Customer Reviews

Absolutely the Best

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Everybody knows "Mother-In-Law," but the core of this collection are tunes like "Te-Ta-Te-Ta-Ta" (which, however you spell it, is known by shag dancers all down the Southeast US coast as "Te-Tee-Ta-Ta") and "A Certain Girl" covered by Warren Zevon, Wayne Fontana and dozens of others. Great shuffling beat with solid production. Real name Ernest Kador Jr, Ernie passed away July 5, 2001. His signature exhortation was, appropriately, "Burn K-Doe Burn!"

This release from Varèse-Sarabande is easily the best of several volumes covering Ernest Kador, born in New Orleans on February 22, 1936, and better known to the music world as Ernie K-Doe. Better sound than the others and much more in the way of background information.

It covers his years with the Liberty subsidiary, Minit, and presents the two releases he had there before hitting it big in 1961 with Mother-In-Law. Neither of Make You Love Me b/w There's A Will, There's A Way (Minit 604) in 1959, and T'Ain't It The Truth? b/w Hello My Lover (Minit 614) in 1960 made any charts, but all that changed in spring 1961 when Mother-In-Law, with Benny Spellman providing the bass vocal, shot to # 1 Billboard Pop Hot 100 and R&B on Minit 623 b/w Wanted, $10,000 Reward.

All are here, as are Te-Ta-Te-Ta-Ta, a # 21 R&B/# 53 Hot 100 in July 1961 b/w Real Man on Minit 627, I Cried My Last Tear, a # 69 Hot 100 that November b/w A Certain Girl, itself hitting # 71 Hot 100 on Minit 634, and Popeye Joe, a # 99 Hot 100 in February 1962 on Minit 641. Only the B-side, Come On Home, is omitted.

He would have 5 more single releases for Minit to 1963, but the only sides here are Get Out Of My House, Minit 652 in 1962, and I'm The Boss on Minit 665 in 1963. Neither would chart. Tracks 12 to 15 are all from his only Minit LP, Ernie K-Doe - Mother-In-Law, released in 1962.

What we don't get here, or anywhere else for that matter, are his 1967 hits with Duke, Later For Tomorrow (# 37 R&B/# 122 Hot 100 Bubble Under on Duke 411 in April), and (It Will Have To Do) Until The Real Thing Comes Along (# 48 R&B b/w Little Marie on Duke 423 in November).

Still, from his Minit days only perspective, it's as comprehensive as you are apt to get.

Always a classic, sorry to hear of Ernie K. Doe's passing. R.I.P. !!

i am not surprised that this collection is absolutely wonderful. you just cannot go wrong with ole ernie, man. like chuck willis, everything the man did was just soooooooooooooo good!!!! check this one out, and you WILL agree.........i do not care if it is even to an extent. the point here is you will agree doggonit!!!!

This perfectly titled album is truly "absolutely the best". I am by no means a K-Doe expert - New Orleans certainly has more qualified reviewers - but I am a true fan, and could not believe this disc had not been reviewed. This is the K-Doe disc for anyone interested in old school R&B classics. Guaranteed to please!

I HAD THE PLEASURE TO SEE ALL THE GREAT ARTIST FROM NEW ORLEANS BUT ERNIE K-DOE WAS A REAL SHOWMAN AND GREAT SINGER.MY 13TH BIRTHDAY I WAS GIVEN A ERNIE K-DOE ALBUM AND I WORE IT OUT I PLAYED IT SO MUCH.I STILL HAVE IT AND IT STILL PLAYS BUT SCRATCHY.ONE OF MY BEST K -DOE TUNES IS WAITING AT THE STATION.THIS MAN HAD A GREAT VOICE A GOD GIVEN GIFT.THANKS ERNIE FOR ALL THE GOOD JAM SESSIONS ON BOURBON ST.R I P K -DOE A FAN FOREVER DENNY R