"The Witch Queen of New Orleans" is a 1971 song by American rock band Redbone. It was released as a single in May 1971 from the band's third album Message from a Drum, which is also titled The Witch Queen of New Orleans in its European release. The song peaked at No. 2 in the United Kingdom and No. 21 in the United States.
Background "The Witch Queen of New Orleans" is about a 19th-century practitioner of voodoo from New Orleans named Marie Laveau, referred to in the song lyrics as "Marie la Voodoo veau". This song was written by the two Mexican-Native American brothers of the group Redbone, Lolly Vegas and Pat Vegas. It shows influences from New Orleans R&B and swamp pop. Bassist Pat Vagas sings the lead vocal.
The song was released in 1971 with "Chant: 13th Hour" as the B-side in the US. It debuted in the Billboard Hot 100 chart in November 1971 in the US where it reach a peak of No. 21 in 1972 (chart date February 19, 1972). The song reached No. 2 in the UK single chart in October 1971 behind Rod Stewart's "Maggie May".
Track listings U.S. 7-inch single – Epic 5-10749 European 7-inch single – Epic EPC 7351 "The Witch Queen Of New Orleans" – 2:45 "Chant: 13th Hour" (Single version) – 2:59
Japan 7-inch single – Epic ECPA-3 "The Witch Queen Of New Orleans" – 2:45 "Chant: 13th Hour" (Album version) – 5:40
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1971–1972)PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report)17Australia (Go-Set National Top 40)14France (IFOP)23New Zealand (Listener) https://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search%20listener&qartistid=807#n_view_location search Listener12US Billboard Hot 10021US Cash Box19
Year-end charts Chart (1971)RankBelgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)37Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)41Netherlands (Single Top 100)34 Chart (1972)RankAustralia (Kent Music Report)95Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)96US Billboard Hot 10081
Chantoozies version
Australian pop group the Chantoozies released a version of the song in 1987 as their debut single, retitled "Witch Queen". The song peaked at number 4 on the Australian Kent Music Report and was featured on their self-titled debut album the following year.
Track listings 7" single (K 208) Side A "Witch Queen" Side B "The Chantoozie Shuffle"
12" single ( X 14459) Side A "Witch Queen" (12" version) Side B1 "Witch Queen" (7" version) Side B2 "The Chantoozie Shuffle"
Charts Weekly charts Chart (1987)PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report)4
Year-end charts Chart (1987)PositionAustralia (Kent Music Report)49
In popular culture Artist Howard Arkley produced a series of sketches in the early 1970s referencing popular songs, one of which is titled "Which Queen" as a reference to this song.
Redbone's recording is commonly played during Halloween in the United States.
References
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