Great Performances: Hugh Laurie Let Them Talk CD

What Music Is All About

For over 30 years now Hugh Laurie has been known as first a comedian in Britain and then as an actor for his work in the TV series "House". But all thes...Read complete review

For over 30 years now Hugh Laurie has been known as first a comedian in Britain and then as an actor for his work in the TV series "House". But all these years he has had a love of music in him that until recently had been kept a secret. A secret until Laurie released his debut album "Let Them Talk", his tribute to the New Orleans style Blues.There has over the years been actors who crossed over into the world of recorded music wanting to show off their musical skills. Some actors proved they had the abilities to carry a tune and others would have been better off if they had been prevented from being allowed in a recording studio. Then there is Hugh Laurie. He not only deserves to be in the recording studio but he's also good enough to make you wonder why he hadn't found his way there sooner. Laurie first learned to play music at the age of 6 on the piano. That lasted for three months or so but the love of music was planted in him. The passion for music would come years later when he discovered the Blues and especially New Orleans blues. Long story short it led to 2011 where Hugh Laurie released his first CD celebrating his love of the Blues. It is that love of the music that makes "Let Them Talk" so special. Too much of todays music has too much emphasis on having the right formula and hook to the music and filming a video to go with it that will sell a ton of records and make a ton of money for the record company as well as the recording artist. Image and style means everything and the music it seems a lot of times takes a back seat. The love of music has been over taken by profit and the bottom line."Let Them Talk" is the total opposit of that. The album was made by Hugh Laurie not for the purpose of making a ton of money for him or the record company. Laurie made this album for the pure love of music. To pay tribute to a style of music he has a love for going back to when he was a young man. The love shows through every single song that appears on the disc. What really makes this album work is when you realize just how serious a musician and how good a singer Hugh Laurie is. This is no frivolous piece of work here. This is what music is suppose to be about. While some songs on the CD are better then others there is not a bad song on the album. Hugh not only sings but plays piano or guitar on every song as well. In addition to all that "Let Them Talk" also has some big name stars who come in to lend their talent to the record including Irma Thomas, Dr. John, Allen Toussaint and Sir Tom Jones (Yes that Tom Jones). In the end "Let Them Talk" will probably sell a few records but most likely will not go gold or climb high up the music charts and I believe that will be OK with Hugh Laurie. He didn't make this album for those specific reasons. He recorded this album just simply for the love of it. For the love of New Orleans and its kind of blues. He recorded it just for the love of music, the way music is suppose to be recorded. Speaking personally for me, this is one of the very best albums I have ever heard. EVER! "Let Them Talk" is in my top ten all time favorite albums list. In fact as far as I am concerned this is the best albun of 2011 and I would strongly recommend this album to anyone who loves music.