Southern Nights (Allen Toussaint album)

Southern Nights is a 1975 R&B concept album by Allen Toussaint.[2][3] Seminal to the development of New Orleans R&B,[4] Toussaint incorporated into the album elements of funk and soul music, while, according to AllMusic, suggesting neo-psychedelia.[2] Two singles were released in support of the album, "Country John" backed with "When the Party's Over" and "Southern Nights"—Toussaint's signature song—backed with "Out of the City". Although neither single charted for Toussaint, "Southern Nights" as later covered by Glen Campbell in 1977 reached number one in Billboard's country, pop and adult contemporary charts.[5] Released in May 1975 by Reprise Records, the album has been subsequently reissued multiple times on both LP and CD.[6]

Southern Nights
Studio album by
Allen Toussaint
ReleasedMay 1975
Recorded1975
StudioSea-Saint Studio, New Orleans[1]
GenreNew Orleans rhythm and blues
Length35:43
LabelReprise
ProducerMarshall Sehorn, Allen Toussaint
Allen Toussaint chronology
Life, Love and Faith
(1972)		 Southern Nights
(1975)		 Motion
(1978)
Singles from Southern Nights
  1. "Country John/When the Party's Over"
    Released: May 1975
  2. "Southern Nights/Out of the City"
    Released: May 1975

Songs

Among the better known songs of the album, "Southern Nights" was Toussaint's tribute to evenings spent with his Creole family on a porch in the songwriter's native Louisiana.[5][7][8] The song that would become Toussaint's signature song was brought to the attention of Glen Campbell by Campbell-collaborator Jimmy Webb.[5][9][10] Campbell released it on an album he titled Southern Nights in February 1977, whereupon it spent four weeks at the top of the country, pop and adult contemporary charts.[5] Toussaint's version of the song was very different from the "cheerful catchiness and...bright, colorful feel" of Campbell's;[2][11] AllMusic comments in its album review on the "swirling, trippy arrangement that plays like a heat mirage" of Toussaint's version, while The Times-Picayune remarked in 2009 on its "strange psychedelic-swamp-water sound."[12] In 1994, Toussaint came out of a lengthy hiatus as a performer to record the song in duet with Chet Atkins for the compilation album Rhythm, Country and Blues.[6] Toussaint frequently performed the song in concert.

Bonnie Raitt also had success with her cover of "What Do You Want the Girl to Do",[3] retitled "What Do You Want the Boy to Do?" and released on 1975's Home Plate.[13]

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Christgau's Record GuideB−[14]
The Village VoiceC+[15]

According to 2002's Louisiana Music, the album is regarded as "perhaps...[Toussaint's] signature record";[16] in 1994, Toussaint himself characterized the album as his best.[1] Although overall a critical success, it was not financially successful and was not universally well received.[17] AllMusic indicates the album should be "part of any serious soul collection", but notes that a few average songs and repetitive instrumental fillers "prevents Southern Nights from being a full-fledged masterpiece".[2]

Track listing

All tracks composed by Allen Toussaint.

  1. "Last Train" – 3:01
  2. "Worldwide" – 2:42
  3. "Back in Baby's Arms" – 4:49
  4. "Country John" – 4:45
  5. "Basic Lady" – 2:58
  6. "Southern Nights" – 3:36
  7. "You Will Not Lose" – 3:42
  8. "What Do You Want the Girl to Do?" – 3:40
  9. "When the Party's Over" – 2:38
  10. "Cruel Way to Go Down" – 3:52

Personnel

Performers

Production

Release history
Region Date Label Format Catalog
United States May 1975 Reprise Records Stereo LP MS 2186
United Kingdom March 1985 Edsel Records Stereo LP ED 155
United States April 1996 Reprise Records CD 7599 26596-2
United States 2000 Warner.Esp CD 7599265962
United States 2006 Water Records CD WATR 177
United States 2008 Reprise Records CD 75407

References
  1. Sweeney, Philip (July 25, 1994). "Aloof from the linear motion: Allen Toussaint is the man they say invented funk. Philip Sweeney met him in New Orleans". The Independent. Archived from the original on May 24, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2009.
  2. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Southern Nights". AllMusic. Retrieved June 28, 2009.
  3. Holland, Bill (September 24, 2005). "Q&A Allen Toussaint". Billboard Magazine. 117 (39): 20. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 28, 2009.
  4. Pareles, Jon (July 23, 1984). "Allen Toussaint plays solo piano at the public". New York Times. Retrieved June 28, 2009.
  5. Hogan, Ed. "Southern Nights". AllMusic. Retrieved June 28, 2009.
  6. Strong, Martin Charles (2002). The Great Rock Discography (6 ed.). The National Academies. ISBN 1-84195-312-1.
  7. Bronson, Fred (2003). The Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits: The Inside Story Behind Every Number One Single on Billboard's Hot 100 from 1955 to the Present (5 ed.). Billboard Books. p. 461. ISBN 0-8230-7677-6.
  8. Taylor, Paul (June 14, 2007). "Allen Toussaint and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band @ Bridgewater Hall". citylife.co.uk. Retrieved June 28, 2009.
  9. Selvin, Joel (May 14, 2007). "Toussaint explores life outside Big Easy: Katrina forced him out of New Orleans but the R&B maestro's roots run deep". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved June 28, 2009.
  10. Spera, Keith (February 27, 2009). "Hundreds fill Howlin' Wolf for Snooks Eaglin's final appearance". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved June 28, 2009.
  11. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Southern Nights (Glen Campbell)". AllMusic. Retrieved June 28, 2009.
  12. MacCash, Doug (March 20, 2009). "Michalopoulos sticks with a tried-and-true Jazz Fest poster formula". Times-Picayune. Retrieved June 28, 2009.
  13. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Home Plate". AllMusic. Retrieved June 28, 2009.
  14. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: T". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 16, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  15. Christgau, Robert (April 7, 1975). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved June 28, 2009.
  16. Koster, Rick (2002). Louisiana Music: a journey from R&B to zydeco, jazz to country, blues to gospel, Cajun music to swamp pop to carnival music and beyond. Da Capo Press. p. 78. ISBN 0-306-81003-4.
  17. Buckley, Peter (2003). The Rough Guide to Rock (3 ed.). Rough Guides. p. 1095. ISBN 1-84353-105-4.
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