The Radiators were born during a transitional period in New Orleans music. The Meters had just disbanded, the Neville Brothers just formed, and in 1980, Professor Longhair passed away. It was a unique and fertile period of creativity in New Orleans, blending elements of rock, jazz, funk, blues, soul, swing, country and gospel as it never had before.

The band formed in long, late jam sessions at Congo Square, where they drew from influences as diverse as Jelly Roll Morton, Dr. John, Fats Domino, Earl King, and the aforementioned Meters and Professor Longhair, to name a few. Twenty-six years later they are still making incredible music and thrilling fans at their live shows, which total over 3600 to date, and with a repertoire of over 1300 songs, they’ve never played the same setlist twice.

Last year’s double live CD, “Wild and Free,” captured some of that magic. But the Radiators also create some fabulous music in the studio. During a particularly creative period in the late Twentieth Century, the band went into Southlake Studios and recorded a group of songs that never saw the light of day. Eight of the tunes were eventually re-recorded and released on other albums, six are being released for the first time on their new album, “The Lost Southlake Sessions.”

Listening to the album makes one wonder why the tapes got “lost” in the first place. Some of the Rads’ favorites are here, such as “Soul Deep” and “Solid Ground,” but in their original form which, in some cases, are more vivacious than the performances they eventually released. The new songs are undiscovered classics, reviving the spirit of that fertile period of the band’s long and glorious history.

I’m hoping to hear a live version of one of these when they play in downtown Alexander City Friday to headline the first night of the Alex City Jazz Fest! The show is free, so you can afford to buy the album!

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