Legendary New Orleans pianist, composer, and singer Dr. John is having a posthumous album released this year. Things Happen That Way will be released on 23 September. The New Orleans pianist and singer died in June 2019 at the age of 77.
The album was recorded in New Orleans in 2018 and was co-produced by Dr. John and guitarist Shane Thierot. Its track list includes covers of classic country songs, new material, and a re-worked version of his classic “I Walk on Guilded Splinters” with Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real. Willie Nelson and Aaron Neville also make guest appearances on the album.
Dr. John’s final album released before his death was the 2014 Louis Armstrong tribute Ske-Dat-De-Dat: The Spirit of Satch.
As ThisDig.com adds, last summer, The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach — who produced Dr. John’s 2012 album Locked Down — announced that he was working on a documentary about Dr. John with two of his former managers. The pianist’s estate said that the project was not authorized, with Auerbach’s production affiliates responding, “[w]e look forward to amicably advancing these conversations to collectively celebrate and further immortalize this singular, legendary artist.”
Things Happen That Way tracklist:
- Funny How Time Slips Away
- Ramblin’ Man
- Gimme That Old Time Religion [ft. Willie Nelson]
- I Walk on Guilded Splinters [ft. Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real]
- I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry
- End of the Line [ft. Aaron Neville]
- Holy Water
- Sleeping Dogs Best Left Alone
- Give Myself a Good Talkin’ To
- Guess Things Happen That Way
