Babylon (Dr. John album)

Babylon is the second album by New Orleans R&B artist Dr. John. In his autobiography, Under A Hoodoo Moon, Dr. John describes the origins of the album in detail:

"Our second album was cut in late 1968—the year of the Tet offensive, and of the assassinations of Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. It was a heavy time for me: Not only was the Vietnam War raging in all its insanity, but, as a semioutlaw, I was being pursued by various kinds of heat across L.A. In its lyrics and music, this album reflects these chaotic days. At times hard-driving, at other times following a deliberately spacy, disorienting groove, Babylon was the band's attempt to say something about the times—and to do it with a few unusual musical time signatures. The lead song, "Babylon", sets the tone. To a 3/4 and 10/4 groove, it lays out my own sick-ass view of the world then—namely, that I felt our number was up. We were trying to get into something...with visions of the end of the world—as if Hieronymus Bosch had cut an album."

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Head HeritagePositive [1]
Allmusic [2]
Rolling Stone(negative) [3]
Babylon
Studio album by
Dr. John
ReleasedJanuary 17, 1969
Recordedlate 1968
StudioGold Star Studios, Los Angeles, CA
GenreNew Orleans R&B, psychedelic rock, free jazz
Length37:59
LabelAtco
ProducerHarold Battiste
Dr. John chronology
Gris-Gris
(1968)		 Babylon
(1969)		 Remedies
(1970)

Track listing

All tracks are written by Dr. John, except where indicated.

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Babylon" 5:25
2."Glowin'" 5:39
3."Black Widow Spider" 5:01
4."Barefoot Lady"Dr. John Creaux, Harold Battiste3:10
Side two
No.TitleLength
1."Twilight Zone"8:15
2."The Patriotic Flag-Waver"4:52
3."The Lonesome Guitar Strangler"5:34

Personnel

Musicians

Technical

References
  1. Lager, Mark. "Dr. John: Babylon". Reviews. headheritage.co.uk. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
  2. Unterberger, Richie. "Babylon - Dr. John" at AllMusic. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
  3. Gancher, David (31 May 1969). "Records". Rolling Stone. San Francisco: Straight Arrow Publishers, Inc. (34): 37.
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