Live on the Queen Mary

{{Infobox album

| name = Live on the Queen Mary

| type = live

| artist = Professor Longhair

| cover = Live on the Queen Mary.jpg

| alt =

| released = 1978

| recorded = March 24, 1975

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = New Orleans rhythm and blues

| length =

| 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.{{cite book |editor1-last=Bolden |editor1-first=Tony |title=The Funk Era and Beyond: New Perspectives on Black Popular Culture |date=2008 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |page=222}}{{cite book |last1=Hardy |first1=Phil |last2=Laing |first2=Dave |title=The Da Capo Companion to 20th-Century Popular Music |date=1995 |publisher=Da Capo Press |page=766}} He was allegedly upset about its release, as he claimed not to know that his performance was recorded.{{cite news |last1=Lawson |first1=Terry |title=Live on the Queen Mary |work=Journal Herald |date=Jul 15, 1978 |location=Dayton |page=34}}

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.{{cite news |last1=Brain |first1=Anna |title=Out of the Box |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=14 Jan 2015 |department=Switched On |page=47}}

Production

The album was produced by Tom Wilson.{{cite news |last1=Selvin |first1=Joel |title=Professor Longhair: Live on the Queen Mary |work=San Francisco Examiner |date=Jul 23, 1978 |department=Pop Records |page=47}} 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.{{cite news |last1=Palmer |first1=Robert |title=The Pop Life |work=The New York Times |date=21 July 1978 |page=C15}}{{cite magazine |last1=Gaar |first1=Gillian G. |title=Live on the Queen Mary |magazine=Goldmine |date=Jun 2019 |volume=45 |issue=6 |page=37}} "Stagger Lee" is a version of the Lloyd Price song.{{cite news |title=Sounds O.K.! |work=The Guardian |date=May 26, 1978 |location=Runcorn |page=5}} "I'm Movin' On" is a cover of the Hank Snow tune.{{cite news |last1=Dennis |first1=Jerry |title='Live on the Queen Mary,' Professor Longhair |work=Dayton Daily News |date=Aug 20, 1978 |department=Dayton Leisure |page=14}} "Cry to Me" is a version of the song made famous by Solomon Burke.{{cite news |last1=Marsh |first1=Dave |title=Record Reviews |work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin |agency=Rolling Stone |date=Aug 17, 1978 |page=D12}} "Gone So Long" and "Mess Around" are performed as instrumentals.{{cite news |last1=Perkins |first1=Don |title=Professor Longhair, Live on the Queen Mary |work=The StarPhoenix |date=Aug 5, 1978 |department=Accent |page=8}} The liner notes are by John Broven, taken from his book Walking to New Orleans.{{cite news |last1=Collins |first1=Wyman |title=Jazz Scene |work=Edmonton Journal |date=Sep 2, 1978 |page=E12}}

Critical reception

{{music ratings

|rev1 = AllMusic

|rev1score = {{rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web |title=Live on the Queen Mary Review by Bruce Eder |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/live-on-the-queen-mary-mw0000618920 |website=AllMusic |access-date=6 April 2024}}

|rev2 = Robert Christgau

|rev2score = A−{{cite web |title=Professor Longhair |url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Professor+Longhair |website=Robert Christgau |access-date=7 April 2024}}

|rev3 = The Minneapolis Star

|rev3score = {{rating|3.5|4}}{{cite news |last1=Bream |first1=Jon |title=Professor Longhair 'Live on the Queen Mary' |work=The Minneapolis Star |date=Sep 22, 1978 |page=4C}}

|rev4 = MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide

|rev4score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite book |title=MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide |date=1998 |publisher=Visible Ink Press |page=299}}

|rev5 = Omaha World-Herald

|rev5score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Will |title=Boogie & Soul |work=Omaha World-Herald |date=Aug 8, 1978 |page=8}}

|rev6 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide

|rev6score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite book |title=The Rolling Stone Album Guide |date=1992 |publisher=Random House |pages=564, 565}}

|rev7 = The Virgin Encyclopedia of R&B and Soul

|rev7score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite book |last1=Larkin |first1=Colin |title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of R&B and Soul |date=1998 |publisher=Virgin |page=270}}

}}

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."{{cite news |last1=McGrath |first1=Paul |title=Professor Longhair |work=The Globe and Mail |date=26 July 1978 |page=F2}} 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."{{cite news |last1=Christy |first1=Jim |title='Fess started rock rolling but he was left behind |work=The Globe and Mail |date=1 Nov 1978 |page=F10}} The Liverpool Daily Post noted Professor Longhair's "curious squeaky voice" and "rough-edged city blues."{{cite news |last1=Key |first1=Philip |title=Professor Longhair Live on the Queen Mary |work=Liverpool Daily Post |date=May 31, 1978 |page=2}} The Morning Call labeled Live on the Queen Mary "a minor classic."{{cite news |last1=Willistein |first1=Paul A. |title=American artists have gained much from New Orleans-based influences |work=The Morning Call |date=May 24, 1979 |page=C20}}

Newsday praised his "unique syncopation and earthy vocals."{{cite news |last1=Robins |first1=Wayne |title=Professor Longhair: 'Live on the Queen Mary' |work=Newsday |date=Jul 20, 1978 |department=Part II |page=47}} The Daily Breeze called Professor Longhair "unquestionably one of the greatest talents ever to play a piano."{{cite news |last1=Palmer |first1=Gary |title=Piano player's talent comes out of hiding |work=Daily Breeze |date=Jul 21, 1978 |page=E9}} Robert Christgau praised the uncredited backing musicians. The Kansas City Times opined that Professor Longhair's "voice is surprisingly melodious."{{cite news |last1=Brisbane |first1=Arthur S. |title='Professor' Finally Gets Some Credit |work=The Kansas Cit Star |date=Sep 30, 1978 |page=10C}} The New York Times deemed the album "rollicking, exuberant piano blues with an undercurrent of deep feeling."{{cite news |last1=Palmer |first1=Robert |title=The Best of the Present-Day Bluesmen |work=The New York Times |date=4 Mar 1979 |page=D25}}