King of the New Orleans Keyboard

James Booker | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 3, 1995)
• Original Release Date: 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Jsp Records
• ASIN: B000001BI0
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #530,664 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. How Do You Feel

2. Classified

3. One Hell of a Nerve

4. Blues Rhapsody

5. Rockin' Pneumonia

6. Please Send Me Someone to Love

7. All by Myself

8. Ain't Noboby's Business

9. Something You Got

10. Harlem in Hamburg

11. Put out the Light

12. Ray Charles Medley

13. Tipitina-Loberta

14. Junco Partner

15. Drown in the River

16. Black Night

17. Goodnight Sweetheart

18. Lonely Avenue/Stormy Monday

Editorial Reviews

In the early 1950s the young James Booker got quickly into the New Orleans R&B studio scene. His first association was with Dave Bartholomew. James also played the piano parts on some Fats Domino sessions when Fats was on the road. So go back to your Fats Domino records and give the piano a careful listen!

In 1960 he moved to Houston to work with Duke/Peacock. Session work with Bobby Bland, Junior Parker and others followed. Then a big R&B hit of his own, Gonzo, which reached No 10 on the R&B charts. Work behind artists from T-Bone Walker to Ringo Starr via Wilson Pickett and Lionel Hampton filled the next few years.

In 1977 Booker got to Europe and suddenly he was famous. The dues-paying years were over. Tours and media exposure boosted his career. New Orleans itself even discovered James Booker as he then went on to become a lead artist at the annual New Orleans Heritage Festival.

For an artist of his stature it s surprising and tragic that he had so few albums released. The material here - which shows why he was held in such high esteem - is consequently to be treasured all the more. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Germany, 1977 - Not his all-time best, but he's always Five Stars for me, April 19, 2006

By 

PH-50-NC "PH-50-NC" (Southeast USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: King of the New Orleans Keyboard (Audio CD)

While this disc is still essential listening for a Booker-head like myself, it's probably not THE one to start with. I think his inspiration level was on medium, particularly on the first few selections. That's also where some of the more pedestrian compositions are, which doesn't help with the first-impression making. (I don't know if the disc reproduces a single concert in performance order, but he seems more into his playing and singng it as the disc goes on.)

Here, he seems to put the most feeling into the ballads--perhaps he was getting a little homesick at this point in his German tour. Not to say that his playing is bad on the uptempo stuff. This version of Rockin' Pneumonia is fun. He's not out of control or lethargic by any means (and with later Booker, this was unfortuately a possibility). Also, these tunes are his core repetoire, so he's not fumbling on anything. But he's not on fire as he can be during his very best moments. Here, he turns in a lot of joyous music, and delivers some unique moments that aren't repeated elsewhere.

A digression from this CD...

Personally, my picks for solo Booker albums are "Resurrection of the Bayou Maharajah" and "Junco Partner" -- they feature New Orleans piano and singing at it's very best. On "Resurrection" (and it's all-instrumental companion "Spiders on the Keys") you get the best takes selected from dozens (hundreds?) of hours of his playing taped informally at the Maple Leaf bar in New Orleans. The fidelity isn't the highest, but it's like being a fly on the wall at a private party where Booker was at the top of his game. It's true that some of these Maple Leaf performances were affected what sounds like untreated manic depression (and a helping of substance abuse). But when you hear them, you can't deny that he could make his solo piano groove as hard as a whole New Orleans R&B band, and that his vocal flights of fancy are unique and electrifying. Even when he's yodelling and interjecting comments about the CIA (wait, especially when he's doing that stuff!) he's a genius as a singer. If a completely sane performer sang this way, I'd feel the same.

And "Junco Partner" is just perfect for a Booker studio recording--perfect control, soulful performances, the works. It's probably his masterpiece.

...back to the album at hand:

Get this one soon after you pick up those others, but not before. It definitely has great moments, but you might not see what the fuss is all about based on listening to the opening portion of the disc.

Supposedly this record comes from a club date in Hamburg, Germany, in 1977. JSP gives no info on the where, when, or how these tracks were captured.

It's a cleanly recorded album. There's not as much lower mid-range/bass as you might expect, but some pianos just sound like that when they are recorded with a neutral microphone and little equalization.

This record was out of print for several years, and as of 2006 it's back. Get it while you can. Still out of print are similar recordings such as "The Piano Prince of New Orleans" (Hamburg, Germany October 1976: Aves 69031), "Blues & Ragtime from New Orleans" (Hamburg, Germany, October 1976: Aves 146.530), "Mr. Mystery" (Tracks 1-5: Switzerland, July 9, 1978 Tracks 6-11: Liege, Belgium, Nov. 9, 1976: Sundown 709-09), and "Let's Make a Better World" (Leipzig, Germany, Oct. 29, 1977: Amiga 001-91). There is a lot of overlap in the repetoire on these live European recordings. Of course, they're not making any more Booker records, so I want them all! Enjoy.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars blues pianist from Rome that loves New Orleans blues, February 14, 2000

By 

eric ranzoni (Rome) - See all my reviews

This review is from: King of the New Orleans Keyboard (Audio CD)

I'm probably the only musician in Italy that knows the incredible Music of James Booker! (what a shame! ) This record is maybe my favourite (i've got them all). Ispired, very good sound, so many songs and, most of all, just James's voice and fingers. It's impossible to listen to more art from a single man. Long life to the music of Booker, Longhair and Dr John!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Triumphant New Orleans piano, February 18, 2006

By 

S. Hecht "Appreciative Listener" (Acton, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: King of the New Orleans Keyboard (Audio CD)

I'm surprised there has been no previous review of this live album. For those interested mainly in Booker's remarkably sophisticated and soulful piano, this is the album to get. Intimate, well-recorded, and raw at the edges, it provides 75 minutes of James partying and singing at the keyboard to the delight of the small club's audience. I recommend this, along with "Junco Partner", as Booker's purest New Orleans solo piano recordings. My only objection is that the liner notes give no indication of where or when this recording was made.