Crawfish Fiesta

Last updated
Crawfish Fiesta
Crawfish festival prof longhair.jpg
Studio album by
Released1980
Recorded1979
Genre
Length42:18
Label Alligator
Producer Allison Kaslow, Andrew Kaslow, Bruce Iglauer

Crawfish Fiesta is an album by Professor Longhair, released in 1980 by Alligator Records. [1] [2] It features Dr. John, who reprised his original role as guitarist in Longhair's band, Johnny Vidacovich on drums, Tony Dagradi and Andrew Kaslow on sax, and Longhair's long time conga player Alfred "Uganda" Roberts. The album was recorded at the Sea-Saint Studios in New Orleans and it was co-produced by Kaslow, his wife Allison and Bruce Iglauer. It won the first W.C. Handy Blues Album of the Year award in 1980.

Contents

On October 16, 2012, Alligator Records reissued the album on vinyl with one previously unreleased bonus track, a cover Percy Mayfield's "River's Invitation" which was recorded during rehearsal of the recording session of the album. [3]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [4]
Robert Christgau A [5]
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [6]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]

The album was voted as one of the Top 10 Albums of the Year by The New York Times .[ citation needed ]

Track listing

All tracks composed by Roy Byrd; except where indicated

  1. "Big Chief" (Earl King; Ulis Gaines, Wardell Quezergue) – 3:13
  2. "Her Mind is Gone" – 4:23
  3. "Something on Your Mind" (Big Jay McNeely) – 4:10
  4. "You're Driving Me Crazy" – 2:34
  5. "Red Beans" (McKinley Morganfield) – 4:09
  6. "Willie Fugal's Blues" – 2:03
  7. "It's My Fault Darling" (Miles Grayson, Lermon Horton) – 4:54
  8. "In the Wee Wee Hours" – 3:23
  9. "Cry to Me" (Bert Russell) – 3:35
  10. "Bald Head" – 2:58
  11. "Whole Lotta Lovin'" (Dave Bartholomew, Fats Domino) – 3:46
  12. "Crawfish Fiesta" – 3:10
  13. "River's Invitation" (Percy Mayfield) (bonus rehearsal track, 2012) – 3:14

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Professor Longhair</span> American blues musician (1918–1980)

Henry Roeland "Roy" Byrd, better known as Professor Longhair or "Fess" for short, was an American singer and pianist who performed New Orleans blues. He was active in two distinct periods, first in the heyday of early rhythm and blues and later in the resurgence of interest in traditional jazz after the founding of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in 1970. His piano style has been described as "instantly recognizable, combining rumba, mambo, and calypso".

<i>New Orleans Piano</i> 1972 studio album by Professor Longhair

New Orleans Piano is a 1972 album by Professor Longhair. It consists of material recorded in 1949 and 1953, including tracks previously released by Atlantic Records.

<i>Count Basie Swings, Joe Williams Sings</i> 1955 studio album by Count Basie and Joe Williams

Count Basie Swings, Joe Williams Sings is an album by pianist/bandleader Count Basie and vocalist Joe Williams recorded in 1955 and originally released on the Clef label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tipitina</span> Single by Professor Longhair

"Tipitina" is a song written and made famous by Professor Longhair. The song has been widely covered and the Professor Longhair version was recorded in 1953 for Atlantic Records. "Tipitina" was first released in 1953. A previously unreleased alternate take was released on the album New Orleans Piano in 1972. Although the nature of his contributions are unknown, recording engineer Cosimo Matassa is listed as the song's co-writer along with Roy Byrd, Professor Longhair's legal name.

<i>The Boss of the Blues</i> 1956 live album by Big Joe Turner

The Boss of the Blues is a 1956 album by the American singer Big Joe Turner. Originally released on the Atlantic label, the album has been reissued many times on cassette and CD by Atlantic, Rhino and Collectables.

<i>Midnight Blue</i> (Kenny Burrell album) 1963 studio album by Kenny Burrell

Midnight Blue is a 1963 album by jazz guitarist Kenny Burrell featuring Stanley Turrentine on tenor saxophone, Major Holley on double bass, Bill English on drums and Ray Barretto on conga, and is one of Burrell's best-known works for Blue Note. Jazz Improv magazine lists the album among its top five recommended recordings for Burrell, indicating that "[i]f you need to know 'the Blue Note sound', here it is". In 2005, NPR included the album in its "Basic Jazz Library", describing it as "one of the great jazzy blues records". The album has been re-issued by Blue Note.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfred "Uganda" Roberts</span> American musician (1943–2020)

Alfred "Uganda" Roberts was an American conga/percussion player.

<i>Frostbite</i> (album) 1980 studio album by Albert Collins

Frostbite is a studio album by Albert Collins, released in 1980 on Alligator Records.

<i>Dont Lose Your Cool</i> 1983 studio album by Albert Collins

Don't Lose Your Cool is a studio album by the American musician Albert Collins, released in 1983 by Alligator Records.

<i>Somebody Loan Me a Dime</i> 1974 studio album by Fenton Robinson

Somebody Loan Me a Dime is a 1974 studio album by blues singer and guitarist Fenton Robinson, his debut under the Alligator Records imprint. Blending together some elements of jazz with Chicago blues and Texas blues, the album was largely critically well received and is regarded as important within his discography. Among the album's tracks is a re-recording of his 1967 signature song, "Somebody Loan Me a Dime". It has been reissued multiple times in the United States and Japan, including with bonus tracks.

<i>Dancing the Blues</i> 1993 studio album by Taj Mahal

Dancing the Blues is an album by American blues artist Taj Mahal, released in 1993.

Robert Lee "Smokey" Wilson was an American West Coast blues guitarist. He spent most of his career performing West Coast blues and juke joint blues in Los Angeles, California. He recorded a number of albums for record labels such as P-Vine Records, Bullseye Blues and Texmuse Records. His career got off to a late start, with international recognition eluding him until the 1990s.

Andrew Jonathan Kaslow is an American author, record producer, saxophonist and entertainment executive.

<i>African High Life</i> 1963 studio album by Solomon Ilori

African High Life is the debut album by Nigerian drummer and percussionist Solomon Ilori recorded in 1963 and released on the Blue Note label. The album was reissued on CD in 2006 with three bonus tracks recorded at a later session.

<i>Goin to the Meeting</i> 1962 studio album by Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis

Goin' to the Meeting is an album by saxophonist Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis recorded in 1962 for the Prestige label.

<i>Shakara</i> (album) 1972 studio album by Fela Ransome-Kuti and the Africa 70

Shakara is an album by Nigerian Afrobeat composer, bandleader, and multi-instrumentalist Fela Kuti, recorded in Lagos in 1971 and originally released on the Nigerian EMI label.

<i>There Comes a Time</i> (album) 1976 studio album by Gil Evans and His Orchestra

There Comes a Time is an album by the jazz composer, arranger, conductor and pianist Gil Evans, recorded in 1975 and performed by Evans with an orchestra featuring David Sanborn, Howard Johnson, Billy Harper and Ryo Kawasaki. The album was re-released with an altered tracklist on CD in 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Dagradi</span> American jazz saxophonist

Anthony Arnold "Tony" Dagradi is an American jazz saxophonist.

<i>Classified</i> (James Booker album) 1982 studio album by James Booker

Classified is a studio album by the New Orleans pianist James Booker, released in 1982. It was reissued in an expanded edition in 2013.

<i>Kidney Stew Is Fine</i> 1969 studio album by Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson

Kidney Stew Is Fine is an album by the American saxophonist/vocalist Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson recorded in France in 1969, and originally released by the French Black & Blue label as Wee Baby Blues, before being re-released by the Delmark label in the United States.

References

  1. 1 2 The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. pp. 564, 565.
  2. "Professor Longhair Biography by Bill Dahl". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  3. Blues On Vinyl : ALLIGATOR RECORDS TO REISSUE BUDDY GUY’S STONE CRAZY! AND PROFESSOR LONGHAIR’S CRAWFISH FIESTA ON VINYL ON OCTOBER 16, 2012
  4. "Crawfish Fiesta Review by Bill Dahl". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  5. "Robert Christgau: Consumer Guide Apr. 28, 1980". Robertchristgau.com. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  6. Russell, Tony; Smith, Chris (2006). The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings . Penguin. p. 531. ISBN   978-0-140-51384-4.