Serene LowA man of many talents
With his debut album, Let Them Talk, Hugh Laurie can proudly add ‘musician’ to his formidable resume. In case you didn’t know, he’s already known for being
– an award-winning actor (for playing the eponymous lead on House, which earned him 6 Emmy nominations and 2 Golden Globes)
– an athlete (he was a rower for the British National team in his youth)
– a writer (his novel, The Gun Seller, was a best-seller in France)
– a comedian (having starred in the Blackadder series and in A Bit of Fry and Laurie)
Musical influences
The album features a collection of 16 covers of forgotten gems in the realm of Blues and Jazz – a result of the Cambridge alumni’s lifelong obsession with the music of New Orleans. With songs originally written by legendary musicians such as Leroy Carr, Jellyroll Morton and Lead Belly, Laurie clearly has a tough act to follow.
But with a little creativity and professional help, Laurie manages to add his unique spin to the masterpieces, especially in the song, ‘You Don’t Know My Mind’, his offering a slightly more modern spin to the song than the original Leadbelly version and its subsequent covers, like the one from Odetta.
While much of his musical influences come from jazz or blues artistes such as Ray Charles and Willie Dixon, Laurie also respectfully borrows from musicians that hark from other genres. For example, in his rendition of the classic ‘St. James’ Infirmary’, the intro holds hints of classical music, effectively lending a romantic and melancholy feel to the song.
With a little help from his friends
Under the watchful eye of Allen Toussaint, the instrumental arrangements are smooth and expressive. In the song, ‘The Whale Has Swallowed Me’, the thumping bass and the use of drums lend a leaden, heavy feel to the song.
Speaking of heavyweights, the album also receives help from musical titans, like Dr John, Sir Tom Jones and Irma Thomas on songs ‘After You’ve Gone’, ‘Baby Please Make A Change’ and ‘John Henry’ respectively. All of them lived up to their reputations, but unfortunately, by inviting them on board as lead vocals, the songs feel separate from the rest of the album, as Laurie is heard only as supporting vocal and on the piano.
Sing a song
Laurie’s own vocals are gravelly and raw, which makes him ideal for his genre of choice. He fares better on slower numbers like ‘Winin’ Boy Blues’ and ‘Let Them Talk’, where his husky vocals lend an air of vulnerability. Listen also to ‘Buddy Bolden’s Blues’, where the television star puts his acting experience to good use, by singing all 3 ‘characters’ in the song, imbuing each with their own distinct personalities as the Judge, Buddy Bolden and Frankie Duson.
Bringing the House down
This may be his first album, but no one familiar with his work will be surprised by this outing. Having displayed his musical talents on shows like House and A Bit of Fry and Laurie, and often performing in charity concerts with ‘The Band from TV’, a band consisting of various television stars like Greg Grunberg and Laurie himself, as well as on talkshows with Jay Leno and Jools Holland, the 51-year-old has more than earned his musical stripes.
You can watch some of the videos in the links provided below.
What’s the verdict, boss?
The album has already topped iTunes charts worldwide, and there is no reason why it shouldn’t have.
Let Them Talk is a solid, comfortable glimpse into the world of Blues, providing good entertainment (but don’t start listening with Clapton-like expectations) and is recommended listening if you’re a fan of the genre or of Hugh Laurie (or if you’re just looking for a good time).
Not bad for a white boy.
Let Them Talk is available for order on the album’s official site. The album will be available in UK stores on May 9th.
View Hugh Laurie’s past attempts in music
The Tonight show with Jay Leno – https://youtu.be/JkATyNpn94g
A Bit of Fry and Laurie – https://youtu.be/fqCha93nBTU
With the Band from TV – https://youtu.be/x9HnaL1S7pM
On Jools Holland, promoting his album – https://youtu.be/H32k2mjYEUQ