City That Care Forgot

Dr. John, Dr.john & the Lower 911 | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 3, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: 429 Records
• ASIN: B0017LEFYI
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #98,908 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Few protest albums have the percolating groove appeal of Dr. John’s City That Care Forgot. If not for lyrics like "the road to the White House, paved with lies" the song "Promises, Promises" would be a typically chipper New Orleans second-line strut. And "You Might Be Surprised" sounds like the kind of horn-and-strings-colored blues that has always been part of the piano giant’s repertoire -- until its darker hues come through in the lines "life is a near death experience/Hell is right here on this great big Earth." Hurricane Katrina’s devastation of Dr. John’s beloved hometown and the following years of neglect sparked these 13 angry songs. The government, insurance companies and developers, and still-lingering institutional racism take a whooping with help from Eric Clapton, Willie Nelson, Terence Blanchard, Ani DiFranco, and Terrance Simien in cameo appearances. The zenith is a suite -- "Dream Warrior," "Black Gold," "We Getting There" -- whose brooding imagery, funky keyboards, Latin percussion, and dramatic horns recall the great Blaxploitation movie music of the ’70s. On the flip side "My People Need a Second Line" speaks to the resilience of New Orleans culture, holding threads of hope bright as the trilling of Dr. John’s piano. -- Ted Drozdowski

Product Description

Eric Clapton, Willie Nelson, Ani Difranco and Terence Blanchard join Dr. John and the Lower 911 in this musical paean to Dr. John's beloved New Orleans. This powerful new recording features stirring and thought-provoking songs about the post-Katrina crises in the ravaged jewel of the American South, including "City That Care Forgot," "Time for a Change," "Promises, Promises," "We Gettin' There" and many more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Putting his voice where his heart is, July 23, 2008

By 

R. Kyle (USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: City That Care Forgot (Audio CD)

Dr. John is to New Orleans is what Willie Nelson is to Austin, TX and heartland causes. Anytime someone's in need these two guys are putting themselves out there singing their hearts out for the causes they believe in. Of course, Willie's on this CD, so's Slowhand, Ani DiFranco, and Terence Simien.

"City that Care Forgot" isn't just a statement, though. You can tell when you're listening to this that the folks performing had a good time putting heart and soul into these songs.

I usually have a favorite song or two. Hands down, for me, it's "You Might Be Surprised." The lyrics really spoke to me:

"Life is a near death experience
Hell is right here on this great big Earth
It could be a little taste of heaven
If we only knew our worth
All we got to do is want it bad enough
To push ourself through
We always underestimate ourselves
We do every day we can always do better
In each and every way
If we don't believe in ourselves
Nobody's gonna do it
If we don't push ourselves
We'll never make it through it..."

If you can listen to "Dream Warrior" without tears in your eyes, you've got a 'heart of iron' as Homer says. Dr. John tells it like it is regarding the 'second battle for New Orleans.' It's the harshest hurricane protest song I've heard, be prepared.

"Black Gold" is a double entendre about oil and military recruitment and it's another political statement that people of conscience should be listening to.

"Promises, Promises" features Willie Nelson singing with the good Doctor. I am surprised at how good these two very distinctive voices sound together.

"Stripped Away" features Clapton backing. This song's more rocked out than most, gorgeous sound for a painful message.

"The City That Care Forgot" is one of the best collaborative efforts I have heard in a long time. The message is strong, the playing is gorgeous. It also supports a worthy cause.

Rebecca Kyle, July 2008

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely stunning!, June 26, 2008

By 

David J. Ohanlon "David J OHanlon" (Lilyfield, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: City That Care Forgot (Audio CD)

Gosh, what a tour de force! From the opening "bop" of "Keep on Going" right through all 13 tracks the good Doctor is on form, on song, on rhythm & on message here. There's cool jazz, funk, swamp blues & great contributions from the guest artists, in particular Eric Clapton & Terence Blanchard.
You know, a lot of "protest" albums suffer from the angst getting in the way of the artistry but not here. For example I was REALLY worried about the combo with Willie Nelson on "Promises, Promises" but by gum it works & makes the words truly resonate - "Promises, promises, empty words, empty words; the road to the White House, paved with lies.....fought in your wars, paid with our lives.....the truth will set you free". Yet the really great thing is how the tracks without the guests see the Doctor really getting down & nasty with great, driving, funky beats - just listen to "Dream Warrior" for proof positive.
Other highlights of an album of consistently high quality are "Land Grab" (great trumpet from Blanchard) & the title track (some of Clapton's "bluesiest" guitar in ages). Very rarely do I download every single track from an album into my iPod/iTunes but I did with this album. HIGHLY recommended

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars HIS BEST EVER, June 19, 2008

By 

David P. Weber (North Fremantle) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: City That Care Forgot (Audio CD)

Not only will this please long-time fans of the Doctor, it's also a good place to start for those who don't know his work. This is an album of integrity, drive, commitment and purpose. It sounds great on the first listen and only gets better.

The band is hot and tight-- you get a sense that a lot of the performances emerged from jams. Some may feel Dr. John's recent albums have steered too close to MOR territory. But the swamp funk of 'Gumbo' has finally returned, in a deeper and darker form. And the Doctor even revives some of the ol' voodoo magic on a couple of tracks.

Don't be scared off by the fear that the guest stars will dominate the album (always a danger). In truth, the guests emblazoned across the cover play s co-operative, understated role. Clapton guitar speaks with austere reverence, and Willie Nelson's contribution is barely audible.

Like a lot of peers who first achieved international fame forty years ago, the good Doctor has hit a purple patch. Not only is this his greatest album, it's also one of the best albums of the decade. The Doctor is IN!