Customer Reviews

They Call Us Wild

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

 

 

Wilson "Willie Tee" Turbinton, his brother Earl, and their New Orleans Project band were the first to provide full musical backing to the Mardi Gras Indian street chants and thus expose this culture to the world. The rhythmic dexterity behind these tunes is just stunning--and I'm especially fond of Earl's soaring soprano sax solo on "Smoke My Peace Pipe." This set contains the complete contents of "The Wild Magnolias" (1974) and "They Call Us Wild" (1975), with all bonus tracks from the 1993 CD release of the former. The 1994 CD release of "They Call Us Wild" was the first in the US--after almost 20 years! The newcomer to digital format is the single mix of "Smoke My Peace Pipe." Besides being shortened from over six minutes to 2:39, the single replaces the verse beginning with "There's nothin' like a real good high..." with more innocuous lyrics to make the tune more radio-friendly.

I have the Polydor discs, but this would be worth buying on CD for the booklet as described in the editorial review. Even so, you haven't seen Indian costumes until you've seen them in person. And on the subject of booklets--hey Amazon! When will you have digital booklets as iTunes already does?

Sadly, this work is now part of the Turbinton brothers' legacy. Earl passed away on August 3, 2007, followed by Wilson on September 11.

First of all, I must agree with everything StatMan89 said, but feel that I must add a few things

These two albums (contained here in a double-set under one title) are among the absolutely quintessential albums recorded in New Orleans long and storied musical history.

While The Wild Tchoupitoulas album, recorded shortly after the Wild Magnolias debut, gets much attention for both the contribution of the Neville Bros. and The Meters as backing band and the presence of the legendary Big Chief Jolley, The Wild Magnolias album is the first and is a powerful and bold musical statement that has probably never been matched, and has set the tone for Mardi Gras Indian music in New Orleans since 1973.

What I must add is that in addition to the Turbinton Brothers, two of the great Modern Jazz pioneers in New Orleans, the band includes percussionist Alfred "Uganda" Roberts, New Orleans guitar legend "Snooks" Eaglin, and, of course, the completely insane, totally off-the-hook vocal stylings of Big Chief Bo Dollis, a voice in New Orleans music that can never be replaced.

BUY THIS ALBUM! If you know what's good for you. It's "guaranteed to blow your mind".

If you want to funk, get this one. Will have you dancin' and funkin' all night. THe Wild Magnolias have to be the funkiest of the Mardi Gras tribes, with their two LP releases from the 70s. The title track is the strongest one here. This record is much more cohesive and listenable than their first, which was also some killer funk. This is New Orleans at its funkiest, with the excepetion of the Meters. Most of the tracks are very strong. Bo Dillis has a unique, husky voice that suites the grooves quite nicley. Other standout tracks are "Jumalaka-Boom" and "Firewater". Only 1 or 2 week tracks here, which is why I gave it 4 stars. This is a bit rawer than some of the Meters stuff, but still has amazingly tight bass lines, kickin'drums, slick yet rawnchy guitar, and keyboards that really drive the rythyms, especially on the title track....this cd is worth that song alone. Do yourself a favor and pick this one up.

"They call us wild / well we got soul / and when we do our thing / we lose control". The Wild Magnolias are a Mardi Gras Indian band of irresistable funkiness (like the Wild Tchoupitoulas, The Meters etc.), but this album also has a dark quality, like Dr. John's voodoo on Gris Gris. An electric bass - they use more amplification than the other bands mentioned - drives the groove against sounds that seem to come straight from the bayou. The vocals sound like they're coming from beyond. As much as they have in common with the other New Orleans funk bands, the Wild Magnolias have their own niche in the genre.

Compared to the Meters or the Neville Brothers, Big Chief Bo Dollis' troupe does not sound as bright or "danceable" (ugh) but I dare you to sit still listening to this.