BMG and The Montreux Jazz Festival have today announced the release of Dr. John: The Montreux Years – Friday, June 2, 2023 and available to pre-order now. The brand-new release in the Montreux Years series is a collection of Dr. John’s finest performances at the Montreux Jazz Festival between 1986 to 2012. Beautifully restored and mastered, Dr. John: The Montreux Years will be available in multi-format configurations including superior audiophile heavyweight vinyl, high-quality CD and HD digital.
Closely identified with the rich musical roots of his native New Orleans, Dr. John’s remarkable musical legacy spans funk, blues, jazz, boogie-woogie, rock, and pop. The self-proclaimed Night Tripper developed a cult following with the release of his first major-label album, Gris-Gris in 1968, and his brew of voodoo incantations left an insurmountable influence among musicians. Fusing New Orleans music with elements of rock and psychedelia, Dr. John’s showmanship and elaborate headdresses captured the imaginations of fans across the world.
The winner of six Grammy awards, Dr. John was a musical genius and a larger-than-life character who always brought something unique to his recordings. Throughout his career, the American singer-songwriter recorded 30 studio albums and nine live albums, as well as contributing to thousands of other musicians' recordings, including Aretha Franklin’s 1972 album ‘Young, Gifted and Black’ and The Rolling Stones’ 1972 record ‘Exile on Main St’. The musical icon appeared on the all-star charity version of Lou Reed’s ‘Perfect Day’ in 1997 and memorable covers of his own songs were versions of ‘I Walk On Guilded Splinters’ by Cher and ‘Right Place Wrong Time’ by Tom Jones. In 2011, Dr. John was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by John Legend.
Dr John: The Montreux Years is a musical trip for fans, who can immerse themselves in the unique styles and recordings of one of music’s greatest icons. With references to New Orleans boogie piano, the record begins with ‘Professor Longhair Boogie’ and ‘You Ain’t Such a Much’. Delving further into Dr. John’s iconic repertoire, Dr. John: The Montreux Years includes the 1973 top 10 ‘Right Place, Wrong Time’ and ‘Makin’ Whoopee’.
The release includes brand-new liner notes from triple Grammy Award-winning producer and close friend Russ Titelman. Having crossed wayward paths in his previous life as a session musician in the late 60s, the two forged a deep bond and friendship. They ultimately went on to work (and play) together often over the subsequent years until Dr. John’s death in 2019.
Launched in 2021, ‘The Montreux Years’ is the embodiment of the spirit of the Montreux Jazz Festival and the legacy of its much-loved founder, Claude Nobs. Nobs refused to compromise on quality or settle for anything other than the best and this ethos lives on in the superb quality of the recordings compiled in ‘The Montreux Years’. Mastering has been performed by Tony Cousins at London’s iconic Metropolis Studios.
Available on pre-order now and released on Friday 02 June, Dr. John: The Montreux Years is the tenth instalment of The Montreux Years series, which began with musical titans Nina Simone and Etta James, followed by Marianne Faithfull and Muddy Waters, John McLaughlin, Chick Corea, Monty Alexander, Paco De Lucía and most recently Michel Petrucciani. Having received critical acclaim worldwide, ‘Nina Simone: The Montreux Years’ and ‘John McLaughlin: The Montreux Years’, reached #1 on the UK Official Jazz & Blues Chart in 2021 and were hailed by the likes of the New York Times and JazzFM.
LP TRACKLISTING
Side A
Professor Longhair Boogie (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 1986)
You Ain’t Such a Much (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 1986)
Sick and Tired (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 1986)
Stack-a-Lee (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 1986)
Accentuate the Positive (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 2007)
Side B
Right Place, Wrong Time (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 2004)
Rain (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 2007)
Going Back to New Orleans (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 1993)
Side C
Makin’ Whoopee (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 1995)
Big Chief (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 2011)
In a Sentimental Mood / Mississippi Mud / Happy Hard Times (Medley) (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 2012)
Side D
Love for Sale (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 2007)
Let the Good Times Roll (Live -Montreux Jazz Festival 1995)
Good Night Irene (Live -Montreux Jazz Festival 1986)
CD TRACKLISTING
Professor Longhair Boogie (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 1986)
You Ain’t Such a Much (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 1986)
Sick and Tired (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 1986)
Stack-a-Lee (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 1986)
Accentuate the Positive (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 2007)
Right Place, Wrong Times (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 2004)
Rain (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 2007)
Going Back to New Orleans (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 1993)
Makin’ Whoopee (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 1995)
Big Chief (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 2011)
In a Sentimental Mood / Mississippi Mud / Happy Hard Times (Medley) (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 2012)
Love for Sale (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 2007)
Let the Good Times Roll (Live -Montreux Jazz Festival 1995)
Good Night Irene (Live -Montreux Jazz Festival 1986)
