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

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

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

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

  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.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_on_the_Queen_Mary
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