AND I THOUGHT IT WAS SOME SMART HIPPIE.

I know exactly when I first heard Professor Longhair. Back when we were in our twenties my brother, ever the music fiend, bought his New Orleans Piano LP because he'd heard so many people referencing his music. It was the first time my brothers and I realized that there even was a New Orleans-centric type of music. Yeah, rabbit hole, this way.

New Orleans Piano was a great place to start the dive. A 1972 compilation of early 45s and unreleased material recorded from 1949-1953, this is early stuff, the very stuff digested by subsequent New Orleans greats Fats Domino, Huey "Piano" Smith, and (him again) Allen Toussaint, among many others.

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Listen:
Professor Longhair - In the Night mp3 at Internet Archive
Professor Longhair - Ball the Wall mp3 at Internet Archive
Professor Longhair - Boogie Woogie mp3 at Internet Archive
Professor Longhair - Tipitina mp3 at Internet Archive
Professor Longhair - Mardi Gras in New Orleans mp3 at Internet Archive

PARTY HARD. THEY'RE CHEAP PLASTIC BEADS.

Yikes! I forgot that Fat Tuesday, the big Mardi Gras blowout, is this coming week. That means all of the amateurs who prefer not to blow chunks at the office will be holding their Mardi Gras wing dings this weekend. And it's already Saturday night, so it's a might late for for posting this stuff. Sorry office zombies, save 'em for Tuesday and then just call in on Wednesday. 

Here's a handful of songs, but the real party fuel are the two mixes at Funky 16 Corners. Two hour long mixes in mp3s so you don't have to fuck around too much to download them. There will be more, but I wanted to get these posted for any Mardi Gras type shenanigans that might be happening tonight.

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Listen:
Joe Jones - You Talk Too Much mp3 at Time Goes By
Professor Longhair - Mardi Gras in New Orleans mp3 at Groove Addict
Ernie K-Doe - Popeye Joe mp3 at Probe Is Turning-On the People
Lee Dorsey - Workin' In a Coal Mine mp3 at Tumblr
Al Tousan (Allen Toussaint) - Moo Moo mp3 at Rock 'n' Soul Ichiban
The Mixes:
Funky16Corners Mardi Gras! at Funky 16 Corners Two fine mixes, Mardi Gras Boogaloo and Keep the Fire Burning. One click and mix the drinks.

TOUSSAINT WINS THE COOL PHOTO CONTEST

Jeez, for some reason this year the whole New Orleans music vibe is hitting me hard. Maybe it's because I haven't listened io music from New Orleans since about this time last year, which is just stupid. There's holiday music and there's holiday music. I'd never listen to Christmas music in the middle of summer. That's the most black and white type of an off season decision that needs to be made. Halloween is a different story. The real goofy "Monster Mash" type shit only gets played at Halloween, but the Sonic's "The Witch"? All bets are off. Any day of the year. Valentines Day? Shit, if I wanna get soapy, I've been known to play a love song. Okay, so Christmas music is the only truly limited type of holiday music. So, what the fuck? New Orleans music isn't just a soundtrack to people in loud clothes yelling in your year and then turning to puke. All of this because of Joe Jones's "You Talk Too Much". It set me off.

It was at one of the four posts over at Time Goes By, a blog for Australian seniors that has among its ranks a Mr. Peter Tibbles. Dude knows music. He has a weekly column over there and they're always interesting regardless of the genre. Among his posts are four that have all varieties of New Orleans music. Tibbles's posts are at the bottom. Here's a few others as appetizers.

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Listen:
Joe Jones - You Talk Too Much mp3 at Time Goes By
Professor Longhair - Mardi Gras in New Orleans mp3 at Groove Addict
Ernie K-Doe - Popeye Joe mp3 at Probe Is Turning-On the People
Lee Dorsey - Workin' In a Coal Mine mp3 at ATumblr (?)
Al Tousan (Allen Toussaint) - Moo Moo mp3 at Rock 'n' Soul Ichiban 
The Posts:
New Orleans Music at Time Goes By
Part 1:
King Oliver, Sidney Bechet, Roy Brown, Lee Dorsey, Joe Jones, Bobby Charles, Dave Bartholomew, Jessie Hill, Coco Bobicheaux
Part 2:
Louis Armstrong, Professor Longhair, Lloyd Price, Eddie Bo, the Neville Brothers, Benny Spellman, the Dixie Cups, Smiley Lewis
Part 3:
Kid Ory, Johnny Dodds, Alvin Robinson, Fats Domino, Johnny Adams, Ernie K-Doe, Lonnie Johnson, Chris Kenner, The Meters, Dr, John
Part 4:
Jelly Roll Morton, Champion Jack Dupree, James Booker, Aaron Neville, Allen Toussaint, Irma Thomas, Clarence "Frogman" Henry, Larry Williams, Shirley and Lee. Wynton Marsalis

IT'S COMING.

I just started reading a bio of the Neville Brothers that I've had laying around for years but never bothered to read. It reminded me that all that Mardi Gras shit is coming up, which made me think about Professor Longhair. So here's a couple nice ones by him. Dig his delivery on "Tipitina". Whether he is or not, it sure sounds late night loaded to me.

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Listen:
Professor Longhair - In the Night mp3 at DJ Perro
Professor Longhair - Tipitina (live) mp3 (via Box.net) at Carnival Saloon

WE'LL LET THE PROFESSOR EXPLAIN

Earlier tonight I was reading something about the Meters and it reminded me that Mardi Gras is only a couple weeks away. I always end up forgetting until the last minute, and never get to all of the New Orleans stuff I like. So, getting started early this year, and who better to start with than good ol' Professor Longhair. "Ball the Wall", am I right? 

Here's two songs. "Mardi Gras In New Orleans" was recorded in 1949. The version of "Tipitina" below is from 1974 (his first version was from 1953). The two below are separated by a quarter century, and despite the different bands and recording qualities, they still feel the same.

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Listen:
Profesor Longhair - Mardi Gras in New Orleans mp3 at Groove Addict 1949
Professor Longhair - Tipitina mp3 at Groove Addict 1973
The LPs:
Professor Longhair - New Orleans Piano at Groove Addict
Professor Longhair - Rock' 'n' Roll Gumbo at Groove Addict

RED'S RABBIT HOLE OF SOUL

Joe Haywood and the Dynamic Twisters

I've read much of Red Kelly's writings over the years. The guy behind The "A" Side, The "B" Side, Soul Detective, and The Cosimo Code is insanely knowledgeable about soul music and it's offshoots, the type of guy who doesn't do anything half-assed. His posts are almost always lengthy, with biographical information and factoids you're not likely to read anywhere else. The type of guy that doesn't just spout off info that's gathered in his head over the years, the dude does research to the extent that he meets and becomes friends with some of his subjects. He is the man, his encyclopedic font a research tool for other soul fiends and casual lookie-loos alike. Total respect from this corner.

Lazy Lester

I spent much of this afternoon and evening pouring over The Red Kelly Index, which, until a few hours ago, I was not aware of. It's an index of all of the songs, mainly 45s, that he's written about over the years, on all of the sites he's written for, with links to the songs (click on the song titles) and the original posts (click on the date), and being the kinda guy he is, the record label and catalog number. Having indexed all of this in one place makes it much easier than looking through page after page of old posts, particularly when you consider that they're culled from multiple sites. Once you start looking through it, you'll realize that it will not be a short visit. It will not be a one time visit. 

Here's just a few that I listened to, totally at random, and every one dyn-o-mite. Oh, and another thing: while there are many names you'll recognize, there are a shitload of names you will probably never see again. Totally deep this guy. If the links don't work, just start here and kiss the next few hours goodbye.

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Listen:
Professor Longhair - No Buts, No Maybes mp3 at The "B" Side
Rufus Thomas - (Do the) Push and Pull, Part 1 mp3 at The "B" Side
The Gaturs - Cold Bear mp3 at Soul Detective
The Golden Toadstools - Silly Savage mp3 at The "A" Side
Doctor John - Mos 'Scocious mp3 at The "B" Side
Visit:
The Red Kelly Archive Homepage
The Red Kelly Archive A-C
The Red Kelly Archive D-H
The Red Kelly Archive I-P
The Red Kelly Archive Q-Y
The "A" Side
The "B" Side
The Cosimo Code
Soul Detective 

THAT TIME OF YEAR

Holy cow. Fat Tuesday is only a couple weeks away. I'm not one for all of the knucklehead amateurs' night shenanigans, but I dig this time of year because there's usually an good amount of New Orleans type music floating around. Being that I've got the damn flu, and not the boogie woogie type, I'm gonna bow out quick tonight with a heads up to check out "Home of the Groove" which is, in their words, "based on the premise that the true Home of the Groove, at least on the North American landmass, is the irreplaceable musical and cultural nexus, New Orleans." Right or wrong, they post some good stuff. (Hey, I just noticed, I cuss less when I'm sick.) A recent post is all Professor Longhair, James Booker and Ray Johnson. Here's a couple from the Professor not posted over there, to get you in the mood. (Hello bed. I've missed you so.)

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Listen:
Professor Longhair - In the Night mp3 at DJ Perro
Professor Longhair - Tipitina (live) mp3 (via Box.net) at Carnival Saloon
Visit:
Tasty Holiday Leftovers: Fess, Ray and JCB3 at Home of the Groove
Home of the Groove - Home page
Home of the Groove radio Stream that funky stuff

JUST THE SAX, MA'AM

Maybe it's happened to you at one time or another. You have a Forrest Gump type moment, where you find yourself in the presence of some sort of celebrity, or someone significant for some other reason, and just kind of take a step back, and try to wrap your head around the situation. It's happened to me an a number of occasions over the years and I've always prided myself on keeping my cool, like it's no big deal. There was one time though, that I became a gushing fan boy.

A friend of mine was one of the founding members of the early Paladins, when they were a four piece. In the late eighties, when he was no longer in the band, but still tight with them, he took me to a show they were playing, opening for the Blasters. After the show, he took me backstage. Now, I was really familiar with the Blasters and had seen them on multiple occasions. All was going well, "Hi, enjoyed the show Phil,..." and so on. Then, lurking in the corner I spotted Lee Allen. The Lee Allen; the sax player all over early rock n' roll and New Orleans R&B classics. I was in the presence of royalty. And I was stinking drunk. I don't remember much of the conversation, but it was something like, "Man, I can't believe it! You're the man! You're on Little Richard's stuff,.. Fats Domino! All that New Orleans stuff!" He just took it all in. I've tried to recall more of the event over the years, and he was either friendly, or just plain tolerant. One thing I do remember is that he didn't try to get away, nor did he make me feel like the knucklehead I probably was.

If you're wondering why a sax player would make someone a stammering goon, check out the profiles below. In a nutshell, he was in the New Orleans session band. Much like the Wrecking Crew or the house bands at Sun, Stax, or Motown, the group that he played with (which often included Allen Toussaint and legendary drummer Earl Palmer) had a distinct sound. So much so that acts were flown to New Orleans to record with them. It also bears mentioning that the brand of New Orleans R&B they laid down was part of what morphed with traditional Jamaican music to become ska. Yeah, royalty.

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Listen:
Lee Allen - Walkin' With Mr. Lee mp3 at Beware of the Blog
Lee Allen solos:
Little Richard - Good Golly Miss Molly mp3 at SMU
Little Richard - Lucille mp3 at On the Spur of the Moment
Professor Longhair - In the Night mp3 at DJ Perro
Fats Domino - I'm In Love Again mp3 at Bill Capes
Shirley & Lee - Feel So Good mp3 at Rocky-52.net
LP download:
Lee Allen - Down on Bourbon St at Be Bop Wino This LP includes all of his "Walking With Mr. Lee" album and a handful of singles. (Alternate link with high resolution scan of cover and liner notes here.)
Video:
The Blasters with Lee Allen - So Long Baby Goodbye at YouTube
The Blasters with Lee Allen - I'm Shakin' at YouTube
Visit:
Lee Allen - Profile at Offbeat
Lee Allen - Bio & partial discography at Black Cat Rockabilly
Lee Allen - Profile & interview at Taming the Saxophone

ATTN: PARTY PLANNING COMMITTEE

Don't get me started about New Orleans. I love that city. Within hours of my first arrival (on my only visit), my brother scored a Little Richard 78, and it just got better after that. There was a contingent of San Diegans that all happened to be going the same year, and we all had common friends in a couple that lived there, Harold and Holly. They lived right in the thick of it, both literally and figuratively. It was a great few days, I'll leave it at that.

Ever since then, my soft spot for New Orleans music has grown. Here's a random sampling. Not all are Mardi Gras related, but all have that feeling, that certain vibe that only one region can produce. Have fun; don't be stupid. Best advice I ever got.

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Professor Longhair - Tipitina mp3 (via Box.net) at Carnival Saloon
Ernie K-Doe - A Certain Girl mp3 at MBrownI.com
Dr. John, the Night Tripper - Mama Roux mp3 at Home of the Groove
Clifton Chenier - Zydeco Sont Pas Sale mp3 at Let's Polka
Eddie Bo - Check Mr. Popeye mp3 at Probe Is Turning-On the People
Dirty Dozen Brass Band - Feet Can't Fail Me Now mp3 at Home of the Groove
Professor Longhair - Going To Mardi Gras mp3 at Carnival Saloon
The Wild Magnolias - Handa Wanda mp3 at Vibrations Music
Lee Dorsey - Tears, Tears and More Tears mp3 at Home of the Groove
Sugar Boy Crawford and his Cane Cutters - Jock-A-Mo at Carnival Saloon
Fats Domino - Walkin' To New Orleans mp3 at Carnival Saloon
Bill Sinigal and the Skyliners - Second Line, Part I mp3 at Home of the Groove
The Meters - Hey Pocky-A-Way mp3 at Carnival Saloon
Dejan's Olympia Brass Band - Ain't My Fault mp3 at Carnival Saloon
Bonus:
Ernie K-Doe - WWOZ radio show mp3 at Beware of the Blog Over an hour of Mr. "Mother In Law" spinning wax and testifying on the air.
Neat images:
The Mistick Krew of Comus - 1873 Designs For Parade Costumes at Twisted Vingtage