Tipitina
"Tipitina" | |
---|---|
Single by Professor Longhair | |
B-side | "In The Night" |
Released | 1953 |
Recorded | 1953 |
Genre | New Orleans blues |
Length | 2:15 |
Label | Atlantic |
Songwriter(s) | Roy Byrd |
"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 (also recorded in 1953) 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.[1]
The song, which is considered a
Background
Pianist Henry Roeland "Roy" Byrd, known as Professor Longhair, was a prominent New Orleans musician. He played
Details
The
Allen Toussaint described learning the song as a "rite of passage".[7] The subject of the song is unknown. Among the speculated subjects are a place and a person.[7] Hugh Laurie recorded a cover of the song around the time of its selection to the National Recording Registry. He commented about the mystery as follows: "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."[7][8]
The song became a hit in New Orleans after its initial release, but was not as successful in the rest of the United States.[7][4] The 1953 Professor Longhair version and the 1972 Dr. John version are both considered "Classic non Hot 100 songs".[9][10]
Critical response
In 2011, the song was included in the National Recording Registry.
The National Recording Registry announcement for this song said the song is "a signature distillation of the musical ideas and personality that inspired and influenced such New Orleans pianists as Fats Domino, Huey "Piano" Smith, James Booker, Dr. John and Allen Toussaint".[11] According to Creswell, "Tipitina" "marshalled New Orleans rhythm into a sparkling package".[4]
Selected recorded versions
The song has been widely covered as well as multiply recorded by Professor Longhair himself.[6]
- Professor Longhair: from New Orleans Piano (1972, previously unreleased alternate take recorded in 1953)[14]
- Dr. John: from Dr. John's Gumbo (1972)
- Professor Longhair: from Rock 'n' Roll Gumbo (1974).[15] This 1974 recording has been substantially remixed in 1985 for the CD release of this album.[16] It is this 1985 remix of the 1974 recording that is included on the 1987 soundtrack album of The Big Easy.[17]
- Professor Longhair: from House Party New Orleans Style: The Lost Sessions 1971–1972 (1987, previously unreleased recording from 1972)[18]
- James Booker: from Live from Belle Vue (2015)[19]
- Hugh Laurie: from his debut album, Let Them Talk (2011)[7]
Professor Longhair single version
The original Professor Longhair version was recorded in New Orleans in November 1953 under the name Professor Longhair & His Blues Scholars.
In popular culture
- A version by Bo Dollis & The Wild Magnolias is in the Bones season 1 episode "The Man in the Morgue" (an episode set in New Orleans).[25]
- "Tipitina", the November 25, 2012 season 3 finale of Treme (a TV series about New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina), used the song twice.[26]
- The song is included as a full-length performance (piano duo) by Allen Toussaint and Jon Cleary in the 2005 documentary film Make It Funky!, which presents a history of New Orleans music and its influence on rhythm and blues, rock and roll, funk and jazz.[27][28]
Notes
- ^ "BMI Repertoire: Tipitina (BMI Work #1519693)". BMI Repertoire. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
- ^ Berry, Jason (April 28, 2022). "New Orleans Legend Tipitina's Is Back—With Vintage Records". The Daily Beast. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll: Tipitina". Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. May 16, 2013. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
- ^ ISBN 1-56025-915-9.
- Allmusic. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
- ^ Rolling Stone. 2014. Archived from the originalon May 18, 2012. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e "Professor Longhair: Tipitina: Inside the National Recording Registry". Studio 360. Public Radio International. January 20, 2012. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
- ^ See also Hugh Laurie - Tipitina (The Story Behind the Song)
- ^ Whitburn, p. 764.
- ^ Whitburn, p. 286.
- ^ a b "The National Recording Registry 2010". Library of Congress. January 22, 2014. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
- ^ Massa, Dominic (December 3, 2013). "Louis Armstrong song inducted into Grammy Hall of Fame". WWL-TV. Archived from the original on January 13, 2014. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
- ISBN 0-415-97073-3.
- ^ Discogs Professor Longhair - New Orleans Piano
- ^ Discogs Professor Longhair - Rock N Roll Gumbo
- ^ Discogs Professor Longhair - Rock N Roll Gumbo - Reissue
- ^ Discogs The Big Easy Soundtrack
- ^ Discogs Professor Longhair - House Party New Orleans Style
- ^ "Live from Belle Vue". Amazon. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
- ^ Allmusic. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
- ^ a b Crosby, John (1983). Professor Longhair : a bio-discography : New Orleans r & b. John Crosby.
- ISBN 0-313-21171-X.
- ^ "Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues: Piano Blues". Amazon. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
- ^ "Doctors, Professors, Kings & Queens: The Big Ol' Box of New Orleans [Box set]". Amazon. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
- ^ "The Man in the Morgue". TV.com. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
- NOLA.com. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
- ProQuest 1370090.
- OCLC 61207781. 11952.
References
- Whitburn, Joel (2009). Top Pop Singles (12th ed.). Record Research Inc. ISBN 978-0-89820-180-2.
External links
- Discography of albums containing Longhair version at Allmusic