The Wild Magnolias (Remastered) The Wild Magnolias

• 1 Handa Wanda 04:43
• 2 Smoke My Peace Pipe (Smoke It Right) 06:58
• 3 Two Way Pak E Way 07:51
• 4 Corey Died On The Battlefield 05:00
• 5 Soul, Soul, Soul 06:13
• 6 Saints 08:47
• Total Runtime 39:32

Info for The Wild Magnolias (Remastered)

New Orleans is synonymous with music and Mardi Gras. The Wild Magnolias have both fronts covered. The roots of the Wild Magnolias go back to, at least, the 1950s as one of New Orleans most popular and colorful Indian Krewes . The Krewes fall under the guidance of a Chief, and Bo Dollis has been the Chief of the Wild Magnolias since the mid-60s. With a voice reminiscent of Sam Cooke and the flamboyance you d expect at any given Mardi Gras, Bo and the Wild Magnolias rose to great heights in the 70s in a reign that continues to this day. The Wild Magnolias run as a recording act started in 1970 with the "Handa Wanda" 45 for the Crescent City imprint. In addition to a traditional Mardi Gras percussion lineup featuring everything from drums to beer bottles, Bo and the Wild Magnolias pulled in some prominent local talent as backup including Willie Tee and Snooks Eaglin. The cut became a Mardi Gras staple and lead to the French imprint Barclays (with distribution via Polygram) to sign the Krewe for this, the finest recording in the Wild Magnolias long and storied career. The album took Bo Dollis and the Wild Magnolias from a New Orleans phenomena to a global force with the lead single "Smoke My Peace Pipe (Smoke it Right)" appearing on the Billboard charts. The Magnolias have even had a lasting effect on the world of hip hop with "Corey Died On The Battlefield" and "(Somebody Got) Soul, Soul, Soul" being sampled by artists such as Schoolly D, 3rd Bass, Geto Boys and the Jungle Brothers. With this reissue culled from the original master Get On Down turns every Tuesday into Fat Tuesday.

"This debut marked a milestone for New Orleans music as it was one of the first major-label records from a Mardi Gras Indian tribe; this was soon to be followed by another great tribe band, the Wild Tchoupitoulas. Not to be confused with Native American tribes, the Mardi Gras Indians are part of an African-American gangland tradition dating back to the beginning of the 20th century. What began as street confrontations resulting in brawls developed into something more formal, with elaborate handmade costumes and song contests. Beginning as a practice group formed by leader Big Chief Theodore "Bo" Dollis and Joseph "Monk" Boudreaux of the Golden Eagles tribe, the Wild Magnolias caught the eye of local promoters and were recorded in 1973 with the New Orleans Project. The tribe consisted of Dollis and Boudreaux on lead vocals, with the former on tambourine and the latter on congas; with James "Gator June" Smothers or "Gate" Johnson, Jr., "Crip" Adams, and "Bubba" Scott all on background vocals and percussion instruments. They were backed by the New Orleans Project, which featured some of the cream of the studio crop in the Crescent City: guitarist Snooks Eaglin, Earl Turbinton, Jr. on reeds and winds, Willie Tee on keyboards, percussion, and background vocals, bassist Julius Farmer , drummer Larry Panna, conguero Alfred "Uganda" Roberts, and Norwood "Gitchie" Johnson on bass drum. Dollis and Boudreaux lead the group through the Indians' street call and response chants, which become mantra atop a series of furiously funky, extended New Orleans grooves. Along with inspired originals like "Handa Wanda," the traditional numbers such as "Two Way Pak E Way," and historical numbers such as "Saints" ("When the Saints Come Marching In") and "Shoo Fly" ("Shoo Fly, Don't Bother Me") are radically and steamily re-arranged to provide maximum party flavor. This is an exciting non-stop dancefest and an excellent introduction for anyone interested in the music of the Big Easy." )Thom Jurek, AMG)

Bo Dollis, vocals, tambourine
Monk Boudreaux, vocals, congas
James Johnson Jr., vocals, tambourine
Lawrence Adams, vocals, cow bells, tambourine
Johnny Tobias, vocals, tambourine, whistle
Leonard Johnson, vocals, tambourine
Washington Scott, vocals, triangle, tambourine
James Smothers, vocals, bongos, congas
Norwood Johnson, bass drum
Willie Tee, keyboards, percussion, vocals
Earl Turbinton Jr., alto and soprano saxophones, bass clarinet
Julius Farmer, bass
Snooks Eaglin, guitar
Larry Panna, drums
Alfred “Uganda” Roberts, congas

Digitally remastered

The Wild Magnolias
Among the many Mardi Gras "Indians" in New Orleans, The Wild Magnolias are well-known for their talent and flamboyance. Mardi Gras "Indians" are not, by the way, Native Americans. The Mardi Gras Indians are black working-class groups that are part secret and spiritual society and part neighborhood social club. Fifteen or so "tribes" parade on Mardi Gras Day, chanting, singing, and beating percussion instruments. They are costumed in elaborate handmade outfits that fancifully recall the dress of Native Americans, complete with feathers, ornate beadwork, and enormous headdresses. The origins of this tradition, which has striking parallels in the Caribbean, especially in Trinidad, have yet to be conclusively documented. The "Indian" tradition is also cited as another instance of New OrleansÆ status as the northern frontier of Caribbean culture. African, Creole, Indian and Spanish roots have been suggested, and some synthesis of all theseemsources seems likely. This is also true of the meanings and etymologies of the chants. The original words and context are difficult to trace, but today the function is assertive peer-group bonding. Big Chief Theodore ile "Bo" Dollis was born in New Orleans in 1944. As a child he followed a tribe known as the White Eagles, and he began "masking" as a Mardi Gras "Indian" in 1957 as a member of the Golden Arrows. In 1964 Dollis became the Big Chief of the Wild Magnolias. In 1970 the Wild Magnolias recorded a single entitled Handa Wanda for the Crescent City label; nearly 30 years later Handa Wanda r ains a local favorite and a perennial Mardi Gras classic. Two albums were produced in the mid-'70s, The Wild Magnolias and They Call Us Wild, on Rounder Records. Life is a Carnival marked their debut on the Metro Blue label. Joseph Pierre "Monk" Boudreaux was born in New Orleans in 1941. He has "masked Indian" since the late 1950s, and collaborated with Bo Dollis and the Wild Magnolias since the mid-'70s. Boudreaux is exclusively featured on Lightning and Thunder: The Golden Eagles Recorded Live and in Context at the H& R&Bar, New Orleans, a 1988 release on Rounder. Dollis and Boudreaux continue to revel in their culture, music, Afro-Caribbean rhythms, and splendid costumes, just as they have done for decades.

This album contains no booklet.