Big Chief

Professor Longhair | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 25, 2002)
• Original Release Date: 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Tomato Music
• ASIN: B00006BC8V
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #426,534 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Big Chief

2. Hey Little Girl

3. How Long Has That Train Been Gone

4. Im Moving On

5. Mess Around

6. Medley She Walks Right In Shake Rattle And Roll Sick And Tir

7. Tipitina

8. Little Blues

9. Her Mind Is Gone

10. Stagger Lee

11. Ive Got Myy Mojo Working

12. Rum And Coca Cola

13. Mardi Gras In New Orleans

14. Doin It

Editorial Reviews

Reissue of 1993 album featuring 14 tracks including 'Hey Little Girl' & 'Tipitina'.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Professor Longhair Entertains at Tipitina's in 1978, July 15, 2011

By 

karlojazz - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Big Chief (Audio CD)

According to the excellent set of liner notes for Professor Longhair Big Chief, the songs on this CD were recorded on February 3rd and 4th, 1978 at the New Orleans club named in his honor after one of his most beloved songs, "Tipitina." The notes go on to say that part of these concerts were previously released by Atlantic records on a double LP entitled The Last Mardi Gras but the material on this release (issued by Tomato records) has never previously been issued.

This CD would serve as an excellent introduction to Professor Longhair for anyone yet unfamiliar with his unique sound.

Rob Bowman describes the tracks this way: "The evenings were typical 1970s Longhair, mixing his classics with an inspired set of covers. He introduces an enigmatically slowed down version of Hank Snow's 'I'm Movin' On' by saying 'Here's one Hank Williams did.' Later on he combines his own 'She Walks Right In' with Big Joe Turner's 'Shake, Rattle and Roll' and Fellow New Orleanian Chris Kenner's 'Sick and Tired.'
Other covers include a romping version of Loyd Price's arrangement of the traditional 'Stagger Lee,' a typically searing take on Ray Charles' 'Mess Around,' and boogie influenced rendition of Muddy Waters' 'I Got My Mojo Working.' On the latter he turns the phrasing inside out and backwards. For the longtime Longhair aficionado this will probably be the highlight of the set."

While the entire album is a joy to listen to, one only wishes that two Longhair originals, Tipitina and Mardi Gras in New Orleans, ran much longer than their times at 3:55 and 2:53, respectively.

Henry Roeland Byrd, AKA Professor Longhair, was a one-of-a-kind pianist/composer who for many years represented the authentic sound of New Orleans rhythm and blues and continues to exert his influence on musicians even today. This CD is recommended to both die-hard fans of 'Fess' and also to those seeking an inexpensive introduction to this legend of the Crescent City.