Blues Legend Live On 180g Vinyl LP!
Remastered in New Orleans with Foreword by Hugh Laurie!
Reissue of the live album by New Orleans blues giant Professor Longhair that was recorded at the release party for Paul McCartney and Wings' Venus and Mars.
First released in 1978, the album was recorded on the cruise ship on March 24, 1975, while the vessel was docked in Long Beach, California. The recording is a prime example of the work of an artist whose influence in New Orleans music was felt by such fellow greats as Fats Domino, Allen Toussaint and Dr. John. Born Henry Roeland "Roy" Byrd on December 19, 1918, "Fess" died on January 30, 1980. Highlights of the performance, and the newly-restored album, include "Mess Around", standards such as "Stagger Lee", "Everyday I Have the Blues" and "I'm Movin' On", and Professor Longhair's own trademark favorites "Mardi Gras in New Orleans" and "Tipitina". The reissue contains a foreword by actor, pianist and Professor Longhair aficionado Hugh Laurie, who writes " that live version of 'Tipitina,' oh sweet Lord. If the record had nothing else on it, it would still be a treasure beyond price."
"Roy Byrd's pianistic intricacies--which inspired Fats Domino, Huey Smith, Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, and other New Orleans luminaries--come through better on this live recording than on Atlantic's '50s compilation. This I credit to the hazardously busy (and uncredited) bass-and-drums accompaniment, which provides enough movement down below to allow Prof to really get rolling up top. Blues backup isn't supposed to work that way, but these guys get away with it, and good for them. P.S. Prof sings off-key a lot. P.P.S. It doesn't matter--sometimes it's even cute." - Robert Christgau
"Ask what was Paul and Linda McCartney's most important contribution to music, and you just might get the answer -- this album, which is also more exciting than anything Wings ever did. Professor Longhair's first live recording came about at a March 24, 1975 party hosted by the McCartneys aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA. It captures some of the excitement that Ahmet Ertegun and several lesser-known talent scouts found when they came upon Harry Roeland Byrd playing road houses around New Orleans in the late 1940s. Highlights include the rollicking 'Mess Around,' and the standards 'Stagger Lee,' 'Everyday I Have the Blues,' 'I'm Movin' On,' and his hits 'Mardi Gras in New Orleans' and 'Tipitina.' The lack of instrumental credits prevents one from praising the lead guitarist by name for his playing on 'Everyday I Have the Blues' and 'I'm Movin' On,' but he and the rest of the band still do well backing this legend." - AllMusic
Features:
• 180g Vinyl LP
• Recorded March 24, 1975 on The Queen Mary, Long Beach, California
• Remastered by Bruce Barielle at The Music Shed, New Orleans
• Vinyl cut by Jeff Powell at Sam Phillips Recording Service, Memphis
• Cover photo by Linda McCartney
• Foreword by actor, pianist and Professor Longhair aficionado Hugh Laurie
Musicians:
Professor Longhair, piano, vocals
Will Harvey, guitar
Robert Harvey, bass
Alfred Roberts, congas
Clarence Bell, drums
Selections:
Side 1:
1. Tell Me Pretty Baby
2. Mess Around
3. Everyday I Have The Blues
4. Tipitina
Side 2:
1 .I'm Movin' On
2 .Mardi Gras In New Orleans
3. Cry To Me
4. Gone So Long
5. Stagger Lee
Remastered in New Orleans with Foreword by Hugh Laurie!
Reissue of the live album by New Orleans blues giant Professor Longhair that was recorded at the release party for Paul McCartney and Wings' Venus and Mars.
First released in 1978, the album was recorded on the cruise ship on March 24, 1975, while the vessel was docked in Long Beach, California. The recording is a prime example of the work of an artist whose influence in New Orleans music was felt by such fellow greats as Fats Domino, Allen Toussaint and Dr. John. Born Henry Roeland "Roy" Byrd on December 19, 1918, "Fess" died on January 30, 1980. Highlights of the performance, and the newly-restored album, include "Mess Around", standards such as "Stagger Lee", "Everyday I Have the Blues" and "I'm Movin' On", and Professor Longhair's own trademark favorites "Mardi Gras in New Orleans" and "Tipitina". The reissue contains a foreword by actor, pianist and Professor Longhair aficionado Hugh Laurie, who writes " that live version of 'Tipitina,' oh sweet Lord. If the record had nothing else on it, it would still be a treasure beyond price."
"Roy Byrd's pianistic intricacies--which inspired Fats Domino, Huey Smith, Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, and other New Orleans luminaries--come through better on this live recording than on Atlantic's '50s compilation. This I credit to the hazardously busy (and uncredited) bass-and-drums accompaniment, which provides enough movement down below to allow Prof to really get rolling up top. Blues backup isn't supposed to work that way, but these guys get away with it, and good for them. P.S. Prof sings off-key a lot. P.P.S. It doesn't matter--sometimes it's even cute." - Robert Christgau
"Ask what was Paul and Linda McCartney's most important contribution to music, and you just might get the answer -- this album, which is also more exciting than anything Wings ever did. Professor Longhair's first live recording came about at a March 24, 1975 party hosted by the McCartneys aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA. It captures some of the excitement that Ahmet Ertegun and several lesser-known talent scouts found when they came upon Harry Roeland Byrd playing road houses around New Orleans in the late 1940s. Highlights include the rollicking 'Mess Around,' and the standards 'Stagger Lee,' 'Everyday I Have the Blues,' 'I'm Movin' On,' and his hits 'Mardi Gras in New Orleans' and 'Tipitina.' The lack of instrumental credits prevents one from praising the lead guitarist by name for his playing on 'Everyday I Have the Blues' and 'I'm Movin' On,' but he and the rest of the band still do well backing this legend." - AllMusic
Features:
• 180g Vinyl LP
• Recorded March 24, 1975 on The Queen Mary, Long Beach, California
• Remastered by Bruce Barielle at The Music Shed, New Orleans
• Vinyl cut by Jeff Powell at Sam Phillips Recording Service, Memphis
• Cover photo by Linda McCartney
• Foreword by actor, pianist and Professor Longhair aficionado Hugh Laurie
Musicians:
Professor Longhair, piano, vocals
Will Harvey, guitar
Robert Harvey, bass
Alfred Roberts, congas
Clarence Bell, drums
Selections:
Side 1:
1. Tell Me Pretty Baby
2. Mess Around
3. Everyday I Have The Blues
4. Tipitina
Side 2:
1 .I'm Movin' On
2 .Mardi Gras In New Orleans
3. Cry To Me
4. Gone So Long
5. Stagger Lee
