"Right Place, Wrong Time" is a song by American musician Dr. John. It was the first single from his sixth album, In the Right Place, and became his biggest hit single.
During the summer of 1973, the song peaked at number nine on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It is ranked as the 24th biggest hit of 1973. In Canada, the song reached number six.
Some of the lines came from contributions by Bob Dylan, Bette Midler and Doug Sahm. A verse lyric from the song ("Just need a little brain salad surgery/got to cure my insecurity") was the inspiration for the title of the album Brain Salad Surgery by the English progressive rock band Emerson, Lake & Palmer, replacing the working title of Whip Some Skull on Yer. Both titles are slang expressions for fellatio.
Personnel Dr. John – lead vocals
The Meters
Art Neville – organ Leo Nocentelli – lead guitar George Porter Jr. – bass guitar Zigaboo Modeliste – drums
Additional personnel
Gary Brown – saxophone Robbie Montgomery – backing vocals Jessie Smith – backing vocals David Spinozza – guitar solo Allen Toussaint – piano, percussion, rhythm guitar, horn arrangements
Chart history
Weekly charts Chart (1973)PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report)98US Billboard Hot 100Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - 9US Cash Box Top 10011
Year-end charts Chart (1973)RankCanada70US Billboard24
Use in media "Right Place, Wrong Time" was included in the soundtrack of the 2000 comedy film Lucky Numbers. The song was featured in an episode of American Horror Story: Coven, an episode of That 70’s Show, and in the movies Dazed and Confused (1993) and Fun with Dick and Jane (2005). In 2008, the song was included in How I Met Your Mothers fourth season ending "Right Place, Right Time". It also appeared over the opening credits in the film Sahara, as well as the trailer for the second season of Fargo.
It was included in the soundtrack to the 2010 video game Skate 3 and also included in Black Lightning (S3:E7).
The intro was sampled by Dr. Dre and used in the intro to the movie Deep Cover.
It was used in trailers for the television series, Poker Face.
Cover versions The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion covered the song, releasing it on Acme Plus, the UK version of Xtra-Acme USA. This version appeared on the Scream 2 soundtrack, and the film's title, together with the names of stars Neve Campbell and Jada Pinkett, can be heard shouted several times during the intro.
The Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies recorded it for their album Magnolia (Capricorn Records, 1996).
James Booker included it on his album Gonzo: Live 1976 as a medley with "Desitively Bonnaroo".
Dave Matthews Band covered it with special guests Preservation Hall Jazz Band as a tribute to Dr. John, following his death, at Alpine Valley Music Theatre on July 5, 2019.
B.B. King and Bonnie Raitt contributed it for the soundtrack to the film Air America.
Down (band) released a cover of the track ahead of Mardi Gras 2026.
References
External links