Louisiana 1927

After watching a very small part of the NBC Hurricane fund-raiser on TV earlier tonight, I feel compelled to post yet another tune sung by Aaron Neville. The man’s voice is an instrument, and stops me in my tracks when I hear it.

I saw him perform two songs tonight: a heart-wrenching “Amazing Grace”, and this Randy Newman composition, entitled “Louisiana 1927”. It’s the first track on the same 1991 album as my previously posted A.N. tune “It Feels Like Rain”- the album is ‘Warm Your Heart’.

(CNN) — In 1926 and 1927, the Mississippi River, heavy from months of rain, started bursting its banks. Land along the river flooded from Illinois on south. Memphis was overrun in the fall of 1926; the waters covered western Mississippi and eastern Louisiana in the months following. Seven hundred thousand people were evacuated or left homeless…. – Read the full Sept. 1st CNN article here.

I found some interesting credits on this song. The choir in the background consists of, among others, Rita Coolidge and Linda Ronstadt. The choral arrangement was done by Van Dyke Parks, known for his collaborations with Brian Wilson.

As is the case with most other Americans, I am sick to my stomach over the tragedy down on the Gulf Coast, and the apparent lack of a quick and organized relief effort. Absolutely sickening, but good to see that the tide is starting to turn.

Aaron Neville: Louisiana 1927 – – – >>> Buy the album here on Amazon.

• Donate to the American Red Cross
• A Post on Popsheep with the Randy Newman version.