Cajun Fais Do-Do – Various Artists CD 416

Description

CD 416

This CD is dedicated to the memory of the late Revon J. Reed, first ambassador of Cajun Music, D.J., schoolteacher, and originator of the now world famous broadcasts from Fred’s Lounge in Mamou, Louisiana, and the late Paul Tate and to all the great folk musicians from that era who have gone to the great dance up yonder!Recorded by Chris Strachwitz in 1966, the CD contains almost a full session by accordionist Nathan Abshire, with the Balfa brothers, the last recordings by the incredible Breaux brothers, the unusual harmonica work by Isom Fontenot & more!

1. Cajun Two-Step – Nathan Abshire And The Balfa Brothers
2. Ma Negresse – Nathan Abshire And The Balfa Brothers
3. Calcasieu Waltz – Nathan Abshire And The Balfa Brothers
4. Bayou Pon Pon – Nathan Abshire And The Balfa Brothers
5. Old Folks Polka – Nathan Abshire And The Balfa Brothers
6. Hayes’ Waltz – Nathan Abshire And The Balfa Brothers
7. Hicks Wagon Wheel Special – Nathan Abshire And The Balfa Brothers
8. La Valsa A Ray – Nathan Abshire And The Balfa Brothers
9. Grande Nuit Special – Nathan Abshire And The Balfa Brothers
10. Gabrielle Waltz – Nathan Abshire And The Balfa Brothers
11. Paper In My Shoes – Nathan Abshire And The Balfa Brothers
12. Basile Breakdown – Nathan Abshire And The Balfa Brothers
13. Le Temps Est Apres Finir – Nathan Abshire And The Balfa Brothers
14. French Blues – Nathan Abshire And The Balfa Brothers
15. La Talle D’Eronces – Cyp And Adam Landreneau
16. Treville Est Pas Pecheur – Cyp And Adam Landreneau
17. Prairie Ronde – Cyp And Adam Landreneau
18. N’onc ‘Dam Et Tante Bassette – Isom J Fontenot/Jerry Devillier
19. La Valse De Denus McGee – Cyp And Adam Landreneau
20. Valse De Minuit – Cyp And Adam Landreneau
21. Piney Woods Waltz – Cyp And Adam Landreneau
22. La Betaille – Isom J. Fontenot
23. Madeleine – Isom J. Fontenot
24. La Valse De Misere – Isom J. Fontenot
25. Crowley Two-Step – Isom J. Fontenot (with Jerry Devillier)
26. La Cherokee – Cyp And Adam Landreneau
27. Grand Mamou – Cyp And Adam Landreneau
28. Lake Charles Two-Step – Cyp And Adam Landreneau
29. Hey Mom – The Breaux Brothers
30. Breaux’s Blues (Blues For Amede) – The Breaux Brothers
31. Crowley Two-Step – The Breaux Brothers
32. La Branche De Murier – The Breaux Brothers

REVIEW

“Dewey Balfa, whose recording debut, singing and playing fiddle with Elise Deshotel & The Louisiana Rhythmaires, is among the 26 tracks, recalls playing eight dances a week (two on Sunday) during the East texas-Louisiana post-war oil boom, dances promoted by radio airplay and jukebox hits. At the time, Turkish businessman George Khoury dominated the Cajun market. In 1949, Khoury, who owned the only record store in Lake Charles, financed OT Records, some of whose output, Harry Choates Valse de Lake Charles/Jole Blon’s Gone and Floyd LeBlancs’s Orphan Wlatz is included, and started Khoury on the strength of Nathan Abshire’s Pine Grove Blues. Label star Lawrence Walker, with nine cuts, dominates the 75 minutes which also includes sides by Abshire (most of whose Khoury recordings are on Arhoolie’s CD French Blues), The Texas Melody Boys, The Musical Four Plus One, Vincent & Cagley, four by Deshotel with Balfa and, my personal favorites, three by Shuk Richard & His Louisiana Aces with Marie Falcon on vocals. Though Khoury eventually dropped out of the fading Cajun market, going on to equal glory with his swamp-pop of Cookie and The Cupcakes et al, his early output, though hardly recorded on state of the art even for its time, has terrific verve and vivacity.”

(JC — Music City Texas)