Dr. John — 520

ALBUM: Dr. John’s Gumbo (1986 RE Alligator Records)

MVC  Rating: 4.5/$$$

Say you are planning a party. A party where music would be up front. But then the president comes on and declares National Music Conservation week.

President’s edict is that parties may play only one vinyl record the entire party.

Seems plausible? Right?

Well here’s the party record I’d recommend, Dr. John’s Gumbo.

It is  danceable, hummable, sing-with-able and eat cajun food-able. Iko Iko can be played 29 times straight without diminished pleasure, scientists measuring brain activity have discovered.

Add on to Iko Iko songs like Mess Around, Big Chief, Stack A Lee, Let the Good Times Roll and you got a party veering toward that shaky ground between ecstasy and agony. The agony is caused by the imbibeable forces the album propels, however those effects won’t begin until  morning. Health specialists recommend that you stay away from the song Iko Iko for several days before easing back in at low volume.

Counting down my 678 vinyl records before I die of brain disease.

RIP Charles Neville