Dr. John, The Night Tripper – Gris-Gris

You can find a very good edit of the track "I Walked on Guilded Splinters" on Schvitz Edits 01:
It is a little faster with a groovy beat and percussion and a homage to the the original version on this albumhttps://www.discogs.com/de/Various-Schvitz-Edits-001/release/11563628

I am very curious as to whether there is a superior CD version of the whole album as far as sound goes. “I Walk On Gilded Splinters” appears on the 2000 Black Roots compilation from BGP and it sounds much improved to my ears than any other CD version I’ve heard, those being the Reperoire Records release of 1991 and the Rhino Mos’ Scocious Anthology box from 1993. Any insight as to why this is and if there’s a whole Gris Gris album release with comparable sound to Black Roots would be most appreciated. Thanks.

Speaking of lyrics: In the foldout of my Euro CD copy there are lyrics "[t]ranscribed by Peter Serafin". But the 'transcription' is utterly clueless-- entire lines and verses left out, many words and phrases obviously misheard. It's as if the transcriber was not familiar with New Orleans terminology, was listening to the album on a cheap little speaker on the other side of the room, and wasn't really paying close attention anyway. (This is also true of the 'lyrics' provided with the Virgin CD of Gong's "Shamal".) If you're going to attempt a lyric sheet, why even bother if you don't care about getting it RIGHT?

I like to imagine some hippie-type individuals in 1968-- young people unfamiliar with New Orleans culture and music (and 'ethnic' music in general)-- picking up this LP in a local record store/head shop and looking at the cover: " 'The Night Tripper'? Hey, cool, man!" They go home that night, and after dropping half a tab of acid and firing up a healthy spliff, they put the album on the stereo. Suddenly... "Man, what kinda trip IS this? I don't understand it, but it's, like, far out!"

Question: On the two copies I've heard-- an early Atco U.S. LP and a European CD-- there's a third verse to "Mama Roux", but the Doctor's lead vocal is mixed way down and can barely be heard above the female vocalists singing "Chicka-chicka, chicka-chick-ahh." It's as if he were singing something that had to be censored out. Anyone know the words to that third verse?

Sounds like Captain Beefheart visiting New Orleans. This is a fusion of many styles, it's psychedelic but not psychedelic rock, more like psychedelic soul-jazz, a fairly laid back trip.

This album should definitely have Psychedelic Rock listed under style.