Hugh Laurie will release his debut album Let Them Talk on May 9 through Warner Bros. Records. A glorious celebration of New Orleans blues, Let Them Talk unites Laurie’s musical talent with a very personal selection of standards and lost blues classics performed with his band of renowned musicians and some very special guest stars.
Produced by Joe Henry and recorded at sessions in Los Angeles and New Orleans, Let Them Talk sees Laurie on vocals and piano heading a team of musicians whose previous collective credits include work with artists as varied as Greg Allman, Solomon Burke, Robert Plant, KD Lang, T-Bone Burnett, Alison Krauss and John Legend. Together, they interpret and revive songs originally recorded by NOLA blues legends such as Lead Belly, Robert Johnson, Ray Charles and Memphis Slim.
Let Them Talk also features collaborations with the Soul Queen of New Orleans Irma Thomas and Sir Tom Jones on the little known Baby, Please Make A Change. Thomas also leads the vocals on John Henry, while Laurie’s lifelong hero Dr. John provides a momentous collaboration on After You’ve Gone. Another legend, the producer, musician and songwriter Allen Toussaint, contributes horn arrangements throughout.
“In my imagination, New Orleans just straight hummed with music, romance, joy, despair; its rhythms got into my gawky English frame and, at times, made me so happy and sad, I just didn’t know what to do with myself,” said Laurie. “I love this music as authentically as I know how, and I want you to love it too. If you get a thousandth of the pleasure from it that I’ve had, we’re all ahead of the game.”
