I was born in a swamp. OK, I was actually born in a well-appointed hospital in Alexandria, La. But I did grow up in Cloutierville, a 500-person village, until I was 13. The population there was largely Louisiana Creole, but I would almost never overhear adults talking about Louisiana Voodoo, Haitian Vodou or southern hoodoo aka conjure/folk magic. Undeterred by that unfortunate situation, I’ve always been enthralled by the ritual. Musing about the two Catholic-syncretist religions and the folk spirituality of hoodoo evokes gooseflesh-raising blues songs about ritual and superstition. Celebrate Friday the 13th with guess-how-many tracks, each including spooky tagline. Draw the shades, light a candle and drop the virtual needle on 13 below. Ida Cox – “Fogyism” [black cat]Porter Grainger and Dolly Ross – “Hootin’ Owl Blues” [13]Robert Johnson – “Stones in My Passway” [foot-track magic]Arnold and Ilene Wiley – “Spider in Your Dumpling” [spider dumpling]Peetie Wheatstraw – “Cut Out Blues” [policy wheel]Washboard Sam – “Suspicious Blues” [superstitions aplenty]Hattie Hudson – “Doggone My Good Luck Soul” [black cat, horseshoe, rabbit’s foot]Memphis Jug Band – “Spider’s Nest Blues” [toby aka gris-gris/conjure bag]Doctor Clayton – “Root Doctor Blues” [root work]Blind Lemon Jefferson – “Dry Southern Blues” [blood magic]Blind Blake – “Panther Squall Blues” [jinx]John D. Twitty and Little Bill – “Sold It to the Devil” [crossroads]Oscar “Papa” Celestin and his New Orleans Band – “Marie LaVeau” [New Orleans voodoo queen]
Soundtracking The Heebie-Jeebies: A Voodoo Ritual Mixtape
A Voodoo Ritual Mixtape
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