Rating: - Solid R&B Album for Any Collection
The story goes like this. Before he was Dr. John the Night Tripper he was Malcolm John Rebennack, Jr. - a Third Ward kid growing up in the rich musical climate of New Orleans. His life revolved around music from the beginning: he had several aunts and uncles who played boogie woogie piano at home, and his father owned a record store, serviced juke boxes and repaired sound systems in local clubs. Young Mac loved to accompany his father on these calls -- he would sit outside and absorb the R&B music for hours. At the age of seven he started guitar lessons from Fats Domino's guitarist, and there was no turning back. When Mac was a teenager he picked up some session work at Cosimo Matassa's studio, dropped out of high school and in 1957 joined the Ace staff full time as a producer, songwriter and musician. These Ace years were ITALICS Medical School END ITALICS for the gris-gris doctor, where he honed his songwriting skills and learned how to make records. Rebennack had a hand in each of the 18 cuts presented here, whether as songwriter, musician or producer. His vocals are discernible on one track only, "Row Row My Boat" - but it is a very cool track, indeed. They are all cool - who can't dig the New Orleans funkified R&B? I have to agree with the man at Louie's Juke Joint on Decatur Steet who recommended this album to me: "It is essential." Highlights: Rebennack's Bo Diddley rhythm on "Storm Warning," Chuck Carbo's smooth vocals on "You Don't Leave Me No Choice," The End's "It Ain't No Use," "Bad Neighborhood" by Ronnie & The Delinquents, "Morgus the Magnificent" by Morgus & the Three Ghouls (only in New Orleans!), "Down the Road" by Roland Stone.

Medical School: The Early Sessions of Mac "Dr. John" Rebennack