BURNING WOOD'S 40 ESSENTIAL NEW ORLEANS ALBUMS AND 40 ESSENTIAL REGGAE ALBUMS

Burning Wood Album Guide A-J
Burning Wood Album Guide K-R 
Burning Wood Album Guide S-Z 
Burning Wood Essential Album Guides: New Orleans and Reggae
Burning Wood's 1977! What An Amazing Year For Records!  

These essential guides to New Orleans and reggae music are courtesy of the blog Burning Wood and its creator Sal. You should bookmark that great music site and visit it all the time. As you will soon discover, Sal is a musician, writer, record seller and above all fan of music. He is passionate, opinionated, but always ready to give an artist a third or fifth or tenth try. Far more than me! Plus, check out the great vinyl Sal has for sale on Discogs. He is scrupulously detailed and honest about the condition of each and every album he sells. You will not be disappointed in the quality of any purchase you ever make. 

NOTE: Ratings on a five star scale. Albums with a perfect five stars are bolded so they're easier to spot. 

From Sal: I'm not sure what to call these lists. Are these essential? To me they are. Are they the "best" of New Orleans? The "best" of reggae? To me they are, but I know some people who'd disagree. These records have been in regular to heavy rotation since I first heard them. For New Orleans, I am including surrounding areas, as well–Lafayette, Lake Charles, Baton Rouge, etc. I've also made bold, those that I'd give 5 stars. Nothing here would get less than 4 stars, by the way.

From A To Z by artist.

 

BURNING WOOD'S 40 ESSENTIAL NEW ORLEANS ALBUMS

C.C. ADCOCK–S/T (AKA House Rocker) **** 1/2 

C.C. ADCOCK–The Lafayette Marquis ***** 

JAMES ANDREWS–Satchmo Of The Ghetto **** 

LOUIS ARMSTRONG–Complete Hit Five & Hot Seven *****  
BONERAMA–So Much Love **** 

JAMES BOOKER–Classified ***** 

JAMES BOOKER–Junco Partner **** 1/2 

JAMES BOOKER–Live At Montreux **** 

JOHN BOUTTE–Good Neighbor **** 1/2 

BOBBY CHARLES–Bobby Charles *****   

JON CLEARY & THE ABSOLUTE MONSTER GENTLEMEN–S/T***** 

JON CLEARY–So Swell **** 1/2 

FATS DOMINO–Complete Imperial Recordings ***** 
LEE DORSEY–Yes We Can ****  

DR. JOHN–Gris Gris **** 1/2 

DR. JOHN–In The Right Place ***** 

SNOOKS EAGLIN–Complete Imperial Recordings ****  

GALACTIC–Ya-Ka-May **** 

GALACTIC & IRMA THOMAS–Audience With the Queen ****

DONALD HARRISON–Indian Blues **** 
THE IGUANAS–Nuevo Boogaloo **** 

THE IGUANAS–Plastic Silver 9-Volt Heart ****   

LIL' BAND O' GOLD–Lil' Band O' Gold ***** 

LIL' BAND O' GOLD–The Promised Land ***** 

THE METERS–Fire On The Bayou ***** 

THE METERS–The Meters ***** 

THE METERS–Rejuvenation *****

STANTON MOORE–III ***** 

NEW ORLEANS NIGHTCRAWLERS–Atmosphere **** 

NICHOLAS PAYTON & DOC CHEATHAM–Nicholas Payton & Doc Cheatham **** 

PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND–Preservation ***** 

PROFESSOR LONGHAIR–New Orleans Piano *****
STEVE RILEY & THE MAMOU PLAYBOYS–Grand Isle ****

IRMA THOMAS–After The Rain ***** 

IRMA THOMAS–Simply Grand **** 1/2 

IRMA THOMAS–Time Is On My Side: The Best Of ***** 

ALLEN TOUSSAINT–Southern Nights ***** 

DR. MICHAEL WHITE–A Song For George Lewis **** 

THE WILD MAGNOLIAS–*The Wild Magnolias **** 

THE WILD TCHOUPITOULAS–The Wild Tchoupitoulas ***** 

 

 

BURNING WOOD'S 40 ESSENTIAL REGGAE ALBUMS 

BOB ANDY & MARCIA GRIFFITHS -- Pied Piper ****

BIG YOUTH -- Screaming Target ****

SONNY BRADSHAW 7 -- Reggae Version/Version Reggae ****

BURNING SPEAR -- Garvey's Ghost ****

CARLTON & THE SHOES -- Love Me Forever ****

THE CLARENDONIANS -- The Best Of The Clarendonians ****1/2

THE CONGOS -- Heart Of The Congos ****

CULTURE -- Two Sevens Clash ****1/2

DADAWAH -- Peace & Love ****1/2

PHYLLIS DILLON -- Rock Steady ****

DR. ALIMANTADO -- Best Dressed Chicken In Town ****

ALTON & HORTENSE ELLIS -- Alton & Hortense Ellis ****

THE GAYLADS -- Soul Beat ****1/2

MARCIA GRIFFITHS -- Sweet & Nice ****

JOE HIGGS -- Life Of Contradiction *****

KEITH HUDSON -- Flesh Of My Skin, Blood Of My Blood ****

JENNIFER LARA -- Studio One Presents Jennifer Lara ****

BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERS -- Burnin' ****1/2

BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERS -- Natty DreAD *****

Bob Marley & The Wailers- Uprising-****

TOMMY MCCOOK & BOBBY ELLIS -- Green Mango ****

THE MIGHTY DIAMONDS -- I Need A Roof ****

JACKIE MITTOO -- In London ****

JUDY MOWATT -- Black Woman *****

BUNNY WAILER -- Blackheart Man ****

THE PARAGONS -- On The Beach ****

LEE PERRY & THE UPSETTERS -- Roast Fish & Collie Weed ****1/2

PRINCE BUSTER -- Sings His Ten Commandments ****1/2

THE SKATALITES -- The Skatalite! ****

THE SKATALITES -- Essential Artist Collection (2023 from Trojan) ****1/2

SONS OF NEGUS -- Freedom Sounds *****

STELL PULSE -- Hansworth Revolution ****

TOOTS & THE MAYTALS -- Monkey Man ****

TOOTS & THE MAYTALS -- In The Dark ****

PETER TOSH -- Equal Rights *****

U-ROY -- Version Galore *****

U-ROY -- Dread In A Babylon ****1/2

THE WAILERS -- The Wailing Wailers ****1/2

WINGLESS ANGELS -- Wingless Angels ****

VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Studio One 007: Licensed To Ska ****1/2 

 

Burning Wood Album Guide A-J
Burning Wood Album Guide K-R 
Burning Wood Album Guide S-Z 
Burning Wood Essential Album Guides: New Orleans and Reggae
Burning Wood's 1977! What An Amazing Year For Records!   

 

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