Songs About New Orleans

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While researching my music collection for an upcoming column, I stumbled across the fact that I had a number of songs about two particular cities – New Orleans and New York.

So, as is my wont, I decided to do a couple of extra columns, and this is the first of them – songs about the city of New Orleans!


Now, according to the World Book encyclopaedia sitting on my shelf, New Orleans itself is a city of around 300,000 people, but the greater New Orleans area has about 1 and a half million. It is the largest city in the state of Louisiana (not the capital – that would be Baton Rouge), a very ethnically diverse place, and the home of an amazing musical heritage. For example, Zydeco, which is a musical form I enjoy way too much and yet no one else seems to know about, comes from New Orleans.

So, it is no surprise that many songs exist out there about this city.

And so, in that vein, here are my ten favourites!
'Basin Street Blues' by Louis Armstrong (1928)
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Real jazz from probably the finest jazz trumpeter in the history of the genre, this long piece celebrating the home of the jazz community at the time is just a glorious example of how very good the man was.
'Johnny B. Goode' by Chuck Berry (1958)

No, ignore the title – the opening lines tells you all you need to know. Johnny comes from New Orleans. One of the first rock songs to be considered a classic, a song still played by rock bands today, many consider this the start of real rock as we know it today. Hard to disagree.
'Mardi Gras In New Orleans' by Professor Longhair And His Shuffling Hungarians (1959)

More jazz because why not? Really, I associate New Orleans with jazz music, and when examples like this exist celebrating the city, why not? My recording is a little different from the one in the video, but it is a good track no matter which version you have.
'Walkin' To New Orleans' by Fats Domino (1960)

Fast Domino was in that strange place between jazz and pop, a line he strode magnificently with so many great songs. This is one of his slower ones, but that piano playing is still as good as ever and his voice is smooth and distinctive.
'The House Of The Rising Sun' by The Animals (1964)

My favourite song on this list. Sorry, but it is. That organ, Eric Burdon's voice and the shuffling drum come together to take the traditional song about a certain house in New Orleans and lift it to something that transcends rock music. There's not much more to say. Superb song.
'In New Orleans' by The Banana Splits (1968)

I know this is a cover, but I don't know who did the original and this is the only version I own. And, truth be told, as someone who owns every episode of the TV series The Banana Splits on DVD and has even seen the bizarre 1980s(?) horror movie based on the characters, I have a soft spot for the Banana Splits. And this is a good version.
'City Of New Orleans' by Arlo Guthrie (1972)

Folk-rock from Arlo Guthrie, son of Woody, who is widely acclaimed. But I think I have more of Arlo's works than his father's; I guess he was more my generation's voice of protest. His voice is smooth and his music wonderful, and this song is a good example of his work.
'New Orleans' by Harley Quinne (1972)

I have 6 versions of this song and it was tough to pick my favourite, so I went for the glam rock version because it just kicks along so well. I know absolutely nothing about this band, but I have the song on a glam rock compilation CD and, well, here it is.
'The Witch Queen Of New Orleans' by The Chantoozies (1987)

Yes, I could have gone for the original by Redbone, but just lately I've come to appreciate this version a little more, so… here you go. Australian pop taking on the classic song about a Voodoo queen in New Orleans. Not too shabby.
'The Battle Of New Orleans' by Deep Purple (2021)

Yes, I know this is from a really recent album , but of the 4 versions of this song I own, it's my favourite already. Like I said in my review, this is one superb album and listen to that track! It's great!
So, there we are – ten songs celebrating New Orleans. The music that has come out of that region has influenced so much else the world over, and we owe the city a debt of gratitude for giving us such awesome tunes.

And I hoped you enjoyed the music I picked out here!
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