Well, Alright

• Kermit Ruffins, Irvin Mayfield (Arr. by Emily Fredrickson)
• Nisab Publishing (BMI), Irvin Mayfield Publishing (BMI)

Notes by Irvin Mayfield:
"Well, Alright", the first original composition of the album nods to the world's first pop star
Louis Armstong's ability of popularizing slang. New Orleans today continues to repurpose
phrases and words, and no one deserves more credit for this than singer/trumpeter Kermit
Ruffins. "Well, alright" does not only mean things are good and OK. It applies the same
meaning as when Ruffins states, "hello, good evening!", which could mean the same thing as
Marvin Gaye's song lyric, "let's get it on". Ruffins narrates this track throughout which adds
some pretty funny storytelling. If you listen closely you'll hear phrases like "hold your pockets"
which means guard your money and "tighten up nephew!" which no one including Ruffins
understands the meaning off. Producer Irvin Mayfield presents a large room sound, similar to
the sounds of the 1950s studio recordings of legendary Producer Quincy Jones' use of Count
Basie's big band with Frank Sinatra. Using many musicians—twenty to be exact—all playing
simultaneously, Kermit Ruffins is centered as leader of Sinatra's famous group the Rat Pack.
Many musicians from the band, Mayfield included, sing background parts throughout, filling in
the role of Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. The overall meaning of this opening track is that
we shouldn't take ourselves nor this record too seriously. Two friends are simply inviting us to
a party.