More from Aaron . . .

Early Aaron Neville, when he was at his absolute best, with the melisma firmly under control. (Note that his name was misspelled on the label of the 45.)

Later in life, Allen Toussaint said he regretted composing such a dark song, though he seemed to take a sheepish pride in having been so daring.

This is one of the greatest albums of all time — not exactly blues, but a superior compilation of New Orleans R & B.  Once, back in the 80s, I was rambling around New Orleans with a famous rock guitarist.  We checked out a record store at some point and he saw this album and insisted that I buy it.  He said that if he was ever having trouble getting into a girl’s pants he’d put this on the turntable and then suddenly there would be no problem.  I think it really does have some special mojo to it.  It makes you slightly delirious, as New Orleans R & B can.

The Minit label issued a follow-up album, Home Of the Blues Vol. 2, heavy on Irma Thomas, which is sweet, too, but not as perfect as this collection.  The two volumes were released as a single CD five years ago by EMI abroad, and can be had as an import via Amazon.

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Cajun Swamp Music Live is one of the best of all albums of Cajun-Zydeco music, by the great Clifton Chenier, recorded at a jazz festival in Switzerland in 1975. As far as I know it has never been released in its entirety on CD — Arhoolie offers a slightly abridged version of the concert — but fortunately my vinyl copy is in excellent shape.

Over thirty years ago, when I was writing the screenplay that got me to Hollywood, a story set in Cajun country, Cajun music was still obscure regional stuff. I played this album over and over again, in sheer amazement, as I tapped out my tale on the keys of a small portable typewriter.

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If you’re ever tempted to think that American culture has come to the end of the line, just remember that this guy is still making art.

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