Customer Reviews

Mercernary

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Dr John has done is again. He has taken the funk or "fonk " as he calls it of New 'Awlins and mixed it up with Johnny Mercer's songs, that old southern boy," that Dr John can relate to. As he says, "That's why I think of Johnny Mercer as a mercenary,"he was a hustler; he knew how to survive out there. He always wanted to write Broadway shows, but because he wasn't from New York, they wouldn't let him get in the clique. So the next best thing he could make a hustle out of doing was to go to Hollywood and write songs for movies; he had some success doing that.

Dr John fills this CD with joyfull grit. It does not in any way sound like the old regulation VFW tunes that we may have come to expect with Johnny Mercer. Each song, has been made for Mac Rebennack, Dr John's birth name. The project came to fruition from a suggestion of his daughter Tina, who pointed out that "Personality," would be a perfect fit for her dad's down-home style. In fact, Tina suggested, why not do a whole album of songs written or popularized this giant of American popular music? Dr John agreed and set his band up. That old magic came to life with each and every recording. They were so in tune that each song was done in one or two takes.

Dr John had a handful of songs in mind from the start, including "Blues in the Night," "Lazy Bones," "That Old Black Magic," "Save the Bones for Henry Jones" and "Tangerine," and each one bears no resemblance to any of the old tunes. Even "Moon River" is Dr Johns. You can savor the tune, but your feet are tapping-tapping to Moon River? Yes, suh,BK. "Dream" and "Old Cowhand" are played like you have never heard them before. Mercernary honors not only Johnny Mercer, but New Orleans. Every note played by Dr. John and his fellow musicians is the sound of living New Orleans.

"What is the secret to musical longevity?" the legendary New Orleans artist had a ready answer. "Living," he replied. Through more than half a century of music making, Mac Rebennack Jr. has been doing just that as he's rolled with the highs and lows that come with being a working musician, and these days he finds himself in an extended stretch of being in the right place at the right time. Now 65, this American icon, whom fellow legend Jerry Wexler once described as "the blackest white man I know, is at his peak."
And we are the lucky recipients of this artist. Highly Recommended. prisrob 5-28-06

Dr John has been a reliable force in music for years. Although never renewing he has a stable quality that al lot of performers lack. His material may not be surprising you never feel cheated. The Night Tripper always delivers the goods. He may not sound as fresh as he did when he recorded Gris-Gris some thirty five years ago, he's still having fun. Something must have died inside if some of that fun doesn't rub of.

On his latest release we find the Doctor paying homage to one of the most rewarding songwriters of the American Songbook, Johnny Mercer. As the title rightly suggests this man was a Killer! This is not the Doctors' first stab at the American songbook. A few years back he successfully attempted a Duke Ellington tribute. Anyone who enjoyed that release won't be disappointed by this one.

Any attempt on the songbook by rock or pop stars are tricky endeavors. I only have to point out Rod Stewards frightful releases of recent years to prove my case. Not so with John Gumbo, he manages to put his personal stamp on each of the songs here. Mercernary is a very Funky love affair.

This was playing in the theater before the movie I'd gone to see. As soon as I left the theater, I ran to the music store next door (sorry, Amazon) and bought the one remaining copy they had. Played it all the way home in my CD player and popped it into the bedside player later too. Really a fabulous album ... if you are a Dr. John fan, a must. But, great for the Mercer fan too ... I just returned from a trip to Savannah (where Mercer is buried) and this is truly music of the angels! The Angels Sing! And do some seriously good instrumentals too!

"Mercenary" will surely go down as one of Dr. John's best efforts. The good doctor places a new spin on each of these classic Johnny Mercer tunes, making each one his own, while still staying true to Mercer. As soon as you put this disc in, there's not a bad moment! Especially good tracks are "I'm An Old Cowhand" and "Tangerine" (both instrumentals). The good doctor also adds some of his own, unique spoken (and sung) perspectives in some of the tracks (be sure to check out "Lazy Bones" to see what I'm talking about). An excellent addition to the collection of any fan of Dr. John or the fan of good music in general. Highly recommended.

The fantastic songs of Johnny Mercer and the unique style of Dr. John, (Mac Rebbaneck") make for great renditions of American classics in the laid back style of the New Orleans sound. A must for any Dr. John or New Orleans fans.

I love Dr. John! Read my review of "Duke Elegant" if you don't believe me. When I heard that Doc was doing a CD of Johnny Mercer vehicles I was very excited. He's done Mercer songs before, by the way. I loved his version of "Candy" in the album, "In a Sentimental Mood".

This CD was a little disappointing to me. There were some songs on it that I liked a lot - "Blues in the Night", "Personality", and "Save the Bones for Henry Jones". The trouble with many of the others - for me, at least - was Doc got so creative on them, so far from any other version of the songs I'd heard before, that I couldn't quite hear them in his interpretation. For example, I own a version of "Come Rain or Come Shine" - a duet with Doc and Dianne Reeves which I think is spectacular. In contrast, Doc's interpretation of the same song in his solo effort on this CD seems to lose more than it gains. Maybe I'm missing something. Dr. John is a genius, after all; he may have just left me behind with some of these interpretations. I guess I just prefer his renditions of American pop classics when he stays a bit closer to the original. There are reams of them that are great! When he does that I can hear the original, while appreciating what Doc inevitably adds to it just in virtue of his marvelous vocals and unsurpassed piano self-accompaniments.

I remain, and always will, a huge Dr. John fan.

Yes, it's "funky butt" music (Earl Palmer's term for that New Orleans style that gets your backside moving, as quoted by Dr. John), but...

Compared to the good Doctor's other "fonky" releases of standards, this one falls a little short. It has some high points, but fewer than one would hope for.

Johnny Mercer wrote some of the most down-to-earth, real-life lyrics & tunes, capturing the way people act & think & talk (with a few 'huckleberry' exceptions). The Doc is to be commended for honoring such a gifted, mean-drunk artist.

Clocking in at[...] (short for a CD nowadays), and with a lot of all-too-similar vocal & arrangement treatments, this release doesn't do Mercer quite as proud as Doc did for the Duke (lots more oomph & uptempo tunes too).

Still it has its good moments, and is well worth a listen. The musicianship is laid back, but top-notch. The two instrumentals hearken back to "Dr. John Plays Mac Rebennack" and "The Brightest Smile In Town," where we hear the Doc stretch out on the piano, and the two tunes with the added organ are a plus. John Fohl's guitar adds some nice touches; James Rivers plays a great tenor sax solo on "Henry Jones," plus we get some of veteran Herb Hardisty's tenor as well (wish there was more of that!).

It's cute to hear the horn riff from Huey 'Piano' Smith's "Well I'll Be John Brown" on "Save The Bones For Henry Jones;" that riff being a familiar N'Awlins take on the I-IV-V blues chord progression (for a full taste, check out "Teachin' And Preachin'" from 1952 by Dave Bartholomew [Fats Domino's manager/songwriter/trumpeter], performed by "The Royal Kings," for an early variation with some raunchy tenor sax & classic New Orleans sound).

Doc's toying with the lyrics adds a touch of humor, even when dropping names of other songs, like Fess's "No buts, No Maybes," or even Traffic's "Tragic Magic" (although that may have been an unintentional cute rhyme), and all of his poetic license in "Lazy Bones."

The cool "jungle music" trumpet from Charlie Miller (like 1930's Duke music) on "Personality" was another nice touch that would have been nice to hear more of throughout the session.

As a transplanted New Orleanian, I enjoyed this CD, and it does grow on one as time goes by, but it seems more half-hearted or half-assed rather than full funky-butt next to Doc's best efforts.

But do check it out!

Mercernary turned out to be much better than I had anticipated.
This is a Dr. John "gotta have it".

It's not good. I LOVE the good doctor, but he must have been hurting bad when he recorded this weak album. It's hard to listen to - uninspired arrangements and incredibly redundant phrasing. Boring is the mood, and Johnny Mercer is not a boring composer. As a truly dedicated patient, this album concerns me. Jeepers Creepers, Mac! Take a break, get "That old Black Magic" back, and return to funky groove where you reign supreme.

When we heard Mr. Rebennack (Dr. John) sing jazz standards in the 80's like "My Buddy" and "Accentuate the Positive" we saw him as a gifted singer. I know him before my marriage as the "gris-gris man" and had a picture of him framed in my college dorm room. Someone started the rumor that he was my father! I went to see him in concert in Montreal. He was an amazing performer and had a magic with jazz styles. We have listened to most of this CD with sound samples and we are apologetic to inform you that it almost entirely sucks! If he sees this: Hey Mac!!! You can do way better than this!!!