Customer Reviews

In the Right Place

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a straight reissue of the 1973 album release. A scant 34 minutes and no bonus tracks. Not even any liner notes -- which might just be the way the disc was originally issued.

Backed by the Meters (Leo Nocentelli, Arthur Neville, George Porter and Joseph Modeliste), augmented by the multi-instrumentalism and production of Allen Toussaint, Dr. John stretches out in more funky and soulful directions than the previous year's reading of New Orleans classics, "Gumbo." Dr. John wrote or co-wrote 8 of the 11 tracks here, with three more Crescent City treats (James Waynes' "Traveling Mood", Allen Toussaint's "Life" and Alvin Robinson's "Cold Cold Cold").

The disc leads off with Dr. John' only top-40 hit, "Right Place Wrong Time" (#9 in June of '73). This is one of those great productions that at the time just slipped right into the stream of things, but looking back at it now it's a wonder to think it actually made it into the popular conscious. It's a similar feeling to realizing that Johnny Nash's "Hold Me Tight" or Desmond Dekker's "Israelites" brought ska and reggae sounds to the American top-40 without ever really saying so. There's a soulfulness to this, an r'n'b sound in the horns, organ and background vocals, that just defies the sort of prefabricated pieces that usually make the charts.

The rest of the disc continues in the soulful vein, feeling much like the Neville Brothers work at points. It moves from the upbeat and funky (the title track, "Qualified") through gospel-tinged pieces ("Peace Brother Peace") to quiet, more soulful ballads ("Just the Same") There's some interesting interplay between Dr. John's piano and Art Neville's organ. Nice horn playing throughout from the Bonaroo horn section.

Overall a great piece of funky early 70's New Orleans soul, all filtered through Dr. John's nighttripper persona.

Funk, in its purest form, is hard to come by these days. That's because we don't have the kind of wreckless visionaries that the 70s had, like Dr. John and George Clinton. These guys were so far gone into their music that they bordered on being parodies of themselves, and somehow that translated into the kind of raw and unprecedented energy that makes their music so saturated in what one would ideally define as 'funky'. Take Dr. John: the dude is basically the white George Clinton, with his crazy head dresses and honky tonk muppet voice. Put him in front of a piano, get the Meters to lay down the tightest funk grooves you've ever heard, and add producer Alain Toussaint's canjun roots and you've got an exceptionally enjoyable album in "In The Right Place". The music is uplifting and listenable; The Meters take the house down with some thick bass riffs, brilliantly arranged horns and tight-as-hell percussions. Dr. John wails like a drunken canjun cartoon character, which is such an endearing and appropriate compliment to this musical experience that you will not know how to listen to this kind of funk without a voice as original and funky as this.

While the entire album provides a consistent line-up of quality jams, the two stand-outs that have become two of Dr. John's greatest hits are "Right Place, Wrong Time" and "Such A Night". "Right Place, Wrong Time" would fill any dance floor with its danceability factor, while "Such A Night" is a kind of honky tonk interpretation of a faster-paced soul ballad, with great backing vocals and a nostalgic, Bugsy Malone-sounding keys section.

This album is a must-have for any self-respecting fan of the funk. Dr. John is a true pioneer in the genre and, while most of his work is worth owning, this is nonetheless one of his best albums to prove it.

dr. john's 'in the right place' for sure-in my top 10. i listened to this album when it first appeared and am still loving it like it is the first time. definitely a top 10 all time album pick. simply sophisticated without the trappings. no tricks, just great stuff.

This really is an excellent album. If you like a sophisicated, funky sound, then this is for you. I liken it to a New Orleans funk sound with soul. The stand-out track has got to be 'Right Place Wrong Time'.'Qualified', 'Peace Brother Peace', 'Such A Night' all hot on the heels. Check out the drumming too.

Discover the different sort of attitude from down South .
The Doctor is here to help you....shake it .

This sort of music is unlike any you've heard before , unless you've been exposed to Harry Connick Jr's piano as well .

The music is varied and shows the Doctor's versatility as well as that of the great backing band , the Meters .

Another great record for a party .
This music is part of the heritage of America , as well as being extremely groovy !

This is the Dr. John material I like. Classic Dr. Dr.John a must have for any collctor. I highly commend it for any D.J. neophyte!

Hot a mighty Damn! Dr. John's finest work. He's on fire, the band's on fire, hell even the cover of the album is on fire. Can't go wrong with this purchase.

Not as swampy as the good Doctor's classics "Gris Gris" and "Sun, Moon and Herbs", but still seriously FONKY with the title track, and steamy "I been Hoodoo'd". "Such a Night" was a taster for his role as preserver and interpreter of New Orleans' musical heritage. A rich spicy gumbo- savour it!

In the right place ranks very high for me in the Dr. john Libary. Gumbo and back to new orleans are brilliant, but were mostly cover tunes. Gris Gris and in the right place is Dr. john's best as far as original material. Gris was one of the most original albums I ever heard...in the right place just kicks butt.

I still remember the first time I heard any of the cuts off of this masterpiece. It was a good time in my life and makes for some nice memories and I was lucky enough to have Dr. John in the soundtrack. White Funk Genius at work here! Stand back, give him room and enjoy.
While none of his other releases ever comes as close to perfection as this one does, they all certainly try! This one is still the classic and still the best.
I went through 2 copies of the vinyl and 2 cassettes before this FINALLY came out on CD. While there are no extras (and there were no liner notes on the original vinyl release, either), this one is COMPLETE and the ORIGINAL masterpiece in all it's glory! Thankfully, someone was smart enough to just take the time to perfectly transfer this originally analog performance to digital perfection without adding, subtracting or screwing it up like what has been done to some classic albums have been in the past.
This one "rightfully" takes it's place in my 100 best albums of all time collection. Just southern funk perfection that anybody, be they pop, rock, country, cajun, creole, or any fan of any other genre is going to enjoy!
In addition to the single releases "Right Place, Wrong Time" and "Such A Night" this offering contains some great cuts and among my favorites are "Travelling Mood", "Qualified", "Peace Brother, Peace" & "Life". There are no bad cuts on this CD...just 11 wonderful gems that will get a well deserved spin on your CD player!