Shortly after Dr. John’s untimely passing, the late JD Nash, editor of American Blues Scene, penned a heartfelt tribute describing him as “the consummate authority on all things New Orleans.” JD captured the essence of the Good Doctor, whose Big Easy roots infused every performance with the bold flavor of his hometown. “His music, his use of local street vernacular, and his ever-present flair for style made him a one-of-a-kind spirit,” he wrote. “To the untrained ear, his words might have been a mystery, but the message was always crystal clear. He wielded the English language like a surgeon’s scalpel, blending Cajun French and Crescent City slang into a language all his own.”
In the foreword to The Language of the Blues: From Alcorub to Zuzu, a book by American Blues Scene’s Debra Devi, the Good Doctor himself remarked, “It would be a ho-hum planet if everybody sounded the same.”
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and six-time Grammy Award winner left behind a treasure trove of recordings, including five critically acclaimed albums released in collaboration with his estate—among them a Grammy-nominated posthumous studio album.
The five albums released by the Dr. John Estate in the last 5 years are:
Things Happen That Way (2022) is Dr. John’s final studio album released posthumously on Rounder Records, nominated for a Best Americana Album Grammy Award, and featuring guest artists Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real (“Guilded Splinters”), Willie Nelson (“Old Time Religion”) and Aaron Neville (“End of the Line”). Influential critic Robert Christgau enthused, “the most committed album hard-hustling New Orleans piano maestro Mac Rebennack recorded in his last two decades on earth.”
“I hope the fans get a window into Dad’s artistic genius and his soul through this album,” Karla Pratt, Dr. John’s daughter, executrix and executive producer, told me in an interview last year. The seeds of Things Happen That Way go all the way back to the family sing-alongs of Malcolm “Mac” Rebennack, Jr.’s childhood days. Pratt, who found herself suddenly running an estate and executive-producing a legend’s album, made sure her father’s pet project finally saw the light of day. “I’m thankful to Concord Music Group and Rounder Records for helping preserve Dad’s legacy by releasing the best possible album.”
Dr. John: The Montreux Years 1986-2012 (2023). The digital, vinyl and CD compilation on BMG spans decades of the Good Doctor’s unforgettable live performances at the legendary Montreux Jazz Festival. Released on digital, vinyl, and CD formats by BMG, this collection offers a rare and intimate look into Dr. John’s musical evolution, captured at one of the world’s most iconic stages. As All About Jazz notes, the album is “lovingly curated” by the Montreux Jazz Festival and overseen by the late founder Claude Nobs’ partner, Thierry Amsallem. It marks the tenth installment of the highly acclaimed Montreux Years series, showcasing Dr. John’s unparalleled fusion of jazz, blues, funk, and New Orleans soul.
Dr. John: Solo Piano Live in New Orleans 1984 (2023) vinyl and digital by Tipitina’s Record Club. The release of Dr. John Solo Piano/Live in New Orleans 1984 comes 39 years after his show on the riverboat was planned by legendary New Orleans music impresario Quint Davis in celebration of Jazz Fest’s 15th anniversary. He was introduced by Davis to a packed crowd full of JazzFest revelers as “the man you call Dr. John who’s really New Orleans’ own Mac Rebennack.” The show featured songs by Huey Piano Smith and Dave Bartholomew. Two of Dr. John’s originals prove album highlights: “Dorothy” and “Such a Night” famously in The Last Waltz. This never-before-released live concert gives fans an opportunity to experience the good doctor in a rare solo setting, putting the listener back on board the riverboat SS President.
“What I’ve always heard from his fans is how the music takes them back to where they were when they first heard his songs,” Pratt tells me. “For people who weren’t on the riverboat in that era, I hope they can get a feel for how magical it was.”
Dr. John: Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya: Singles 1968-1974 (2024) was a Record Store Day release on Omnivore that quickly sold out, followed by the release of a CD edition. This carefully curated collection brings together the iconic singles from Dr. John’s early years with Atco/Atlantic, capturing the essence of his groundbreaking sound. Included are timeless hits like “Right Place Wrong Time,” “Iko Iko,” and “Such a Night,” alongside rare single edits of other beloved classics. As Gene Sculatti writes in the liner notes, “These Atco and Atlantic tracks were the perfect blend of timing and talent. They not only introduced Dr. John to the world but also etched his name into the hearts and minds of music lovers everywhere.”
Dr. John: Live at Montreux 1986 – The Complete Solo Legendary Performance (2024) released digitally on BMG captures an unforgettable live solo piano show at the iconic festival. This historic live recording, Dr. John: Live at Montreux 1986 – The Complete Solo Legendary Performance, arrived just in time for the icon’s birthday and marks a significant milestone in his storied career.
I hope these five albums bring back memories of when you first put Dr. John records on your turntable – and when you first saw my dad perform one of his legendary shows. Thank you to the fans for keeping Dad’s music alive in your hearts for all these years, and for enjoying these albums – along with those to come.
Karla Pratt
Just in time for the holidays, the Estate has added to its line of Dr. John commemorative gear including mugs, tees and totes with his name in signature purple, and Right Place Wrong Time tees in silver glitter on black, with more to come. Check it out here.