May 23, 2023
Song Review: Dr. John - “Stack-a-Lee” (Live, 1986)
Sounding as if he’s playing two pianos and singing with all the voodoo he could muster, Dr. John must’ve slayed the Montreux Jazz Festival crowd with “Stack-a-Lee” in 1986.
It’s a ferocious specimen - John delivering the words as if he truly witnessed the events and coaxing more sound than that poor piano ever expected to emit.
The track is out as the lead single from the Montreux Years, which collects selections from the good Doctor’s festival performances between ’86 and 2012, and is due June 2.
If Leo Kottke played piano, he’d probably sound a lot like Dr. John. But Dr. John was like Tigger - he was the only one.
Grade card: Dr. John - “Stack-a-Lee” (Live, 1986) - A
5/23/23
