Thunder Chicken [Enhanced]

Papa Mali & The Instagators | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 1, 2000)
• Original Release Date: December 21, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Label: Fog City Records
• ASIN: B00002R16U
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #187,312 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Next Big Thing out of Austin, Texas?, April 28, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Thunder Chicken (Audio CD)

What would Dr. John be like if he were 20 years younger, wore dredlocks, and played slide guitar instead of piano? He might resemble someone like Shreveport, Louisiana-raised Malcolm Welbourne, a.k.a. Papa Mali, who blends rock, blues, funk and jazz in his creole to create a spicy audio etouffe that's hard to resist.

Papa gets the party going off on the good foot with his percussion-rich rendition of a Clifton Chenier tune "Bon Ton Roulet", then follows up with a funky cover of the Buddy Guy classic "Man of Many Words". "I'm The One" is a good long soulful groove, while "Keep Happy" is humorous reminiscing about a favorite corner store set to a mixture of rock and organic hip-hop. The drunken "If I Ever Get Right" sounds the most like the aforementioned Doctor, while "South Austin Lullaby" is actually two good roots blues songs performed solely on acoustic guitar.

A local band on an indepedent label doesn't get much promotion, but my local record store always scores a sale when they play this record, and from people with very diverse musical tastes. This would be a good CD to take a chance on if you're looking for a good time record that's sure to stump your friends trying to guess who this is. Papa Mali would undoubtably appreciate your business. He might even let you have a bite of his po-boy sandwich. ;^]

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars food for the heart, October 9, 2005

By 

R. G. Wheeler - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Thunder Chicken (Audio CD)

Malcolm Welbourne is a true practitioner of spirited southern wetlands soul; he is as deeply rooted in the land of his origin as the baldcypress in red-eye swamp. This album is spicy gumbo for the mind and spirit; fans of Dr. John will find Papa Mali a comfortable bayou companion. Apart from this enlivening album, his work with Omar and the Howlers is just as magical and energizing.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great New Orleans Roots Rock, July 22, 2000

By 

Michael Strom (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Thunder Chicken (Audio CD)

Truth to tell, I'd never heard of these guys before getting a mailing from Fog City Records. I'd liked other Fog City releases enough to give Papa Mali a listen. It's a keeper, fo' sure.

Most New Orleans groups will give props to the elders, & Papa Mali is no exception. Great, funky covers of Clifton Chenier's Bon Ton Roulet, Dr. John's Walk On Gilded Splinters & The Wild Magnolias' Fire Water. The originals are up to the challenge as well. Perfect accompaniment for that Mardi Gras mood.