"NEW ORLEANS POPEYE PARTY"

The popeye was a hugely popular dance in New Orleans during the early '60s in the wake of Chubby Checker's national smash "The Twist." Originating with Eddie Bo's Crescent City classic "Check Mr. Popeye," the popeye was a rather stiff, inelegant dance requiring participants to stand bowlegged with their elbows pointed outwards, virtually demanding clunky hobbling around the dancefloor. The merits of the dance itself notwithstanding, the popeye inspired some fantastic R&B typified by thick, funky rhythms and just a hint of the languorous melodies that would soon come to define New Orleans soul; the cream of the crop makes up New Orleans Popeye Party, a 23-track compilation that nicely manages to survey almost the entire breadth of popeye's moment of glory. The original "Check Mr. Popeye" is here, of course, as are contributions from other New Orleans legends like Huey Smith ("Popeye"), Willie Tee ("Always Accused"), and Frankie Ford ("You Talk Too Much"). Like much of Night Train's output, the fidelity isn't great, with some cuts sounding like they were mastered directly from vinyl. But the scarcity of material and its overall quality makes it worth picking up nevertheless. by Jason Ankeny, AMG

trax:

1. Check Mr. Popeye - Eddie Bo 2. Private Eye - Wallace Johnson 3. Little Jewel of The Vieux Carre - Joe Barry 4. Little Papoose - Joe Barry 5. Why Do You Look At Me? - The Medallions 6. You Talk Too Much - Frankie Ford 7. Always Accused - Willie Tee 8. Talk About You - Jimmy Jules 9. Take It Like It Comes - Jimmy Jules 10. Sorry 'Bout That - Al Reed 11. Runnin' & Foolin' - Joe & Ann 12. Popeye Joe - Ernie K-Doe 13. That's Where It's At - Blazer Boy 14. She's So Fine - Big Boy Myles 15. The Girl Form Kooka Monga - Tommy Ridgely 16. Mama Ka Toka Laka Poo Poo Ya - Alex Spearman 17. You Think You're Smart - James Easterling 18. Sweeter Than Sugar - Valentine 19. I'm Goin' Home - Betty Taylor 20. Tarzan - Lee Tillman 21. Popeye - Huey "Piano" Smith 22. Little Willie - Berna Dean 23. Whip-O-Will - Barbara George

…originally served by Gyro1966...