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There is also a strong piano ballad entitled 'Mess Of Me', but do take a listen to the rootsy,

pounding soul of the title track, here in two versions, one with an acoustic-based but still powerful
sound. Then there's the blues-rock of the opener, 'Drag Me Back', with its hint of Janis Joplin in the
vocal, powerful but with an under-current of vulnerability.

Laura is an excellent vocalist and song writer. Hopefully we will get an album release soon, but in

the meantime, this is certainly worth a listen.

Norman Darwen
(www.thelauraevans.com)

Dr. John—Live Manley Field House, Ny. 7/4/72; Great American
Radio Vol. 5—Floating World Floatm6402

Ah, the late Mac Rebennack, in between being a precocious young

New Orleans rocker and R'n'B arranger in the late 50s and early
60s, and Mac Rebennack the revered New Orleans music
ambassador of his later years. As “Doctor John The Night Tripper”,
he was a hippie hero, though careful listening reveals he was still
true to his Crescent City roots; he just took the “New Orleans

hoodoo” angle and went further out with it, both musically and
visually.

There is plenty of that on this set, recorded when he was opening act for The Allman Brothers, things
like 'Gris Gris Gumbo Ya Ya' and the mis-spelled medley of 'I Walk On Guilded Splinters/ Zu Zu

Mamou'. But this set was recorded just before the release of his “Gumbo” album, a superb tribute to
the city's classic sounds, opening and closing respectively with 'Iko Iko' and 'Little Liza Jane' – and
both are present here, as well as several other rhythm 'n' blues items too. There is also, rather
surprisingly, a cracking version of the Chicago blues staple, 'Wang Dang Doodle'.

I have to confess though, that things can be rather ragged in places, and in that sense, this album is
very much of its time. If you appreciated the Night Tripper, yes, you'll definitely want it, but this is
not the best place to make Mac Rebennack's initial acquaintance. Try one of his later albums for that,
and then you'll probably want to work your way back to this.

Norman Darwen

The Allman Betts Band—Bless Your Heart—Bmg

There is something of a southern rock revival going on at the
moment, and The Allman Betts Band are right at the forefront of

it. The band's lineage possibly has a lot to do with it - after all,
when your musicians include Devon Allman (guitar, vocals),
Duane Betts (guitar, vocals) and Berry Duane Oakley (bass,
vocals), it couldn't possibly be otherwise - but then so too does
their brand of bluesy rock in the grand old fashion and heartfelt
Americana, and that is also due to other band members Johnny

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