Artist:The Wild Tchoupitoulas
Song:Meet the Boys on the Battlefront
Album:The Wild Tchoupitoulas
Though The Wild Tchoupitoulas only recorded one album, that album is considered to be a funk classic today. It was released on Island's Mango label in 1976. The Wild Tchoupitoulas are known for their elaborate traditional Indian costumes mixed with a funky New Orleans beat. The leader of The Wild Tchoupitoulas is George "Big Chief Jolly" Landry. He performed in these kind of ceremonial costumes for years. He is also an uncle of The Neville Brothers. And that's how The Wild Tchoupitoulas got to record an album. The name is derived from a tribe meaning "those who live at the river". These kind of street bands have been part of New Orleans culture for many years. But as far as I know, The Wild Tchoupitoulas is the only group who got to record an album. Landry writes the songs and sings lead. Other members are Norman "Second Chief" Bell, Booker T. "Trail Chief" Washington, Carl "Flag Boy" Christmas and Amos "Spy Boy" Landry. The Meters were brought in to arrange and play the music along with legendary producer Allen Toussaint and his partner Marshall Sehorn. Art, Charles, Cyril and Aaron Neville all appear on the album along with Leo Nocentelli and George Porter Jr. of The Meters. The album went nowhere and Landry never got to record again. But today it is considered to be a New Orleans classic. And in 2012 the album was added to the US Library of Congress National Registry for its cultural significance. You may want to check it out. Here's The Wild Tchoupitoulas performing Meet the Boys on the Battlefront from Les Blank's 1978 documentary Always for Pleasure. This film can be streamed on Kanopy for free with a library card.
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