Lee Dorsey - Ya! Ya! (Klassisk R&B Album Från "Fury Records" 1963

240:- (24-Bit Limited Remaster Edition. Eftertraktad och tidig R&B album. Mini LP'n gavs ut av "P-Vine" år 2006 och är en utgången utgåva sedan länge.)

Lee Dorsey epitomized the loose, easygoing charm of New Orleans R&B perhaps more than any other artist of the '60s. Working with legendary Crescent City producer/writer Allen Toussaint, Dorsey typically offered good-time party tunes with a playful sense of humor and a loping, funky backbeat. Even if he's remembered chiefly for the signature hit "Working in a Coalmine," it was a remarkably consistent and winning combination for the vast majority of his recording career.

Dorsey was born in New Orleans on December 24, 1924 (although some sources list 1926), and moved to Portland, OR, at age ten. After serving in the Navy during WWII, Dorsey returned to Portland and became a successful light heavyweight boxer, fighting under the name "Kid Chocolate." He retired from boxing in 1955 and returned to his birthplace, where he eventually opened a successful auto-body shop. He pursued a singing career by night, and wound up recording singles for several different labels, most of which made little noise (although "Lottie Mo" sold respectably). 

In 1961, he signed with Bobby Robinson's Fury label, where he entered the studio with producer Allen Toussaint for the first time. Dorsey's nonsense ditty "Ya Ya" -- reportedly inspired by a children's rhyme -- became his first national hit that year, reaching the pop Top Ten and hitting number one on the R&B charts. Despite its popularity, following it up turned out to be difficult, and with a large family to support, Dorsey returned to his auto repair business after a few more singles flopped.

The New Lee Dorsey Still, Allen Toussaint loved Dorsey's voice, and kept him in mind for future sessions. Toussaint's hunch paid off in 1965 when, signed to the Amy label, Dorsey turned "Ride Your Pony" into a Top Ten R&B hit. The accompanying album of the same name sold respectably as well, and Dorsey began cutting a multitude of Toussaint compositions, often with the legendary New Orleans funk ensemble the Meters as his studio backing band. The New Lee Dorsey was released later in 1966, and supplied Dorsey's best-known song, the irresistible "Working in a Coalmine" (which he co-wrote with Toussaint). 

With its clanking sound effects and Dorsey's comic exclamations, "Working in a Coalmine" became his second Top Ten pop hit and signature song, and Dorsey toured internationally with the Meters backing him up. A few follow-ups, particularly "Holy Cow" and "Everything I Do Gonh Be Funky (From Now On)," met with some success, but Dorsey was once again hard pressed to duplicate his big hit, and once again left music for the practical concern of running his business. 1970's Yes We Can (on Polydor) was his last album for some time, with the title track becoming his last chart single.

Night People After guesting on the Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes cut "How Come You Treat Me So Bad?," Dorsey attempted a comeback in 1977 with the ABC album Night People, which wasn't a commercial success despite mostly positive reviews. Still, it was enough to land him supporting slots on tours by the likes of James Brown, Jerry Lee Lewis, and even the Clash, whose 1980 tour was his last major concert jaunt. 

In the meantime, other artists mined his back catalog for covers: "Working in a Coalmine" was redone by robotic new wavers Devo and country duo the Judds; "Ya Ya" by Ike & Tina Turner, John Lennon, and Buckwheat Zydeco; "Everything I Do Gonh Be Funky (From Now On)" by jazzman Lou Donaldson; and "Yes We Can" by the Pointer Sisters (under the new title "Yes We Can Can"). Dorsey continued to perform sporadically, as opportunities presented themselves, until he contracted emphysema; he died in New Orleans on December 1, 1986.

"Ya Ya" is a song by Lee Dorsey. The song was written by Lee Dorsey, Clarence Lewis, Morgan Robinson and Morris Levy. Levy’s participation in the writing has been previously called into question. In fact, the Flashback release of the single (image) lists only Dorsey and Lewis as writers, as do the liner notes to the American Graffiti soundtrack.

The song was inspired by a children’s nursery rhyme.

Covers:
♦ Tony Sheridan and The Beat Brothers (wrongly believed to be The Beatles, who had no involvement in the track) recorded the song in 1961. It is erroneously available on the 1964 release The Beatles' First among others.
♦ Petula Clark recorded the song ("Ya Ya Twist") in French (released in 1962, #1)
♦ In 1962, Dalida covered the song in German under the title "Ya Ya Twist".
♦ In 1964, Joel Denis covered the song in French "Le Yaya".
♦ In 1966, Tommy James and the Shondells released a version as the B-side to their song "It's Only Love."
♦ Mouse and the Traps recorded Ya Ya as the B-side of their 1967 single "Cryin' Inside".
♦ The Hombres included a cover on their only album Let It Out (Let It All Hang Out), in 1968.
♦ Lee Michaels covered the song on his 1971 album 5th.
♦ Ike & Tina Turner covered the song in the early 1970s but their version was not released until 2004 on the album Ike Turner: His Woman, Her Man.
♦ John Lennon included a snippet of himself and his son Julian playing the song on the 1974 album Walls and Bridges. Lennon covered the song fully on his 1975 album Rock 'n' Roll.
♦ Trio played it live on their album Trio live 1982
♦ Steve Miller covered the song on his 1988 album Born 2 B Blue.
♦ In 1994 Mitsou covered the song in French "Le Yaya".
♦ Goran Bregović covered the song as "Ringe ringe raja" in his soundtrack for the 1995 film Underground.

Album Tracks:

01 . Ya Ya

02 . Give Me You

03 . Do-Re-Mi

04 . People Gonna Talk

05 . Chin Chin

06 . Mess Around

07 . Eenie Meenie Mini Mo

08 . One And One

09 . Yum Yum

10 . Ixie Dixie Pixie Pie

11 . Behind The Eight-Ball

12 . Hoodem Joe

13 . Give Me Your Love

14 . You Are My Sunshine

15 . Great Googa Mooga