Live on the Queen Mary

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Live on the Queen Mary
Live album by
Professor Longhair
Released1978
RecordedMarch 24, 1975
GenreNew Orleans rhythm and blues
LabelHarvest
ProducerTom Wilson
Professor Longhair chronology
Rock 'n' Roll Gumbo
(1974) 		Live on the Queen Mary
(1978) 		Crawfish Fiesta
(1980)

Live on the Queen Mary is an album by the American musician Professor Longhair, released in 1978.[1][2] He was allegedly upset about its release, as he claimed not to know that his performance was recorded.[3]

The album is a favorite of Hugh Laurie, who, in tribute, filmed a special, Live on the Queen Mary, to promote his album Didn't It Rain.[4]

Production[edit]

The album was produced by Tom Wilson.[5] It was recorded during a 1975 party aboard the RMS Queen Mary, hosted by Paul McCartney to mark the end of the recording sessions for Venus and Mars.[6][7][8] "Stagger Lee" is a version of the Lloyd Price song.[9] "I'm Movin' On" is a cover of the Hank Snow tune.[10] "Cry to Me" is a version of the song made famous by Solomon Burke.[11] "Gone So Long" and "Mess Around" are performed as instrumentals.[12] The liner notes are by John Broven, taken from his book Walking to New Orleans.[13]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[7]
Robert ChristgauA−[14]
The Minneapolis Star[15]
MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide[16]
Omaha World-Herald[17]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[18]
The Virgin Encyclopedia of R&B and Soul[19]

The Globe and Mail wrote that Professor Longhair "gives an outstanding piano performance (about the only sound that comes through clearly) and a vocal show which hints that on a better day he could tear the joint down."[20] In a subsequent article, the paper opined that Professor Longhair's piano playing is "originality tantamount to the first time Lester Young or Charlie Parker did the first funny thing on the saxophone."[21] The Liverpool Daily Post noted Professor Longhair's "curious squeaky voice" and "rough-edged city blues."[22] The Morning Call labeled Live on the Queen Mary "a minor classic."[23]

Newsday praised his "unique syncopation and earthy vocals."[24] The Daily Breeze called Professor Longhair "unquestionably one of the greatest talents ever to play a piano."[25] Robert Christgau praised the uncredited backing musicians.[14] The Kansas City Times opined that Professor Longhair's "voice is surprisingly melodious."[26] The New York Times deemed the album "rollicking, exuberant piano blues with an undercurrent of deep feeling."[27]

Track listing[edit]

No.TitleLength
1."Tell Me Pretty Baby" 
2."Mess Around" 
3."Everyday I Have the Blues" 
4."Tipitina" 
5."I'm Movin' On" 
6."Mardi Gras in New Orleans" 
7."Cry to Me" 
8."Gone So Long" 
9."Stagger Lee" 

References[edit]

  1. ^ Bolden, Tony, ed. (2008). The Funk Era and Beyond: New Perspectives on Black Popular Culture. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 222.
  2. ^ Hardy, Phil; Laing, Dave (1995). The Da Capo Companion to 20th-Century Popular Music. Da Capo Press. p. 766.
  3. ^ Lawson, Terry (Jul 15, 1978). "Live on the Queen Mary". Journal Herald. Dayton. p. 34.
  4. ^ Brain, Anna (14 Jan 2015). "Out of the Box". Switched On. The Daily Telegraph. p. 47.
  5. ^ Selvin, Joel (Jul 23, 1978). "Professor Longhair: Live on the Queen Mary". Pop Records. San Francisco Examiner. p. 47.
  6. ^ Palmer, Robert (21 July 1978). "The Pop Life". The New York Times. p. C15.
  7. ^ a b "Live on the Queen Mary Review by Bruce Eder". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  8. ^ Gaar, Gillian G. (Jun 2019). "Live on the Queen Mary". Goldmine. Vol. 45, no. 6. p. 37.
  9. ^ "Sounds O.K.!". The Guardian. Runcorn. May 26, 1978. p. 5.
  10. ^ Dennis, Jerry (Aug 20, 1978). "'Live on the Queen Mary,' Professor Longhair". Dayton Leisure. Dayton Daily News. p. 14.
  11. ^ Marsh, Dave (Aug 17, 1978). "Record Reviews". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Rolling Stone. p. D12.
  12. ^ Perkins, Don (Aug 5, 1978). "Professor Longhair, Live on the Queen Mary". Accent. The StarPhoenix. p. 8.
  13. ^ Collins, Wyman (Sep 2, 1978). "Jazz Scene". Edmonton Journal. p. E12.
  14. ^ a b "Professor Longhair". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  15. ^ Bream, Jon (Sep 22, 1978). "Professor Longhair 'Live on the Queen Mary'". The Minneapolis Star. p. 4C.
  16. ^ MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 299.
  17. ^ Smith, Will (Aug 8, 1978). "Boogie & Soul". Omaha World-Herald. p. 8.
  18. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. pp. 564, 565.
  19. ^ Larkin, Colin (1998). The Virgin Encyclopedia of R&B and Soul. Virgin. p. 270.
  20. ^ McGrath, Paul (26 July 1978). "Professor Longhair". The Globe and Mail. p. F2.
  21. ^ Christy, Jim (1 Nov 1978). "'Fess started rock rolling but he was left behind". The Globe and Mail. p. F10.
  22. ^ Key, Philip (May 31, 1978). "Professor Longhair Live on the Queen Mary". Liverpool Daily Post. p. 2.
  23. ^ Willistein, Paul A. (May 24, 1979). "American artists have gained much from New Orleans-based influences". The Morning Call. p. C20.
  24. ^ Robins, Wayne (Jul 20, 1978). "Professor Longhair: 'Live on the Queen Mary'". Part II. Newsday. p. 47.
  25. ^ Palmer, Gary (Jul 21, 1978). "Piano player's talent comes out of hiding". Daily Breeze. p. E9.
  26. ^ Brisbane, Arthur S. (Sep 30, 1978). "'Professor' Finally Gets Some Credit". The Kansas Cit Star. p. 10C.
  27. ^ Palmer, Robert (4 Mar 1979). "The Best of the Present-Day Bluesmen". The New York Times. p. D25.
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