New Orleans Legends You May Have Never Heard
I recently picked up a compilation of 1960s recordings by Betty Harris titled The Lost Queen of New Orleans Soul. That’s a bold claim, considering all of the great music that has come from that musically-endowed city, but Harris is so good that she does indeed deserve such a moniker. All of the songs on this 17-song collection were written and produced by Allen Toussaint, the legendary singer-songwriter and pianist-producer who sadly passed away about this time last year (a few songs are credited to Naomi Neville, but that’s an alias that Toussaint used for a few years when he was in legal limbo. That was also his mother’s maiden name!).
In addition to Toussaint’s magic touch, the other special ingredient on these songs — recorded from 1965 to 1969 — is the backup band; none other than another legend of New Orleans music, the mighty Meters. But the real highlight is Betty Harris herself. She was a bold soul sister before such a classification even existed. Imagine a sassy, sultry, funky cross between Tina Turner and Irma Thomas, and that’s close to what Betty Harris sounds like. Good for your soul, indeed!
Oddly, Betty Harris never released a full album all those years ago. Most of these songs were released as singles on the Sansu label, but none were ever big hits, and her career stalled. After a national tour with Otis Redding and Joe Simon — curtailed by the tragic plane crash that killed Otis — in 1967, Harris recorded a few more songs with Toussaint but in 1970 she decided to retire from the music business and start a family. But the story doesn’t end there. Betty Harris is still alive and singing, and since 2005 she has resumed performing again.
Also on the subject of the Crescent City, I’ve been listening to The Domino Effect, an album from veteran New Orleans musician, Herb Hardesty. For many years Hardesty was the saxophone player in Fats Domino’s band. He also played sessions and went on tours with many other recording artists, including Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and even Tom Waits. He recorded a solo album himself, back in 1958, but that album was never released … that is until four years ago, when Ace Records finally put out that album along with some other sessions that Hardesty recorded in the early 1960s. The Domino Effect is a mostly instrumental collection that showcases Hardesty’s vibrant sax playing. With song titles such as “Sassy”, “Rumba Rockin’ With Coleman”, “Herb’s in the Doghouse”, “Feelin’ Good”, “Bouncing Ball”, “Beatin’ and Blowin’”, and “The Chicken Twist” you can pretty much guess that this is one very upbeat and fun set of songs. Plenty of rockin’ R&B with some nifty jazz and blues flourishes.
Herbert Hardesty acknowledges the audience in the Blues Tent during his set at the New Orleans Jazz Fest Saturday, April 27, 2013.(Photo by David Grunfeld, Nola.com | The Times-Picayune)
In an earlier version of this story I was going to mention that, like Betty Harris, Herb Hardesty is also still alive and still playing shows, but sadly he passed away earlier this month, on December 3, at the age of 91. But even in his advancing years, Hardesty was still playing live shows around New Orleans, including an enthusiastically received set at the 2012 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. They say that music keeps you young and I’m a strong believer in that adage.
Meanwhile, here are the other albums I’ve been playing on a daily basis and keeping me company on those lonely nights lately:
Various Artists – Urgent Jumping: East African Classics
Wilco – Alpha Mike Foxtrot: Rare Tracsk 1994-2014
Ramones – Too Tough To Die
4th Coming – Strange Things 1970-1974
Dan Penn – Close To Me: More Fame Recordings
The Monkees – Good Times!
Cannonball Adderley – What Is This Thing Called Soul: Live in Europe
Parquet Courts – Human Performance
Various Artists –Come Back Strong: Hotlanta Soul 4
Sneaky Feelings – Positively George Street
Milk ‘N’ Cookies – Milk ‘N’ Cookies
Jimbo Mathus – Dark Night of the Soul
Baby Huey – Living Legend
Michael Carpenter – Hopefulness
Jimmy Eat World – Integrity Blues
John Prine – For Better or Worse
The Edge of Darkness – Eyes of Love
The Fantastic Four – The Lost Motown Album
Sunburst – Ave Africa
David Crosby – Lighthouse
Dieuf-Dieul de Thies – Aw Sa Yone Vol. 2
Various Artists – Celestial Blues
The Independents – Just As Long: The Complete Wand Recordings 1972-74
Santana – Santana IV
Dexter Johnson – Live At Letoile
The Flat Five – It’s a World of Love and Hope
Robert Ellis – The Lights From the Chemical Plant
Waco Brothers – Freedom and Weep
Various Artists – Super Funk Volume 4
Various Artists – Dave Hamilton’s Detroit Dancers: Vol. 2
Various Artists – The Afrosound of Colombia: Vol. 1
Car Seat Headrest – Teens of Denial
Songs: Ohia – Magnolia Electric Company (Deluxe Edition)
Hank Ballard – You Can’t Keep a Good Man Down
Bill Lloyd – Lloyd-ering
Various Artists – Afterschool Special: The 123s of Kid Soul
Arthur Alexander – The Monument Years
Danny & the Champions of the World – Danny & the Champions of the World
Close Lobsters – Firestation Towers 1986-1989
Stiff Little Fingers – Original Album Series (5-CD Box)
Orlando Julius – Super Afro Soul
Johnny Clarke – Ruffer Version
Black Heat – Black Heat
Nada Surf – Live in Brussels
Various Artists – Senegal 70
