Description
Release Date: 2023
Label: Independent
Track List
- New Orleans Sunday Afternoon
- Listen To The Doctor
- Don’t You Know
- The Less There Is For You
- Ain’t Been To The Fest
- Hugga Bugga Choo Choo Choo
- Lucky Dog
- Christmas Down In New Orleans (Bonus Track)
Notes
“Big Easy Rick” debuts new music for Mardi Gras! And what better time than Mardi Gras to release an album inspired by iconic New Orleans music and musicians? Veteran singer Rick Windhorst has channeled his love of NOLA music, food and revelry into “Lucky Dog,” a collection of seven original songs harkening back to the sounds of his childhood in the Irish Channel. Co-written by Emmy-winning, Grammy-nominated, NOLA area native Greg Barnhill (“Walkaway Joe”-Trisha Yearwood, “House of Love”-Amy Grant/Vince Gill, “Christmas in New York”- Backstreet Boys), these retro originals reflect the love that both have for the city and music that shaped their lives and careers. Barnhill enthuses, “Ricky’s voice embodies that classic New Orleans vibe, and it was great to collaborate with him on songs that celebrate a piece of musical history that’s so important to us. We got great players in the studio, some of whom toured with acts that inspired these songs. They immediately captured the sound we were looking for.” Windhorst adds, “We chose Rabadash Studio for their professionalism, top-notch equipment and the rooms’ sound quality. Also for the expertise of veteran engineer Marc Hewitt who’s known for his work at Sea-Saint and his Sound Services studio in New Orleans where he recorded a who’s who of this area’s most successful artists.”
The tracks on “Lucky Dog” conjure visions of everything from lazy days under moss-draped oaks (“New Orleans Sunday Afternoon”), and couples swaying to belly-rubbing tunes at a fais do-do (“Don’t You Know”) to the sights and sounds of parades and Jazz Fest (“Ain’t Been to the Fest,” “The Less There is for You”). Real-life Big Easy experiences are also memorialized (“Hugga Bugga Choo Choo Choo,” “Lucky Dog”). Windhorst delivers an homage to his favorite New Orleans music ambassador (Listen to the Doctor) to round out his personal tribute to the city and music that were formative to the larger-than-life, carefree persona he’s used to passionately entertain audiences for nearly 50 years.
