Cajun Classics: Kings Of Cajun At Their Very Best [Ace 2002]

by Cajun Classics / Various

Overview

This is not to be confused -- and the label has only itself to blame if people understandably do get confused -- with the 1993 CD release, also on Ace, also titled Cajun Classics, and given the nearly identical subtitle "The Kings of Cajun At Their Very Best." It has an entirely different track selection, though most of the 24 songs did appear on either the 1993 release called Cajun Classics or its 1994 Ace sequel More Cajun Classics. It's not quite certain to us Herberts outside of the marketing department exactly how the public is not going to get confused by all this, and whether anyone who's bought the earlier Cajun Classics Ace comps will get much if anything out of this new configuration. Leaving such tetchy considerations aside, it's a good compilation of some of the best and most representative Cajun releases from the mid-'50s to the mid-'80s, and more diverse than some other Cajun anthologies with similar scopes, though the unrelenting good-time cheer might cause the unconverted to fidget. Dewey Balfa, D.L. Menard, Nathan Abshire, Iry Lejeune, and Beausoleil are all major Cajun artists, and all have a track or two or three on this disc, sharing space with less-renowned names. Amidst the more standard two-steps are some edgier tunes that might excite or grate, depending upon your tastes, like Nolan Cormier & the LA Aces' "Hee-Haw Breakdown," with its simulated animal snorts; the rockabilly-influenced "Flumes D'Enfer" by Austin Pitre & the Evangeline Playboys; and Vin Bruce's rendition of the perennial "Jole Blon," with very country-influenced guitars and vocals. ~ Richie Unterberger

Product Details

Release Date:	02/19/2002
Label:	Ace
UPC:	0029667182027
Rank:	56828

Tracks

1. The Back Door  - D.L. Menard  -  Badeaux  -  Louisiana Aces
2. Pine Grove Blues  - Nathan Abshire  -  Pine Grove Boys
3. Lacassine Special  -  Traditional  -  Balfa Brothers
4. Jole Blon  - Vin Bruce  - Michael Hurley  -  Traditional
5. Saturday Night Special  - Lesa Cormier  - Darrell Higginbotham  -  Sundown Playboys  -  Cormier
6. Lache Pas La Patate  - Jimmy C. Newman  -  Traditional
7. La Valse de Jolly Rogers  - D.L. Menard  -  Badeau  -  Louisiana Aces
8. Lafayette Two Step  - Joseph Falcon  -  Louisiana Playboys  - Aldus Roger
9. Equand J'Etais Petit  - Dewey Balfa
10. Hippy Ti Yo  - Joe Bonsall  - Joe Bovsall  -  Orange Playboys  -  Traditional
11. Lemonade Song  - Nathan Abshire  -  Abshire  -  Pine Grove Boys
12. Grande Bosco  - Iry LeJeune
13. Cajun Stripper  - Doug Kershaw  - Rusty Kershaw  - Belton Richard
14. Grand Mamou  - Clifton Chenier  - Jimmy C. Newman  -  Traditional
15. Le Tortillage  -  Cajun Trio  - Joseph Falcon
16. Cher Cherie  - Doc Guidry  - Oran "Junior" Guidry
17. Les Veuves de La Coul¿¿e  - Happy Fats  -  Traditional
18. La Valse de Reno  - Lawrence Walker
19. Sur le Courtableau  - Nathan Abshire  -  Abshire  -  Pine Grove Boys
20. Flumes d'Enfer  - Austin Pitre  - Evangeline Playboy  - Floyd Soileau
21. Jolie Fille  - Jo-El Sonnier  -  Touchet Brothers  - Willis Touchet
22. Hold My False Teeth  - Camey Doucet
23. J'Ai Vu le Loup  -  BeauSoleil  -  Traditional
24. Hee' Haw Breakdown  -  Aces  - Nolan Cormier  - Raymond Cormier  -  Nolan Cormier & The La Aces

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Louisiana Aces   Primary Artist
Louisiana Aces   Primary Artist
Badeau   Primary Artist
Badeaux   Primary Artist
Lesa Cormier & The Sundown Playboys   Primary Artist
The Balfa Brothers   Primary Artist
Nolan Cormier & The La Aces   Primary Artist
Dewey Balfa   Primary Artist
Nathan Abshire & the Pinegrove Boys   Primary Artist
Jimmy C. Newman   Primary Artist
Nathan Abshire   Primary Artist
Sundown Playboys   Primary Artist
Camey Doucet   Primary Artist
Nolan Cormier   Primary Artist
Evangeline Playboy   Primary Artist
Joe Bovsall   Primary Artist
Iry LeJeune   Primary Artist
Lawrence Walker   Primary Artist
Belton Richard   Primary Artist
Louisiana Playboys   Primary Artist
Aldus Roger   Primary Artist
Happy Fats   Primary Artist
Cajun Trio   Primary Artist
Touchet Brothers   Primary Artist
The Orange Playboys   Primary Artist
Lesa Cormier   Primary Artist
Vin Bruce   Primary Artist
Doc Guidry   Primary Artist
BeauSoleil   Primary Artist
D.L. Menard   Primary Artist
Joe Bonsall   Primary Artist
Austin Pitre   Primary Artist
Pine Grove Boys   Primary Artist
The Aces   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Darrell Higginbotham   Composer
Oran "Junior" Guidry   Composer
Jools   Package Design
D.L. Menard   Composer,Performer
Clifton Chenier   Composer
BeauSoleil   Performer
Doug Kershaw   Composer
Doc Guidry   Performer
Rusty Kershaw   Composer
Vin Bruce   Performer
Dewey Balfa   Arranger,Composer
Joseph Falcon   Composer
Nathan Abshire & the Pinegrove Boys   Performer
Jimmy C. Newman   Performer
Nathan Abshire   Composer
Michael Hurley   Composer
Nick Robbins   Mastering
Sundown Playboys   Performer
Phil Smee   Cover Design
Traditional   Composer
Iry LeJeune   Arranger
Jo-El Sonnier   Composer
Lawrence Walker   Composer
Floyd Soileau   Composer
Michael Doucet   Arranger
Happy Fats   Performer
Leroy "Happy Fats" LeBlanc   Arranger
Touchet Brothers   Performer
Lesa Cormier   Performer
Jon Broven   Liner Notes
Raymond Cormier   Composer
Willis Touchet   Composer