Infinite Jones Recommends: Ton-Ton Macoute! by Johnny Jenkins

Anyone who is into greasy, funky Swamp Rock,  Southern Soul, Southern Rock or, the Allman Brothers Band should really hear this record.  Ton-Ton Macoute! (1970) was intended to be Duane Allman’s solo debut but, the Allman Brothers Band started taking off and  Duane left.  Jenkins took over the vocal duties and made this album his own.  Although, Jenkins is an acclaimed guitarist (apparently a significant influence on Jimi Hendrix), most of the guitar on this album is by Duane – not that there is anything wrong with that!  Most of the rest of the ABB  play on this too (except Gregg and Dickie Betts) as well as a lot of the Muscle Shoals gang.  (See here for further details.)  The result is a gritty, low down and dirty, funky Guitar Album.  Highlights include, I Walk on Gilded Splinters (sampled by Beck for Loser), equally funky Blind Bats & Swamp Rats, the slinky Voodoo in You  and Dylan cover Down Along the Cove.  Johnny Jenkins virtually dropped out of the Music business after this failed to make him a star.  He did not release another album until 1996 but, at least he left us this Gem.  Enjoy.

Bonus

Here is an example of Jenkin’s guitar style, his 1964 instrumental “hit’, Spunky:

Bonus 2

Even though Jenkins version of I Walk on Guilded* Splinters is my favorite, here are a couple of other pretty cool versions (frickin’ Cher!):

*it’s spelled with AND without the “U” in different places

Extra Bonus

Here is the original of the Bob Dylan tune:

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