| Live on the Queen Mary | |
| Type: | live |
| Artist: | Professor Longhair |
| Cover: | Live on the Queen Mary.jpg |
| Released: | 1978 |
| Recorded: | March 24, 1975 |
| Genre: | New Orleans rhythm and blues |
| Label: | Harvest |
| Producer: | Tom Wilson |
| Prev Title: | Rock 'n' Roll Gumbo |
| Prev Year: | 1974 |
| Next Title: | Crawfish Fiesta |
| Next Year: | 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]
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] "Stagger Lee" is a version of the Lloyd Price song.[8] "I'm Movin' On" is a cover of the Hank Snow tune.[9] "Cry to Me" is a version of the song made famous by Solomon Burke.[10] "Gone So Long" and "Mess Around" are performed as instrumentals.[11] The liner notes are by John Broven, taken from his book Walking to New Orleans.[12]
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."[13] 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."[14] The Liverpool Daily Post noted Professor Longhair's "curious squeaky voice" and "rough-edged city blues."[15] The Morning Call labeled Live on the Queen Mary "a minor classic."[16]
Newsday praised his "unique syncopation and earthy vocals."[17] The Daily Breeze called Professor Longhair "unquestionably one of the greatest talents ever to play a piano."[18] Robert Christgau praised the uncredited backing musicians. The Kansas City Times opined that Professor Longhair's "voice is surprisingly melodious."[19] The New York Times deemed the album "rollicking, exuberant piano blues with an undercurrent of deep feeling."[20]