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Laissez les bontemps roulez! It’s almost time for Mardi Gras!
Nothing beats the excitement and sheer joy of New Orleans at Mardi Gras time. If you can’t get to the festival yourself, you can still share a big part of the excitement with Rounder Records’ Meet Me At Mardi Gras, a collection of songs perfect for any Carnival celebration.
You can always trust Rounder to bring authentic Louisiana music, and this is no exception. There are parade songs, rhythm and blues, jazz, and zydeco tunes here, both classic and new. There are Mardi Gras classics such as “Tipitina,” here performed by Bo Dallis and The Wild Magnolias, who also bring us “Carnival Time.” Joe Liggins’ “Going Back to New Orleans,” and “Jackamo (AKA “Iko-Iko), in a down and dirty version by Larry WIlliams, incite the spirit and move the feet.
In addition, there could be no Mardi Gras without music by Professor Longhair, and his classic “Go to The Mardi Gras” transports you right to the big parade! Another incomparable New Orleans performer, Zachary Richard, performs the rousing “Mardi Gras Mambo,” while The New Orleans Nightcrawlers bring us the ultra-funky “Funky Lisa.”
Marcia Bell brings the rhythm and the blues with “Big Shot,” Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys amp up the Zydeco with “La Danse de Mardi Gras,” The Rebirth Brass Band beg us to “Do Whatcha Wanna (Part 3),” and The Soul Rebels give us a brand new song, “Say Na Hey.” The whole thing ends with Chuck Carbo’s completely irresistible “Meet Me With Your Black Drawers On.”
When you finish listening to all 12 of these songs, you’ll be ready to start your own parade and start throwing beads! Whether you are eating King Cake with a big bunch of friends or having your own private Mardi Gras celebration, this is the perfect soundtrack to bring you Carnival time now and all year long!
