look what crawled out of the bayou

Nach somene high vom letzte Album fühlt sich z tüüf natürlich nomal biz tüüfer ah, aber de Nacht Tripper Dr. John (Meineder isch de au wükli en Dokter?) findi hets no smooth gmacht und het mi ned zu Steil gheie lah. Dadefür bini doch dankbar. Ich glaub das Album het ned soooo viel wiederhör-potential aber irgendwie hanis doch musikalisch sehr witzig gfunde und gnosse. Drü Griessbrei für de Herr Doktor.

Was, Dr. John Dorian us Scrubs hed es Album 1968 usebracht? Hani nöd gwüsst. Im dr john sis bild gsed aber funny us, weiss aber nöd wie vertrauenswürdig de cheib isch. Wüssti ez nöd öb de mini prostata-operation dörft durefüehre - i doubt it. De chan mit mir au nöd chli dökterli spieli mache. Aber musik macht er besser als medizin. Irgendwie na es fun album, 1-2 recht gueti tracks, 1-2 interessanti und biz abgspaceti aber würki es banger album ischs denn doch nöd. Darum eher gib dem album drüü därm (s einzige körperteil woni gfunde han wo 3 teili hed)

ich weiss nöd genau wases ah de swamp hillbillies isch was sie so viel sympathischer macht als die texas oder desert hillbillies irgendwie mystischer chömeds mir übere und das album bewist das - eher wie en versoffene, verdrogte drumming circle irgendwo im swamp dusse bimene füür anstatt hasstirade und shotgun porch action wiemer scho paarmal ghört hend da ih dem klöpp mit de desert bros das album hett öppis mystisches ufgwise und mich chli in bann zoge, aber nume es bizeli drum hocki da uf mim baumstumpf umgebe vo 3000 alligatore und schlange ih mim sumpf uf de suechi nachem schamanische boogiekollektiv, usgrüstet mit ennere angelruete zum fische, minnere trusty latzhose wo nurno ein strap dra isch und ennere ladig moonshine und swamp air ih mir drinne SWAAAAAAAAMPPPPPP POWERRRRRRR

Dr. John with some down home NOLA voodoo funk. Can't say that everyone will like this, and it definitely didn't fit the 1968 AM radio format, but I liked it

Quite the oddity! I mean that positively, and more in the way that I don’t know anything much about the world of New Orleans it comes from. Really enjoyed Danse Kalimba Ba Doom and Mama Roux, not enthralled by the rest. Fun to experience something new to me though.

You know, everything was there for me to like this album. Gravelly voice, New Orleans vibe, unique subject matter. And yet it feels kind of... inauthentic to me? I feel a little like someone is trying to bedazzle me with a fakery they don't really believe in. I can definitely appreciate why it's on this list, the music is fantastic. Just not one that hit home to me.

Gewoon lekker, af en toe een beetje rommelig

3/5. That was pretty wild, not sure how I feel about it honestly. This is a foreign language album because man was speaking in tongues. I understand is a heavy accent, maybe even involving some New Orleans French, but mixed with the art on the cover, they are not beating the witchcraft allegations, a curse was definitely laid on me. It is not something I'm putting on regularly but it is a unique listen, I'll give it that and wasn't bored since it was so short. Definitely something you should listen to, but maybe not more than once. Best Song: Mama Roux, Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya, I Walk On Guilded Splinters

This was cool to hear and mentally marked as "will play again". Spooky in its way and entertaining.

enjoyed this, was a bit odd in places but enjoyed overall, favourite was Danse Fambeaux

This is partly what keeps me from binning this list. I would have never, ever listened to this if it wasn’t drawn from this generator. Some crazed late-60s psychedelia. This is one of a select genre of albums that seem to have appeared in this time period as a ‘fuck it, let’s just make some nonsensical, vaguely illustrative noise’. Gris-Gris is consistently odd, often strangely mellow and sometimes seriously insane. But it’s not trying to be anything else, is it? This wasn’t made with mass market appeal in mind, this was clearly made to showcase the ‘other side’ of mass-produced music. Imagine picking this up at a record shop in 1968, thinking it’d be more classic rock or the like. By Croker Courtbullion, you’d definitely realise that this is no normal album. It’s mental, but not abrasive. A ‘pleasant’ listen is probably too far, so I will use the very boring adjective of ‘interesting’ to describe this in a word.

Really took me a while to made up my mind on Dr John. Hated it at first and kind of liked it on the long run. Not sure, I'd like to revisit it but why not 2.5

Only listened to the first 5 tracks. I liked it. Super weird but it had a soul and rhythm I could zone out to. I'll give it another listen sometime and see if it's a grower of it just caught me on a good day.

It would be hard to give this an "active" listen, but having it on in the background gives your day a swampy, voodoo vibe and I'm into it.

This was a lot better than I feared it would be Wouldn’t say I loved it but it was an interesting listen

Absolutely psychedelic. Haa. I love it.

6.5/10

This is OK - nothing really stands out but it’s a cool enough vibe. I don’t know if I’ll search it out again, but if I heard it I wouldn’t be sorry.

Dr. John has a prescription for the evening. If you can swallow this pill from 1968 you'll be transported to a musical landscape both swampy and cool. If this Rx seems like it isn't for you, maybe it's the questionable cultural appropriation and feeling like the record is "all vibes"? If that's the case, I implore you to try one more time — there is a subtle musicality and craft at work. It's deceptively simple. Enjoy the trip.

Está padre. Muchas mezclas y ritmos que no pensaria que iban a sonar bien juntos, pero sí que lo hacen. ¡Y en qué año! Padre.

I can't describe it but I like this. Sounds very...unconventional but familiar?

This album is like a voodoo spell - once it starts, you can't help but dance like a chicken on a hot plate.

3,5

weird to mention production but the panning on the first track was not fun to listen to with headphones lol. Good song otherwise. Is mama roux the emergence of "wham bam thank you maam?" Or was that Bowie? I'm off track. This feels like some cool traditional new orleans jazz, bayou blues, some funk and r&b and rock n roll. Very mystic. Pretty cool record.

3.5

Hard to imagine Tom Waits without this paving the way. Unfortunately I'm not a huge Waits fan either. This is cool, but probably not going for another listen. I enjoyed the Dr. John album from 2012!

01) Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya - 7,5 02) Danse Kalinda Ba Doom - 7,0 03) Mama Roux - 7,0 04) Danse Fambeaux - 7,0 05) Croker Courtbullion - 6,0 06) Jump Sturdy - 7,5 07) I Walk on Guilded Splinters - 7,5 TOTAL: 7,07 (71/100) Current ranking:

Woah interesting! Some of the songs on here I would listen to again (but NOT while working out, that was a mistake). Very cool and it seemed very representative of this artists culture. Felt like I was right down in New Orleans

Voodoo and psychedelic from 68, which gained success later.

Walk on Gilded Splinters is a bona fide 5 star classic. Too bad there isn't more of that level on the LP as a whole.

Now this is very interesting. I'm a big fan of these ideas, just not the way they were executed.

The music is actually very good. But his singing makes my skin crawl. I can’t say this is terrible. The music is nice. Just don’t like his voice. Spotify really needs a “mute the singer” button. 3/5

Some really good songs that went on a bit too long. Could easily be edited into being a 4 star album.

2.9 - This was weird, but just on the wrong side for me

This project has a lot of albums with bizarre mixes of music, but Gris-Gris might be the best. Combining Creole and psychedelic to something completely unique. Not sure what else to even say about it after one listen. Definitely requires a deeper dive. 6.3/10

Really ducking weird but I kinda liked it?

I honestly don’t care man, maybe I’m just bitter because I’ve been getting duds after duds.

My second time hearing this enjoyed it more this time.

This cannot be simply described as psychedelic rock - blues - there are too many other factors at work here. An early pre-cursor to Tom Waits, with his croaking vocals, experimental blues, witch doctor twitchy, funky slide and curious vocals, flutes, whistling, and chants this is a varied and fun album which stands the test of time. It doesn't always work, but... that's not a surprise when you stray far from the well-trod path.

I can imagine a young Windham Rotunda sitting in his room and playing this album on loop while dreaming of becoming WWF Champion. Much like wrestling, this album blurs the line between reality and fiction. As cartoony as the idea sounds on paper, I never truly got the feeling that Dr John was just a character and it gives the recordings an air of danger. Somehow makes it more accessible, too. Voodoo-inspired psychedelia mixed with Louisiana blues, Haitian music and even harpsichords isn't an easy sell, but I got it straight away. The instrumental tracks in particular are pure Halloween mood music. However, many of the issues that plague other psych rock records also come up here. It's only 33 mins long, but many tracks go on past their natural conclusion, and the stereo mix jumps between channels without much rhyme or reason. A curiosity, rather than something I would want to listen to on the regular. And now that I've finished, I feel like praying.

Certainly unique, but not always in a good way.

Different for sure. Was confused during the first listen but understood and appreciated it more during the second listen.

I don’t hate it. I think I would hate it if the guy were not actually from Louisiana. But I don’t love it either. A 2.5, rounded up.

I've heard of Dr. John as a New Orleans R&B singer, songwriter, and artist. He grew up listening to jazz musicians like Louis Armstrong and King Oliver while also taking an interest in the practice of voodoo hence the stage name and concept around his debut album Gris-Gris. I will say this is an album I respect more than I like. I appreciate the boldness of mixing the swampy R&B grooves with psychedelia to create a distinct sound and Dr. John knew how to write and sell his gimmick. There are even a few songs in the middle such as "Mama Roux" and "Danse Fambeaux" that are genuine bops in their swagger. But, I can't deny the hurdle with settling into this album's oddball groove, as the first two tracks "Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya" and "Danse Kalinda Ba Doom" come off as more concerned about the outlandish presentation than the execution. Thankfully, this album does not overstay its welcome at 33 minutes, and the session musicians played well enough to make the voodoo pastiche palatable. Gris-Gris was certainly an experience, and I could see why it made the list because there ain't much else sounding like it. I'd give it a listen once through and cherry-pick your favorites.

I'll bump it up for being fun and inventive but at times tlits really just self serving and meandering

This was a much weirder sound than I had become accustomed to hearing Dr. John on the speakers of bars around New Orleans. I like it, but it's super funky. I will say one morning, the day of Mardi Gras I ran into him early walking a deserted residential street and he was nice enough to say good morning. Definitely made me think more highly of him.

I think Dr. John ate the wrong mushroom and inadvertently cast a spell on himself. This album is a cacophony of wet noise from Alabama's bayou. There are a lot of trippy sounds here, bongos, birds chirping in the distance, echoes of singing, chanting and incoherent lyrics.

Gumbo. Voodoo. Mardi Gras. Po boys. Bayou. King cake. Creole. Laissez les bons temps rouler. Beads. Boo. Beignet. Cajun. I feel The Big Easy in this album.

Proto Tom Waits. Very interesting stuff, probably won't revisit for a while.

Surprisingly tame for the way it presents itself. Dr John often ends up sounding more like an off-beat but ultimately gentle character from a cartoon rather than an actual voodoo doctor. The music's pretty chill though.

First time listening. Highlights: mama roux, jump sturdy

Ok

Yeah, not bad.

Dr John makes Bob Dylan sound like Pavarotti. Cool New Orleans sound to it, just not something I see myself revisiting often

Just odd. Tom Waits feels...(but way before.....bit rootsy, by psychedelia. Will play again.....

The first time I heard this, just a few weeks ago, I thought, "Wow, this is really different, and I really like it. This might be worth 4 stars." Today, well it's definitely a different sound, and I appreciate that. But it's not hitting the same today. I still like it, and it's a good vibe, but it's a little too quirky ultimately. I can appreciate music that isn't strictly tight, but this meanders a little too much for my taste. Still good though. Borderline 4, but not quite.

es un 3 pero un sólido tres. Tiene su misticismo tribal que atrae

Weird voodoo Halloween music New Orleans

A slightly weird one but I didn’t have it. Had a nice sound to it

That was funky and fun.

Weird but kinda fun?

grower of an album

There is a quality reminiscent of Tom Waits going on here — though this precedes Waits, so I guess he's reminiscent of Dr. John? Not that it really matters. The bayou flavor is heavy, and it's a tangible part of the appeal of this record. And as much as I enjoyed it, I never got to a 4-star. There was something too ephemeral — nothing stuck. Could be I need more time with it, but this isn't something I see myself going back to. It's cool, and I'd groove to it if someone else fired it up, but I'm on the sidelines with Dr. John.

I wanted a little more voodoo NOLA vibes. Kinda bland.

I liked it mostly

Aw damn. I fucking hate Dr. John. His usual schtick grates my nerves. Mostly, he sounds like Tom Waits mixed with Captain Beefheart, but kinda gross and creepy, like Randy Newman. This is the most I have ever been able to tolerate by this artist. The music is actually very good. But his singing makes my skin crawl. It’s like too much ASMR, piled on top of some really decent tunes. I’d like this so much more, if he just didn’t open his mouth. This is probably much more interesting with a head full of acid and PCP. I can’t say this is terrible. The music is nice. Just don’t like his voice. Spotify really needs a “mute the singer” button. 3/5

Interesting to hear his earlier sounds as I was only slightly familiar with his work.

Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya // Danse Fambeaux // Jump Sturdy // 3.5/5

Hm. I’m too long in the tooth to be ‘conned’ (to con myself is fairer) by this as I was by, say, Gomez’s Liquid Skin. Still. I liked this.

This is the African music I like. Psychedelic and jazzy. Loved the tribal voodoo chants and the mystic Oriental instrumentation. It creates a strange vibe of being in some kind of a cult that looks goofy and funny at first but as you listen more, you feel something dark is there underneath the goofiness. Still felt that it could've better with a tighter structure. Liked: Gris-gris Gumbo ya ya, Danse Kalinda Ba Boom, Croker Courtbullion, Jump Sturdy

Gris Gris is definitely one of the more bizarre albums that i have looked at in this project. That is what helps it to be a really interesting album. It is spooky and kinda sounds like something cavemen or cultists would sing and at some points, sound like an early Tom Waits which i think is actually pretty interesting. The album itself is not a bad listen. Sure, it is a really weird and out of the ordinary album but somehow Dr. John really managed to make things work even with all the weirdness, they also managed to make a sound that i find annoying in most albums sound pretty tolerable (i guess it could just be because i expected it). This might not be the best album to listen to on a normal day but i can still easily recommend it as a curiosity. Best Song: Croker Courtbullion Worst Song: Danse Fambeaux

Swampy, psychedelic and bluesy. Dr. John is one of the best at what he does. He has proved that countless times. It was with Gris-Gris that he unfolded his voodoo world for the world to explore with him. A lot of the record works really well and he knows when to demand your attention, as in “I Walk On Guilded Splinters”. Unfortunately there is also room for songs like “Croker Courtbullion” - and those really aren’t working.

I liked Danse Fambeaux.

Thoughts before listening: Dr. John's the best. I love his raspy voice and his updated, psychedelic take on New Orleans style blues and funk. I know that this is generally considered his best album, so I am excited to listen. I have definitely heard parts if not all of this album before. Review: This is pretty good although its a little slow and dark for my liking. I've heard more rock oriented covers of these songs, especially "Walk on Gilded Splinters", that I much prefer to these versions. Still though its the debut album of a major musician that went on to have a storied and varied career for over 50 years. This is 3-stars to me

They don't make music like this any more. Could they? Is it cultural appropriation? Homage? Inspired? These are tricky questions. Do I like this? That's also tricky. I think if I was drunk enough I would listen to this again and manage to play maybe 2 or 3 tracks before other people asked me what the fuck I was doing and made me turn it off. I would say, "Fair enough. Let me play one more track." Then I would put on 'I Walk on Gilded Splinters', and they would say "Yeah, that was good, but don't put it on again."

Interesting. Not amazing, but definitely interesting.

On first play it was crap, but might be growing on me.

First listen was difficult but began to get in the mood for it on repeat listens. Only a few tracks I really liked, but the album as a whole has a cool vibe. 2.5.

Nice discovery but not mind blowing

Bit of a mad man and some of it is a bit too far beyond the pale but there's some really good bits too and it's under 40 mins.

Here's a weird little album right here. I've never heard of Dr. John, the night tripper, but he seems like a fun character. His voice is certainly interesting. It's pretty Tom Waits-esque in a way. I don't know how to feel about that. Anyway, the musical contents are also decent. This album's pretty short with only 7 songs across 33 minutes. They're not the best 33 minutes of music I've ever heard (albums like Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables and A Love Supreme have it beat in that regard), but they're okay. I think it just boils down to this kind of music not really being my thing personally. I respect this album, but it doesn't really make me feel that much. The sound is solid. The writing is fine. Overall, this album doesn't do much for me, but I can see enough value in this for me to give this a low 3/5 as opposed to something lower.

I enjoyed the start but by the time I got to "guilded splinters" I was tired of what felt to me like a little too much affectation. Dr. John is not a voodoo doctor and this entire album would have been much better had he not felt the need to have the persona. IMHO. As you were.

love that echoey sixties production and it’s a real vibe but except for gilded splinters it’s a bit of a snooze

Lively, quite enjoyed that.

Here is another album that is more interesting than it is good. Some cool ideas here and there, but I don't like the back up singers. Their voices are annoying and I think it hurts the album. Low 3

This was... weird? Kinda cool, kinda not. But dated, for sure. 3, I guess?

Refreshingly different and yet accessible enough to get you bobbing your head. No hit single in sight, but overall the album convinces with its unique vibe. It's also short and snappy, so you won't get tired of it. 3.5/5

Tons of character and I quite liked it

I didn't expect to find this album on this list and I wouldn't have added it either.

As in terms of swamp rock and/or freak folk, that's a pretty great pick to introduce someone to the genre. However, I can't say it's a masterpiece. A pleasant listen, but nothing I will come back to.

Some fun experimenting with instruments with psychedelic and African influence but at times boring and irritating . A pleasant surprise but not my favorite

Diferente y con interés relativo.

This was fine, not amazing, but short and relatively sweet.

This was a wierd album I listened to a few times where some of the tracks I liked better the more I listened and some I liked less

It was an interesting concept, but not much more than that really. Nothing really grabbed my attention or made me want to come back for more.

Liked but did not looove

Liked the vibes, interested in the doc - didn’t make an huge impression on this listen but cool album!

Pretty cool! Instrumentation feels very raw and the vocals have a cool edge to them

This is such a bizarre record, but weirdly compelling too? At first I thought for sure I was gunna have to skip it, but I got the whole way through. It's very character driven and atmospheric, obviously. Dr. John's voice reminds me a lot of Eric Burden's, I think that's why I kept listening. The layers of country backwoods flavour baked into his delivery piqued my sonic interest. This is a white man playing dress up and cultural appropriation in a fully immersive voodoo/hoodoo fantasy world all his own, but I have to give him credit for being so committed to the bit. Is this guy a whackadoo weirdo? Absolutely. Is the record worth the 33 minute listening time? Absolutely. Then you can go get a bowl of gumbo afterward, you've earned it.

A wacky New Orleans sound with a sprinkle of Tom Waits.

Album is very experimental, to the point where making random noises to be “edgy”. Music is good though. 3/5

down and dirty psychedelic blues rock with a creole twist. a fun listen.

I like a few of these but some are just noises.

Felt like some understated psychedelic rock to me. I Walk on Guilded Splinters was my favourite song, Jump Sturdy was also kind of fun. Croker Courtbullion was very repetitive and kind of annoying, same with the back half of Danse Fambeaux if I remember correctly. However it was short and different from anything I've heard in a while, so I'm glad I listened to it.

I feel conflicted. This album sounded like the ramblings of an insane person. But at the same time, I really enjoyed the novelty and artistry of the album.

Very mildly interesting. Didnt catch my ear. Just on the three side of 2.5

Some real voodoo vibes going on with this album. This reminded me initially a lot about another album we had on the list (that I can't for the life of me remember) that had a real pirate coven theme going on. It sort of turned out like that as well, but a bit less pirate specific. But it sure gave me tropic vibes. Definitely a special album that stands out, interesting stuff. Not sure it was entirely for me, but it was something else at least!

I mainly knew Dr. John from singing some songs in "Princess and the Frog", fun to here his own music. It was an album of highs and lows. Some of it sounded a bit like Tom Waits in a good way. Most of it was nice to listen to. The sole exception to this was "Croker Courtbuillon" which I found pretty awful. I re-listened to this a few times and I enjoyed it more and more each time. For now a strong 3.

Oli hyvä levy

This reminds me that this project is about albums we should listen to at least once…not necessarily the 1001 best of all time. Is this one of the top 1001 of all time? I’m arguably not qualified to say. Will I listen to it again? Perhaps. Am I glad I listened to it? 100% yes.

Worth a listen for its strangeness, but I expected more from psychedelic swamp rock.