ALLEN TOUSSAINT Vinyl & CDs

Review: As part of Rhino Records' Start Your Ear Off Right series - which consists of reissued versions of classic albums by Dream Theater, Fleetwood Mac, The Ramones, ZZ Top and many more - comes this fabulous new version of Allen Toussaint's Southern Nights. Originally released in 1975, this is a celebrated album, showcasing Toussanint's signature blend of funk, soul and r&b. One of many records to put Touissant on the map as a soul songsmith, and to associate him with the rich musical tradition of New Orleans, the record is well-known and much celebrated for its bold and unexpected use of orchestral arrangements, unusual for New Orleans r&b at the time.

Review: Allen Toussaint was a production, songwriting and performance great who had a vast impact on music until his passing in 2015. Whipped Cream & Other Delights is a special, limited edition 7" that commemorates his work and features some of his most well-loved songs and famous tunes. First up is 'Whipped Cream' by The Stokes (which went on to become a worldwide hit via Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass album), then comes 'Here Come The Girls' "Working In The Coal Mine' by Lee Dorsey and 'Fortune Teller by Benny Spellman', all written of course by the one and only Allen Toussaint.