Without Allen Toussaint, New Orleans' crucial musical transition from blazing 1950s rock and roll to the second-line funk grooves of the 60s might have fizzled out altogether. As the Crescent City's preeminent producer, arranger, composer, and session pianist, his visionary contributions provided the seminal bridge to a new sound for a new decade. Toussaint's creative muse was at its zenith during those carefree days at Minit/Instant and Sansu/Deesu. 'It was quite a university,' he says. 'It was heaven. We had a free rein to try anything, and as much as we wanted to.' The 14 tracks on this album represent that glory period in Toussaint's history. Many of these songs have never been on CD in North America. Toussaint is still going strong today. Since Hurricane Katrina uprooted him from his beloved Crescent City, Toussaint has toured more than ever. 'I just love writing, and it seems to even embellish more as time goes on,' says the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, who had more to do with the modernization of New Orleans R&B than anyone else. This album is a piece of history that will never be repeated or duplicated.