''Southern Nights'' is a 1975 R&B

concept album A concept album is an album whose tracks hold a larger purpose or meaning collectively than they do individually. This is typically achieved through a single central narrative or theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, or lyrical. Som ...

Allen Toussaint Allen Richard Toussaint (; January 14, 1938 – November 10, 2015) was an American musician, songwriter, arranger and record producer. He was an influential figure in New Orleans rhythm and blues from the 1950s to the end of the century, descri ...

. Seminal to the development of New Orleans R&B, Toussaint incorporated into the album elements of

funk Funk is a music genre that originated in African American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African Americans in the m ...

and

soul music Soul music is a popular music genre that originated in the African American community throughout the United States in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It has its roots in African-American gospel music and rhythm and blues. Soul music became po ...

, while, according to

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

, suggesting

neo-psychedelia Neo-psychedelia is a diverse genre of psychedelic music that draws inspiration from the sounds of 1960s psychedelia, either updating or copying the approaches from that era. Originating in the 1970s, it has occasionally seen mainstream pop su ...

. Two

singles Singles are people not in a committed relationship. Singles may also refer to: Film and television * ''Singles'' (miniseries), a 1984 Australian television series * ''Singles'' (1992 film), written and directed by Cameron Crowe * ''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 ''

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''s

country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, sovereign state, while the ...

pop Pop or POP may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music * Pop music, a musical genre Artists * POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gang Parade * Pop!, a UK pop group * Pop! featuring Angie Hart, an Australian band Albums * ''Pop'' (G ...

and

adult contemporary Adult contemporary music (AC) is a form of radio-played popular music, ranging from 1960s vocal and 1970s soft rock music to predominantly ballad-heavy music of the present day, with varying degrees of easy listening, pop, soul, R&B, quie ...

charts. Released in May 1975 by

Reprise Records Reprise Records is an American record label founded in 1960 by Frank Sinatra. It is owned by Warner Music Group, and operates through Warner Records, one of its flagship labels. Artists currently signed to Reprise Records include Enya, Michael ...

, the album has been subsequently reissued multiple times on both LP and CD.

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 Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-smallest by area and the 25th most populous of the 50 U.S. states. Louisiana is borde ...

. The song that would become Toussaint's signature song was brought to the attention of Glen Campbell by Campbell-collaborator Jimmy Webb. 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. Toussaint's version of the song was very different from the "cheerful

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and...bright, colorful feel" of Campbell's; 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." In 1994, Toussaint came out of a lengthy hiatus as a performer to record the song in duet with Chet Atkins for the

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Rhythm, Country and Blues ''Rhythm, Country and Blues'' (a.k.a. ''Rhythm Country and Blues'') is an album featuring duets between R&B and country music artists on classic songs. It was released by MCA Records on March 1, 1994. The album debuted at #1 on Top Country Album ...

''. Toussaint frequently performed the song in concert.

Bonnie Raitt Bonnie Lynn Raitt (; born November 8, 1949) is an American blues singer and guitarist. In 1971, Raitt released her self-titled debut album. Following this, she released a series of critically acclaimed roots-influenced albums that incorporated ...

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

Reception

According to 2002's ''Louisiana Music'', the album is regarded as "perhaps... oussaint'ssignature record"; in 1994, Toussaint himself characterized the album as his best. Although overall a critical success, it was not financially successful and was not universally well received. 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".

Track listing

All tracks composed by Allen Toussaint. #"Last Train" – 3:01 #"Worldwide" – 2:42 #"Back in Baby's Arms" – 4:49 #"Country John" – 4:45 #"Basic Lady" – 2:58 #" Southern Nights" – 3:36 #"You Will Not Lose" – 3:42 #"What Do You Want the Girl to Do?" – 3:40 #"When the Party's Over" – 2:38 #"Cruel Way to Go Down" – 3:52

Personnel

Performers

*Carl Blouin –

baritone saxophone The baritone saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of instruments, larger (and lower-pitched) than the tenor saxophone, but smaller (and higher-pitched) than the bass. It is the lowest-pitched saxophone in common use - the bass, contra ...

*Gary Brown –

tenor saxophone The tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor and the alto are the two most commonly used saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B (while th ...

*Lester Caliste – trombone *Joan Harmon – backing vocals *Steve Howard – trumpet *Claude Kerr, Jr. – trumpet,

flugelhorn The flugelhorn (), also spelled fluegelhorn, flugel horn, or flügelhorn, is a brass instrument that resembles the trumpet and cornet but has a wider, more conical bore. Like trumpets and cornets, most flugelhorns are pitched in B, though some ...

* Ziggy Modeliste – drums *Charles Victor Moore – guitar *Jim Moore – flute, tenor saxophone *Sharon Nabonne – backing vocals * Arthur "Red" Neville – organ * Leo Nocentelli – guitar *Deborah Paul – backing vocals *

George Porter Jr. George Porter Jr. (born December 26, 1947) is an American musician, best known as the bassist and singer of The Meters. Along with Art Neville, Porter formed the group in the mid 1960s and came to be recognized as one of the progenitors of fun ...

– bass guitar *Lon Price – flute,

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, tenor saxophone * Alfred "Uganda" Roberts –

conga The conga, also known as tumbadora, is a tall, narrow, single-headed drum from Cuba. Congas are staved like barrels and classified into three types: quinto (lead drum, highest), tres dos or tres golpes (middle), and tumba or salidor (lowest). ...

*Teddy Royal – guitar *

– guitar, harmonica, piano, keyboards, vocals *Clyde Williams – drums

Production

*Greg Burgess –

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*Roberta Grace –

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*Gary Hobish – reissue mastering *Ken Laxton – engineer *Bob Merlis – photography *Patrick Roques – reissue

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, reissue

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*Filippo Salvadori – reissue producer *

Marshall Sehorn Marshall Estus Sehorn (June 25, 1934 – December 5, 2006) was an American A&R man, songwriter, music publisher and entrepreneur who played an important role in the development of R&B and popular music in New Orleans between the 1950s and 1970 ...

– producer *George Stavrinos –

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* Ed Thrasher – art direction *Allen Toussaint – arranger, producer

Release history

References

{{Authority control Allen Toussaint albums 1975 albums Albums produced by Allen Toussaint Reprise Records albums