Song of the Day: Longhair Music
I have often stated that we should ditch the horrid, militaristic “Star-Spangled Banner” and make Professor Longhair’s immortal “Tiptina” from 1953 our new culture clashing National Anthem, despite—or perhaps because of—its occasional nonsense lyrics, oola malla walla dalla, indeed. (Fess once claimed, rightly or not, it was the kind of lingo he and the corner boys used to disguise queries about purchasing pot.) The Professor, of course, was a New Orleans legend and inspired all of the great piano masters from that city who followed, including Allen Toussaint, James Booker, Dr. John, Henry Butler, Jon Cleary, down to the present day.
Toussaint once referred to learning the song as “a rite of passage” for a NOLA piano player. Hugh Laurie on the “meaning” of the song: "I thought it was better not knowing. It adds to its mystique and its power to make me laugh and cry all in one go.” Well, it was enough to get Fess (aka Roy Byrd) into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Yes, I’ve been to Tipitina’s in NOLA—and even waved to Fats Domino as he passed by in the club—where you have to rub the sculptured head of Fess to enter. So here is a collection of versions, starting naturally with the master himself. Enjoy, then subscribe, it’s still free!
First, Fess
One of our greatest songwriters and producers, Allen Toussaint, wrote a jazzy little tribute a few years back.
The good doctor, Mac Rebennack, shared many a joint with Fess, and here shares his version of the classic.
…and here the fine pianist (also actor) Hugh Laurie…..
The unlikely Bar Mitzvah scene from HBO’s Treme.
Fess with the Meters in what was, safe to say, his first national TV appearance.
Cartoons of the Day
“My argument sounds better on vinyl.”
There's a terrific Public TV documentary I saw in the 80s (and later purchased on DVD) called Piano Players Rarely Ever Play Together. It features Fess, Allen Toussaint, and Tuts Washington, who pre-dated Fess a bit and was definitely an influence upon him. It shows the three of them rehearsing for a joint concert. Before the performance, however, Fess passes away. We see his funeral, as well as a song Toussaint wrote in his honor. My only minor complaint is that for some of the scenes Allen is playing a portable keyboard with a godawful tinny tone. But other than that, it's a real joy.
I was lucky to meet and chat with Allen in 2010, shortly after he had taped Elvis Costello's Spectacle show, in which he played with Nick Lowe, Richard Thompson and Levon Helm. A real gentleman, class all the way.
I loved the HBO show Treme and was very sad when it ended. The story and characters were good. I loved Steve Zahn in it. But what made it great for me was the music. The music was wonderful.