''Crawfish Fiesta'' is an album by Professor Longhair, released in 1980 by

Alligator Records Alligator Records is an American, Chicago-based independent blues record label founded by Bruce Iglauer in 1971. Iglauer was also one of the founders of the ''Living Blues'' magazine in Chicago in 1970. History Iglauer started the label using hi ...

. It features

Dr. John Malcolm John Rebennack Jr. (November 20, 1941 – June 6, 2019), better known by his stage name Dr. John, was an American singer and songwriter. His music encompassed New Orleans blues, jazz, funk, and R&B. Active as a session musician from ...

, who reprised his original role as guitarist in Longhair's band,

Johnny Vidacovich John Joseph Vidacovich Jr. (born June 27, 1949) is an American jazz drummer and a member of the band Astral Project with James Singleton, Tony Dagradi, and Steve Masakowski. He has also worked with Bobby McFerrin, Stanton Moore, Charlie H ...

on drums,

Tony Dagradi Anthony Arnold "Tony" Dagradi (born September 22, 1952) is an American jazz saxophonist. Biography Dagradi was born in New York City, and began playing alto saxophone when he was eight years old. In his professional career, he has primarily play ...

and

Andrew Kaslow Andrew Jonathan Kaslow (born March 5, 1950, New York, New York, United States) is an American author, record producer, saxophonist and entertainment executive. Biography Andrew Kaslow attended Columbia University where he earned a B.A., a master ...

on sax, and Longhair's long time conga player Alfred "Uganda" Roberts. The album was recorded at the

Sea-Saint Studios Sea-Saint Studios was a music recording facility located at 3809 Clematis Street in New Orleans, Louisiana, which was co-owned by musician, producer, and arranger, Allen Toussaint and record A&R man and publishing agent Marshall Sehorn, which was in ...

in New Orleans and it was co-produced by Kaslow, his wife

Allison Allison may refer to: People * Allison (given name) * Allison (surname) (includes a list of people with this name) * Eugene Allison Smith (1922-1980), American politician and farmer Companies * Allison Engine Company, American aircraft engine ...

and

Bruce Iglauer Bruce Iglauer (born July 10, 1947) is an American businessman and record producer who founded Alligator Records as an independent record label featuring blues music. Early life and career Iglauer was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States ...

. It won the first W.C. Handy Blues Album of the Year award in 1980. On October 16, 2012, Alligator Records reissued the album on vinyl with one previously unreleased bonus track, a cover

Percy Mayfield Percy Mayfield (August 12, 1920August 11, 1984) was an American Rhythm and blues singer with a smooth vocal style. He also was a songwriter, known for the songs " Please Send Me Someone to Love" and "Hit the Road Jack", the latter being a song ...

's "River's Invitation" which was recorded during rehearsal of the recording session of the album.Blues On Vinyl : ALLIGATOR RECORDS TO REISSUE BUDDY GUY’S STONE CRAZY! AND PROFESSOR LONGHAIR’S CRAWFISH FIESTA ON VINYL ON OCTOBER 16, 2012
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Critical reception

The album was voted as one of the Top 10 Albums of the Year by ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

''.

Track listing

All tracks composed by Roy Byrd; except where indicated # "

Big Chief "Big Chief" is a song composed by Earl King in the early 1960s. It became a hit in New Orleans for Professor Longhair in 1964,Berry/Foose/Jones, ''Up from the Cradle of Jazz''. University of Louisiana at Lafayette Press, 2009, p. 148. featuring a ...

" (

Earl King Earl Silas Johnson IV (February 7, 1934 – April 17, 2003),
known as Earl King, was an American singer, guit ...

; Ulis Gaines,

Wardell Quezergue Wardell Joseph Quezergue ( ; March 12, 1930 – September 6, 2011) was an American composer, arranger, record producer and bandleader, known among New Orleans musicians as the "Creole Beethoven". Steeped in jazz, he was an influential musician who ...

) – 3:13 # "Her Mind is Gone" – 4:23 # "Something on Your Mind" ( Big Jay McNeely) – 4:10 # "You're Driving Me Crazy" – 2:34 # "Red Beans" (

McKinley Morganfield McKinley Morganfield (April 4, 1913 April 30, 1983), known professionally as Muddy Waters, was an American blues singer and musician who was an important figure in the post-war blues scene, and is often cited as the "father of modern Chicago ...

) – 4:09 # "Willie Fugal's Blues" – 2:03 # "It's My Fault Darling" (Miles Grayson, Lermon Horton) – 4:54 # "In the Wee Wee Hours" – 3:23 # "Cry to Me" (

Bert Russell Bertrand Russell Berns (November 8, 1929 – December 30, 1967), also known as Bert Russell and (occasionally) Russell Byrd, was an American songwriter and record producer of the 1960s. His songwriting credits include "Twist and Shout", "Piece ...

) – 3:35 # "Bald Head" – 2:58 # " Whole Lotta Lovin'" (

Dave Bartholomew David Louis Bartholomew (December 24, 1918 – June 23, 2019) was an American musician, bandleader, composer, arranger, and record producer. He was prominent in the music of New Orleans throughout the second half of the 20th century. Originally ...

Fats Domino Antoine Dominique Domino Jr. (February 26, 1928 – October 24, 2017), known as Fats Domino, was an American pianist, singer and songwriter. One of the pioneers of rock and roll music, Domino sold more than 65 million records. Born in New O ...

) – 3:46 # "Crawfish Fiesta" – 3:10 # "River's Invitation" (

) (bonus rehearsal track, 2012) – 3:14

Personnel

* Professor Longhair - vocals, piano *

- guitar *

- tenor saxophone, horn arrangements *

- tenor saxophone, horn arrangements * Jim Moore - baritone saxophone * Alfred "Uganda" Roberts - conga *

- drums * David Lee Watson - bass *

Mac Rebennack Malcolm John Rebennack Jr. (November 20, 1941 – June 6, 2019), better known by his stage name Dr. John, was an American singer and songwriter. His music encompassed New Orleans blues, jazz, funk, and R&B. Active as a session musician from ...

- assistant producer

References

{{Authority control Professor Longhair albums 1980 albums Albums produced by Bruce Iglauer Albums published posthumously Alligator Records albums