Tipitina’s Announces Record Club, First Installment Unearthed 1973 Professor Longhair Recording

Courtesy Tipitina’s – Tip’s Tunes
New Orleans club Tipitina’s announced the new vinyl series Tipitina’s Record Club on Wednesday.

Independent venues continue to find creative ways to remedy the financial challenges brought about by the coronavirus pandemic – many of which also bring audiences fresh, exciting content.

Revered New Orleans club Tipitina’s announced one such initiative Wednesday. The new Tipitina’s Record Club will bring six curated reissues per year – comprised of “archival milestones, never-before-heard rarities, out-of-print reissues, and brand new recordings,” according to a press release – to subscribers on 180-gram, custom-colored vinyl. 

Naturally, the first entry in the series is by none other than the legendary Professor Longhair, the Big Easy icon and Tipitina’s regular whose song “Tipitina” inspired the venue’s name. The previously unheard Fess At Home ’73 features Professor Longhair “in a uniquely intimate and personal setting” and arrives in February 2021.

Other sets on deck include The Radiators’ Kung Pow!! Live At Tipitina’s – 05/01/97, James Booker’s Live At Tipitina’s and the 25th anniversary deluxe edition of Coolin’ Off, the 1996 debut album by New Orleans jam band Galactic, which has played the club more than 100 times and purchased the venue in 2018.

Fans can subscribe bi-monthly for $35 an installment or snag a discount by subscribing annually for $180.

“Being a musician and playing at Tipitina’s, one feels the history and the greatness that has blessed that stage,” Galactic’s Ben Ellman said in a statement. “Professor Longhair, Clifton Chenier, James Booker, The Meters, The Neville Brothers and so many more local and national treasures. When Galactic took over ownership, it became our mission to preserve the important role Tipitina’s has played in the culture of New Orleans music and the Gulf South. Creating Tipitina’s Record Club, we get to dig into archives to present never-before-heard recordings, rare reissues, and some amazing new music we know you’ll love. We’re presenting this to everyone on a limited edition piece of art in the form of vinyl. This will make the product and the music something special… just like Tipitina’s.” 

Earlier this month, Tipitina’s staged “Save Tip’s: A Benefit For Tipitina’s,” which featured streamed performances by Professor Longhair, Fats Domino, Willie Nelson, Dr. John, Widespread Panic, Wilco, Billy Springs, Dinosaur Jr., Preservation Hall Jazz Band featuring Allen Toussaint and several other acclaimed acts.

And Tipitina’s continues to fight for relief for itself and venues like it across the country during these unprecedented times.

“It’s amazing how many people are clueless to how Main Street is hurting right now. We’ve been closed since March 11 and have no reopening in sight. Zero income with high overhead is a lot to get around,” Galactic’s Robert Mercurio told Pollstar in September. “Every day the government fails to provide relief is just one more day of worry and a day closer to closing. It’s becoming a very real possibility.”