This 2021 remastered, expanded edition of the soul-stirring 2005 benefit album Our New Orleans includes five previously unreleased tracks as well as the original performances by Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Irma Thomas, Wild Magnolias, Buckwheat Zydeco, Randy Newman, and others. The album has thus far raised $1.5 million Habitat for Humanity’s post-Katrina rebuilding effort. "Rife with stirring performances," says the Washington Post, "Our New Orleans has the soul of the city."
A remastered, special edition of the 2005 record Our New Orleans was released for the first time on vinyl on January 29, 2021. The two-LP set, also available then digitally, includes five previously unreleased tracks: “Do You Know What It Means,” by Davell Crawford; “Let's Work Together,” by Buckwheat Zydeco and Ry Cooder; “Crescent City Serenade,” by Dr. Michael White; “Walking By the River,” by Dr. John; and “Do You Know What It Means,” by The Wardell Quezergue Orchestra featuring Donald Harrison. A video of the late Dr. John recording “Walking by the River” in a New York City studio, during September 2005, can be seen here:
The $1.5 million raised from the 2005 release went toward providing housing in partnership with low-income musicians and others through the New Orleans Habitat Musicians’ Village, a concept that was developed by New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity, working with Branford Marsalis and Harry Connick, Jr. Habitat-built homes in the village now provide musicians and others of modest means the opportunity to buy decent, affordable housing. The centerpiece of the village is the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music, dedicated to celebrating the music and musicians of New Orleans and to the education and development of homeowners and others who live nearby.
For Our New Orleans, many of the Crescent City’s best-known musicians recorded songs that are integral to their lives and that express their feelings about the city and the trauma of Katrina. The album was made swiftly and simply, over the course of a month, in one-day sessions across the country. Nick Spitzer, host of public radio’s New Orleans–based American Routes, contributed liner notes to the record, as did Pulitzer Prize–winning author Richard Ford, also a Crescent City resident. Other producers who made enormous contributions include Mark Bingham, Ry Cooder, Joel and Adam Dorn, Steve Epstein, Joe Henry, Doug Petty, Matt Sakakeeny, and Hal Willner.
Nonesuch’s parent company—Warner Records, part of the Warner Music Group—donated all production costs for Our New Orleans as part of the Group’s larger efforts on behalf of hurricane victims on the Gulf Coast. Many others involved in creating the album also generously donated their time and services.
Nonesuch President David Bither recalls, “What was most remarkable to me was the immediate response of the musicians. Many were in New Orleans when Katrina struck. Many lost everything they owned including even the musical instruments that are their livelihood. Yet they responded within days to the question of whether they might participate in this project. The emotion and the power of Our New Orleans come both from their anguish and from their incredible generosity.”
And the label’s Chairman Emeritus Bob Hurwitz said, “When we pick up a CD booklet, we usually skip over the page that says, ‘Special thanks to…’, but in the case of Our New Orleans, it is, after the listing of the musician’s names, the most important part of this package. Everyone wanted to help—studios that insisted on contributing free time, caterers, photographers and videographers, instrument rentals, producers, engineers—every step down the line, people gave, not only their profits, but absorbed all of their costs. It was an incredible outpouring of generosity.”
“Our New Orleans is a testament to the power of music to heal and provide a sense of community,” said Marguerite Oestreicher, Executive Director of New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity. “Musicians helped the city heal after Hurricane Katrina, and Musicians’ Village helped them come home. We’re grateful to Nonesuch and everyone who worked on this album. This year has brought new challenges to everyone, but especially to our culture-bearers. This re-release could not be more timely.”
1. Yes We Can Can
Performed by Allen Toussaint, piano, lead vocals; Jay Bellerose, drums; Doyle Bramhall II, guitar; Paul Bryan, bass; Janice Pendarvis, background vocals; Karen Bernod, background vocals; Shalene Thomas, background vocals
Allen Toussaint appears courtesy of CRT Records
Produced by Joe Henry for Work Song Inc.
Recorded by Kevin Killen, September 21, at Avatar Studios, New York, NY
Assistant: Peter Doris
Mixed by Kevin Killen at Sevonay Sound, New York, NY
2. World I Never Made
Performed by Dr. John, piano, vocals; Hugh McCracken, guitar; David Barard, bass; Herman Ernest III, drums; Charlie Miller, trumpet; Ronald Cuber, baritone sax
Dr. John appears courtesy of Parlophone Records
Produced by Mark Bingham and Hal Willner
Recorded by Drew Vonderhaar, October 4, at Clinton Recording Studios, New York, NY
Assistant: Justin Kessler
Mixed by Mark Bingham and Hal Willner at Classic Sound, New York, NY
3. Back Water Blues
Performed by Irma Thomas, lead vocals; Jay Bellerose, drums; Doyle Bramhall II, guitar; Allen Toussaint, piano
Irma Thomas appears courtesy of Rounder Records
Produced by Joe Henry for Work Song Inc.
Recorded by Kevin Killen, September 20, at Avatar Studios
Assistant: Peter Doris
Mixed by Kevin Killen at Sevonay Sound
4. Gather by the River
Performed by Davell Crawford, piano, vocals
Produced by Mark Bingham and Hal Willner
Recorded by Drew Vonderhaar, October 9, at Clinton Recording Studios
Assistant: Justin Kessler
Mixed by Mark Bingham at Millbrook Sound Studios, Millbrook, NY
5. Cryin' in the Streets
Performed by Buckwheat Zydeco, accordion, vocals; Ry Cooder, guitar; Jim Keltner, drums; Jim Dickinson, piano; Michael Elizondo, bass
Stanley "Buckwheat" Dural, Jr. of Buckwheat Zydeco appears courtesy of Tomorrow Recordings
Produced by Ry Cooder
Recorded by Don Smith, October 3, at Young Avenue Sound, Memphis, TN
Performed by Kevin Houston
Mixed by Don Smith at Sound City Studios, Van Nuys, CA
Assistant: Pete Martinez
6. Canal Street Blues
Performed by Dr. Michael White, clarinet; Fred Lonzo, trombone; Greggory Stafford, trumpet; Detroit Brooks, banjo; Mitchell Player, bass; Frank Oxley, drums; Steve Pistorius, piano
Dr. Michael White appears courtesy of Basin Street Records
Produced by Mark Bingham and Doug Petty
Recorded by Drew Vonderhaar, October 15, at SugarHill Studios, Houston, TX
Assistants: Andy Bradley, James Garlington
Mixed by Mark Bingham at Millbrook Sound Studios
7. Brother John Is Gone / Herc-Jolly-John
Performed by Wild Magnolias: “Big Chief” Bo Dollis, lead vocals, tambourine; Gerard “Little Bo” Dollis, Jr., background vocals, percussion; “Geechie” Johnson, background vocals, bass drum; “Queen” Rita, background vocals, percussion; Guy A. Gaines, background vocals, percussion; Nick Daniels, electric bass, musical director; Willie Green III, drums; Makuni Fukuda, guitar
Produced by Doug Petty and Matt Sakakeeny
Recorded by Todd Whitelock, September 20, at Clinton Recording Studios
Assistants: Bryan Smith, Justin Kessler
Mixed by Todd Whitelock at Sony Studios, New York, NY
8. When the Saints Go Marching In
Performed by Eddie Bo, piano, vocals
Produced by Nick Spitzer
Recorded by Steve Reynolds, October 18, 2005, at Dockside Studios, Maurice, LA
Mixed by Steve Reynolds at Dockside Studios
9. My Feet Can't Fail Me Now
Performed by Dirty Dozen Brass Band: Roger Lewis, baritone and soprano saxophones; Gregory Davis, trumpet, vocals; Efrem Towns, trumpet, flugelhorn; Kevin Harris, tenor saxophone; Terence Higgins, drums; Jamie McLean, guitar; Michael Foster, sousaphone; Revert Andrews, trombone
Produced by Joe Henry for Work Song Inc.
Recorded by Kevin Killen, September 21, at Avatar Studios
Assistant: Peter Doris
Mixed by Kevin Killen at Sevonay Sound
10. Tou' les jours c'est pas la même
Performed by Carol Fran, piano, vocals
Produced by Nick Spitzer
Recorded by Sammy Holbrook, October 20, 2005, at Dockside Studios
Mixed by Steve Reynolds at Dockside Studios
11. L'ouragon
Performed by BeauSoleil: Michael Doucet, fiddle; David Doucet, acoustic guitar; Jimmy Breaux, accordion; Tommy Alesi, drums; Billy Ware, percussion; Don Vappie, bass
Produced by Michael Doucet and Nick Spitzer
Recorded by Steve Reynolds and Bill Bennett, October 24, at Dockside Studios
Mixed by Steve Reynolds and Michael Doucet at Dockside Studios
12. Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans
Performed by Preservation Hall Jazz Band: John Brunious, trumpet, vocals; Ben Jaffe, bass; Joseph Lastie, Jr., drums; Lester Caliste, trombone; Clint Maedgen, saxophone; Carl Le Blanc, banjo
Produced by Doug Petty and Matt Sakakeeny
Recorded by Todd Whitelock, September 20, at Clinton Recording Studios
Assistants: Bryan Smith, Justin Kessler
Mixed by Todd Whitelock at Sony Studios
13. Prayer for New Orleans
Performed by Charlie Miller, trumpet, vocals
Produced by Mark Bingham and Hal Willner
Recorded by Drew Vonderhaar, October 4, at Clinton Recording Studios, New York, NY
Assistant: Justin Kessler
Mixed by Mark Bingham and Hal Willner at Classic Sound, New York, NY
14. What a Wonderful World
Performed by The Wardell Quezergue Orchestra featuring Donald Harrison, alto sax; Buddy Williams, drums; Gene Bertoncini, guitar; Mulgrew Miller, piano; Brian Quezergue, bass; Sanford Allen, concertmaster, violin; Regis Iandiorio, violin; Gerald Tarack, violin; Max Ellen, violin; Maxine L. Roach, viola; John R. Dexter II, viola; Olivia Koppell, viola; Jesse Levy, cello; Kermit Moore, cello
Produced by Joel Dorn and Adam Dorn
Arranger: Wardell Quezergue
Assistant: Brian Quezergue
Recorded by Anthony Ruotolo, October 24, at Avatar Studios
Assistant: Peter Doris
Mixed by Gene Paul and Jamie Polaski at DB Plus Studios, New York, NY
String Contractor: Alfred Brown
15. Tipitina and Me
Performed by Allen Toussaint, piano
Produced by Joe Henry for Work Song Inc.
Recorded by Kevin Killen, September 21, at Avatar Studios, New York, NY
Assistant: Peter Doris
Mixed by Kevin Killen at Sevonay Sound, New York, NY
16. Louisiana 1927
Performed by Randy Newman, piano, vocals; Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra with members of the New York Philharmonic
Produced by Steve Epstein
Conducted by Ted Sperling
Recorded by Larry Rock, October 27, at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center, New York, NY
Additional recording by Todd Whitelock, October 28, at Right Track Recording, New York, NY
Assistants: Jason Stasium, Joe Kent
Mixed by Todd Whitelock and Steve Epstein at Sony Studios
Design by Doyle Partners
Album mastered by Robert C. Ludwig at Gateway Mastering Studios, Portland, ME
Executive Producers: Robert Hurwitz and David Bither
