The Wild Tchoupitoulas -

The Wild Tchoupitoulas were an American tribal-funk/zydeco group from New Orleans that released a self-titled album on Antilles in 1976.

Members: Big Chief Jolly [George Landry] (vocals), Aaron Neville (vocals, keyboards), Art Neville (keyboards, vocals), Charles Neville (saxophone, flute), Cyril Neville (vocals), George Porter, Jr. (bass), Leo Nocentelli (guitar), Teddy Royal (guitar), Joseph “Zigaboo” Modeliste (drums), Willie Harper (vocals), Spy Boy [Amos Landry], Trail Chief [Booker Washington], Flag Boy [Carl Christmas], The Third Chief [Thomas Jackson], Second Chief [Norman Bell]

Background

The Wild Tchoupitoulas were led by Big Chief Jolly (George Landry). Formed in the early 1970s out of the Mardi Gras Indian tradition, the group took its name from the Tchoupitoulas tribe and the New Orleans street that runs along the Mississippi River. In 1976, with instrumental support from The Meters and vocal contributions from the Neville Brothers, they issued a self-titled album on Antilles.

The Wild Tchoupitoulas

The Wild Tchoupitoulas released their lone album in 1976. The record combines Mardi Gras Indian chants with funk and Caribbean-inflected rhythms, bringing the street-ritual energy of New Orleans into a studio setting.

George Landry wrote five of the eight tracks, including “Meet De Boys on the Battlefront,” adapted from Lord Invader’s Trinidadian calypso “Rum and Coca Cola.” Cyril Neville contributed “Brother John” and co-wrote “Hey Hey (Indians Comin’)” with Landry. The Meters supplied “Hey Pocky A-Way,” originally cut on their 1974 Rejuvenation album.

Songs alternate between extended chants and shorter processional themes. “Indian Red” stretches past seven minutes as a ceremonial centerpiece, while “Hey Mama (Wild Tchoupitoulas)” and “Big Chief Got a Golden Crown” move with clipped rhythmic pacing. The record opens in an exuberant call with “Brother John” and closes in forward-thrust chants with “Hey Hey (Indians Comin’).”

A1. “Brother John” – 3:34
A2. “Meet De Boys on the Battlefront” – 3:22
A3. “Indians Here Dey Come” – 4:02
A4. “Hey Pocky A-Way” – 3:57

B1. “Indian Red” – 7:19
B2. “Big Chief Got a Golden Crown” – 3:58
B3. “Hey Mama (Wild Tchoupitoulas)” – 4:43
B4. “Hey Hey (Indians Comin’)” – 3:58

Sessions occurred at Sea-Saint Studio in New Orleans under producers Allen Toussaint and Marshall Sehorn with Roberta Grace as engineer.

Instrumentation featured Art Neville (keyboards), Charles Neville (saxophone, flute), Aaron Neville (piano), Cyril Neville (congas), George Porter Jr. (bass), Leo Nocentelli and Teddy Royal (guitars), and Joseph “Zigaboo” Modeliste (drums). Tribe vocals came from Big Chief Jolly, Norman Bell (Second Chief), Booker Washington (Trail Chief), Carl Christmas (Flag Boy), Amos Landry (Spy Boy), Thomas Jackson (Third Chief), and Willie Harper.

The album sleeve featured artwork by Carleatis with photography and design by Paul A. Howrilla.

Postlude

The project marked the first collaboration of all four Neville Brothers on record, a union that directly led to the formation of their long-running group. The Wild Tchoupitoulas’ album endures as a landmark that merged the Mardi Gras Indian tradition with modern funk instrumentation, cementing Big Chief Jolly’s role in carrying the chants of his tribe into wider circulation.

Discography: