A cornerstone of New Orleans and its richly influential music scene, singer/songwriter/pianist/arranger/producer
Allen Toussaint (1938-2015) was not only born in that city but his compositions and his piano playing embodied a style
that instantly represented the Crescent City to millions of music lovers worldwide. His brand of joyous rhythm and blues
was laced with an underlying syncopated tip of the hat to another legendary New Orleans pianist and
Allen’s lifelong mentor,Professor Longhair.
To begin this overview, here’s an example of Allen’s irresistible homegrown funk; it’s GET OUT OF MY LIFE, WOMAN,
the most recorded of all his compositions. Here’s the standout 1968 version by one of the giants of soul music
Solomon Burke who characteristically precedes theToussaint lyric with his own two-line rap:
Beginning in the early 60’s, Allen wrote for and produced hits by a rich group of New Orleans artists including
Lee Dorsey, Irma Thomas, Ernie K-Doe, Benny Spellman and Aaron Neville and on many of their sides,
he was also the pianist and backup singer.
His wealth of memorable compositions included
WORKING IN THE COAL MINE, MOTHER-IN-LAW, YES WE CAN CAN,
RIDE YOUR PONY and HOLY COW
plus his reflective ballad SOUTHERN NIGHTS.
As a producer, Allen also helmed projects by such artists as
Labelle, Dr. John, Chris Kenner, Aaron & Art Neville,Etta James and The Meters.
In 2006, he collaborated with Elvis Costello for their memorable post-Katrina album “The River In Reverse”.
Allen was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 1998
and into the Songwriters Hall Of Fame thirteen years later.
Following is an alphabetical list of Allen Toussaint’s US & UK charted songs.
Certain of his earlier compositions were credited as writer to his mother’s maiden name, Naomi Neville.
ALL THESE THINGS
(Naomi Neville)
by The Uniques Featuring Joe Stampley
(Paula: 1966)
US #97 Pop
by Joe Stampley
Pro: Norro Wilson
(ABC/Dot: 1976)
US #1 Country https://youtu.be/34OpgohUcb4
by Joe Stampley
Pro: Ray Baker
(Epic: 1981)
US #62 Country
A CERTAIN GIRL
(Naomi Neville)
by Ernie K-Doe
Pro: Allen Toussaint
(Minit: 1961)
US #71 Pop
by Warren Zevon
Pro: Warren Zevon & Greg Ladanyi
(Asylum)
US #57 Pop.
Also recorded by The Yardbirds.
CONFUSION
(Allen Toussaint)
by Lee Dorsey
Pro: Allen Toussaint & Marshall Sehorn
Arr: Allen Toussaint
(Amy: 1966)
UK #38
DO IT ANY WAY YOU WANT
(Allen Toussaint)
by Robert Winters & Fall
Pro: Jimmy Bee
(Casablanca: 1982)
US #39 R&B in ‘83
A DREAMER OF A DREAM (Allen Toussaint)
by Candi Staton
Pro: Bob Monaco
(Warner Bros: 1977)
US #37 R&B
EVERYTHING I DO GONH BE FUNKY (From Now On)
(Allen Toussaint)
by Lee Dorsey
Pro: Allen Toussaint & Marshall Sehorn
Arr: Allen Toussaint
(Amy: 1969)
US #33 R&B, #95 Pop
FORTUNE TELLER
(Naomi Neville)
by The Hardtimes
Pro: Richard Bock
(World Pacific: 1966)
US #97 Pop in ’67.
Song written forBenny Spellman in ’62
and which was also cut by The Rolling Stones, The Hollies, The Merseybeats and The Who
and most recently by Robert Plant & Alison Krauss together in ’07.
FREEDOM FOR THE STALLION
(Allen Toussaint)
by The Hues Corporation
Pro: John Florez
Arr & Cond: Gene Page
(RCA: 1973) US #9 AC, #63 Pop.
Here’s the brilliant version by Elvis Costello from “The River In Reverse”,
the 2006 Verve Forecast album that he recorded with Allen.
FUN TIME
(Allen Toussaint)
by Joe Cocker
Pro: Allen Toussaint
Exec Pro: Michael Lang
(Asylum: 1978) US #43 Pop
GET OUT OF MY LIFE, WOMAN
(Allen Toussaint)
by Lee Dorsey
Pro: Allen Toussaint & Marshall Sehorn
Arr: Allen Toussaint
(Amy: 1966)
US #5 R&B, #44 Pop & UK #22.
The many other recorded versions included those by Solomon Burke, Joe Tex, Iron Butterfly, Jerry Garcia,
Albert King, The Doors and Byron Lee & The Dragonaires. Song was also sampled by many artists.
GIRL CALLIN'
(Allen Toussaint)
by Chocolate Milk
Arr & Pro: Allen Toussaint
(RCA: 1978)
US #14 R&B.
Song was often sampled as shown at the end of this list.
GOD MUST HAVE BLESSED AMERICA
(Allen Toussaint)
by Glen Campbell
Pro: Glen Campbell
Arr: Glen Campbell & T.J. Kuenster)
(Capitol: 1977)
US #39 Country in ‘78
GO-GO GIRL
(Allen Toussaint)
by Lee Dorsey
Pro: Allen Toussaint & Marshall Sehorn
Arr: Allen Toussaint
(Amy: 1967)
US #31 R&B, #62 Pop
GOING DOWN SLOWLY
(Allen Toussaint)
by The Pointer Sisters
Pro: David Rubinson
(ABC/Blue Thumb: 1975)
US #16 R&B in '76, #61 Pop in ’75
GREATEST LOVE
(Allen Toussaint)
by Judy Clay
Pro: Jerry Wexler &
Tom Dowd
(Atlantic: 1970)
US #45 R&B
HAPPINESS
(Allen Toussaint)
by The Pointer Sisters
Pro: Richard Perry
(Planet: 1979)
US #20 R&B, #30 Pop
HERE COME THE GIRLS
(Allen Toussaint)
by Ernie K-Doe
Pro: Allen Toussaint & Marshall Sehorn
Arr: Allen Toussaint
(Janus: 1971)
Reissued on UK Soul Jazz: 2007: UK #43
HOLY COW
(Allen Toussaint)
by Lee Dorse
/Pro: Allen Toussaint & Marshall Sehorn
Arr: Allen Toussaint
(Amy: 1966)
US #10 R&B, #23 Pop
by Jamey Ryan
Pro: Roger Sovine
(Show Biz: 1970)
US #75 Country
I CRIED MY LAST TEAR
(Naomi Neville)
By Ernie K-Doe
Pro: Allen Toussaint
(Minit: 1961) US #69 Pop
As I’VE CRIED MY LAST TEAR
by The O’Jays
Pro: Tommy LiPuma
Arr: Nick de Caro
(Imperial: 1965)
US #94 Pop
I KEEP ON LOVIN' YOU
(Allen Toussaint)
by Z.Z. Hill
Pro: Allen Toussain Denny Diante & Spencer Proffer
Strings Arr: Allen Toussaint
Horns Arr: Jimmie Haskell
(United Artists: 1974)
US #39 R&B
IT’S RAINING
(Naomi Neville)
by Irma Thomas
Pro: Allen Toussaint
(Minit: 1962) US Regional hit
by Shakin’ Stevens
Pro: Stuart Colman
(Epic: 1981)
UK #10
JAVA
(Allen Toussaint/Freddy Friday/
Marilyn Schack/Alvin ‘Red’ Tyler)
by Floyd Cramer
Pro: Chet Atkins
(RCA: 1963)
US #49 Pop, #12 AC
by Al Hirt
Pro: Chet Atkins & Steve Sholes
(RCA: 1964) US #4 Pop, #1 AC
KEEP IT TOGETHER (Declaration Of Love)
(Allen Toussaint)
by Rufus
Pro: Rufus & Roy Halee
Arr & Cond: Ernie Freeman
(ABC: 1978) US #16 R&B in '79
LIPSTICK TRACES (On A Cigarette)
(Naomi Neville)
by Benny Spellman
Pro: Allen Toussaint
(Minit: 1962)
US #28 R&B
by The O’Jays
Pro: Tommy LiPuma & Joe Saraceno
Arr: Harold Battiste
(Imperial: 1965) US #28 R&B, #48 Pop
by Jimmie Peters
Pro: Jerry Gillespie
(Mercury: 1977)
US #73 Country
by The Amazing Rhythm Aces
Pro: Jimmy Johnson
(ABC: 1979) US #88 Country
MOTHER-IN-LAW
(Allen Toussaint)
by Ernie K-Doe
Pro: Allen Toussaint
(Minit: 1961)
US #1 R&B, #1 Pop, UK #29
by Clarence Carter
Pro: Rick Hall
(Fame: 1973)
US #24 R&B, #80 Pop.
This was Allen’s first chart-topping composition.
Other recordings including versions by The Ohio Players and also Huey Lewis & The News.
MY OLD CAR
(Allen Toussaint)
by Lee Dorsey
Pro: Allen Toussaint & Marshall Sehorn
Arr: Allen Toussaint
(Amy: 1967)
US #97 Pop
NEARER TO YOU (
Allen Toussaint)
by Betty HarrisPro: Allen Toussaint & Marshall Sehorn/Arr: Allen Toussaint (Sansu: 1967)
US #16 R&B, #85 Pop
NIGHT PEOPLE
(Allen Toussaint)
by Lee Dorsey
Arr & Pro: Allen Toussaint
(ABC: 1978)
US #93 R&B
OVER YOU
(Allen Toussaint/Allen Orange)
by Aaron Neville
Pro: Allen Toussaint
(Minit: 1960)
US #21 R&B
PAIN IN MY HEART
(Naomi Neville)
by Otis Redding
(Volt: US #11 R&B, #61 Pop)
Adapted from Allen’s song RULER OF MY HEART
which was first recorded by Irma Thomas. PAIN IN MY HEART
was also recorded by The Rolling Stones.
PLAY SOMETHING SWEET (Brickyard Blues)
(Allen Toussaint)
by Three Dog Night
Pro & Sound: Jimmy Ienner
(Dunhill/ABC: 1974)
US #33 Pop
RELEASE (THE TENSION)
(Allen Toussaint)
by Patti LaBelle
Pro: Allen Toussaint
Assoc Pro: Patti Labelle & James ‘Bud’ Ellison
(Epic: 1980)
US #61 R&B
RIDE YOUR PONY
(Naomi Neville)
by Lee Dorsey
Pro: Allen Toussaint & Marshall Sehorn
Arr: Allen Toussaint
(Amy: 1965) US #7 R&B, #28 Pop
by The Fleshtones (in a medley)
Pro: Richard Mazd
a (I.R.S: 1982)
US #29 Dance
SHOORAH! SHOORAH!
(Allen Toussaint)
by Betty Wright
Pro: Willie Clark
Horns Arr: Mike Lewis
(Alston: 1974) US #28 R&B & UK #27 both in ’75
As SHOORA SHOORA:
by Jenny Jackson
(Farr: 1976)
#75 R&B
SOUTHERN NIGHTS
(Allen Toussaint)
by Glen Campbell
Pro: Gary Klein
Arr & Cond: Charlie Calello (Capitol: 1977)
US #1 Country, #1 Pop, #1 AC, UK #28.
Allen’s original version on which he sang through a Leslie speaker
was on his “Southern Nights” album two years earlier:
When Allen performed this song in concert,
he began with a spoken introduction, setting the scene for the lyric
which described his childhood memories of nighttime in the Louisiana backwoods.
Here’s a clip:
WHIPPED CREAM
(Naomi Neville)
by Herb Alpert’s Tijuana Brass
Pro: Herb Alpert & Jerry Moss
Arr: Herb Alpert
(A&M: 1965)
US #13 AC, #68 Pop.
Tune was used on early seasons of TV’s “Dating Game” show.
WHOEVER'S THRILLING YOU (Is Killing Me)
(Allen Toussaint)
by Rufus
Pro: Bob Monaco
(ABC: 1973)
US #40 R&B
WORKING IN THE COAL MINE
(Allen Toussaint)
by Lee Dorsey
Pro: Allen Toussaint & Marshall Sehorn/Arr: Allen Toussaint
(Amy: 1966)
US #5 R&B, #8 Pop, UK #8
by Devo
Pro: Devo
(Full Moon: 1981)
US #43 Pop, #30 Dance, #53 Mainstream Rock
YES WE CAN (Part 1)
(Allen Toussaint)
by Lee Dorsey
Pro: Allen Toussaint & Marshall Sehorn
Arr: Allen Toussaint
(Polydor: 1970)
US #46 R&B
As YES WE CAN CAN:
by The Pointer Sisters
(Blue Thumb: 1973)
US #12 R&B, #11 Pop.
Song was also heavily sampled.
One other noteworthy Toussaint song that was not issued as a single is
WHAT DO YOU WANT THE GIRL TO DO which Allen introduced on his “Southern Nights” album in ’75.
Among other artists who recorded it were Boz Scaggs, Lowell George and Vince Gill;
it was also memorably cut by Bonnie Raitt with the gender-altered lyric
WHAT DO YOU WANT THE BOY TO DO.
Here’s her version:
SAMPLES
Among the many examples of records that sampled Allen Toussaint compositions:
AY YO by Melanie Fiona
(SRC: 2010)
Sampled TAMPIN
(Originally recorded by The Rhine Oaks, Atco: 1969)
BOOM BIDDY BYE BYE
by Cypress Hill
(Ruffhouse: 1996)
Sampled GET OUT OF MY LIFE, WOMAN
BREAKADAWN
by De La Soul
(Tommy Boy: 1993)
Sampled YES WE CAN CAN
D’EVILS
by Jay-Z
(Roc-A-Fella: 1996)
Sampled GO BACK HOME
(Originally recorded by Allen Toussaint, Alon: 1965)
GET YOUR WAY
by Jamie Cullum
(Verve: 2005)
Sampled GET OUT OF MY LIFE, WOMAN
GIRLS by Sugababes
(Island: 2008)
Sampled HERE COME THE GIRLS
GLAMOUR AND GLITZ by A Tribe Called Quest
(Def Jam: 1995)
Sampled GET OUT OF MY LIFE, WOMAN
I CHANGED MY MIND
by Keyshia Cole
(A&M: 2004)
Sampled GET OUT OF MY LIFE, WOMAN
JUST A FRIEND
by Biz Markie
(Cold Chillin’: 1989)
Sampled GET OUT OF MY LIFE, WOMAN
KEEP ON, KEEPIN’ ON
by MC Lyte Feat. Xscape
(EastWest: 1996)
Sampled YES WE CAN CAN
LET GO MY EGGO
by Biz Markie
(Cold Chillin’: 1991)
Sampled LOUIE
(Originally recorded by Allen Toussaint, Scepter 1970)
THE ONE
by WC
(Payday: 1996)
Sampled GIRL CALLIN’
ROUND AND ROUND
by Mary J. Blige
(MCA: 1997)
Sampled GO BACK HOME
WE GOT IT
by Immature
Featuring Smooth
(MCA: 1995)
Sampled GIRL CALLIN’
As in all my postings, the recordings listed and reference above are selective choices
and are in no way intended as definitive collections of Allen’s extensive work.
US Chart positions quoted above are as published originally in Billboard magazines;
researched and compiled by Joel Whitburn in his series of Chart Books published by
Record Research Inc.His books are available thru their website
NEWLY AVAILABLE...
THE SONGS OF ALLEN TOUSSAINT audio sampler
In the 1990’s, I interviewed Allen for an EMI Music Publishing
sampler for promotional use only.
This interview is now available as a podcast.
Here is a link to it:
The Door To Yesterday Allen Toussaint Podcast
EMI Music Publishing is now part of Sony/ATV Music Publishing.
Rock on.
Alan Warner
Additional songwriter lists
appear in the following editions of
"The Door To Yesterday":
Dave Bartholomew: Vol.2, No.19
Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil: Vol.2, No.6
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