Amede Ardoin – I’m Never Comin’ Back / Arhoolie CD-7007

Description

CD 7007

Amédé Ardoin – vocals & accordion.
#1-10: with Dennis McGee – fiddle; New Orleans – November 19 & 20 1930.
#11-14: with Dennis McGee – fiddle; San Antonio – August 8 1934.
#15-26: New York City – December 22 1934.

“Cajun and Zarico music would not be what it is today without Amédé Ardoin and his musical recordings of the late 1920s and early 30s. His fortés include his uniquely eloquent lyrics his resonating voice and his driving accordion virtuosity. The equanimity in which this slight black French-speaker composed performed and recorded his songs attests to the high regard held by those who knew him. Amédé lived the blues and injected his spirit into our music. Without him we would not have the dozen or so songs Iry Lejeune interpreted and recorded in the 1950s that helped to bring about a resurgence of Cajun French pride. We would not have Austin Pitre’s soulful interpretation of “Opelousas 2-Step” nor his version of Amédé’s emotional “Le blues de la prison.” How can we dismiss Dewey Balfa’s version of “Je suis orphelin” or his brother Will’s haunting “Les blues du cadien”?”
(from the introduction by Michael Doucet)

1. Amede Two Step (Amadie Two Step)
2. La Valse A Austin Ardoin
3. Blues De Basile
4. La Valse A Thomas Ardoin
5. Two Step D’elton
6. La Valse De Gueydan
7. Valse A Alice Poulard
8. One Step D’oberlin
9. Valse De Opelousas
10. One Step Des Chameaux
11. Les Blues De Voyage
12. La Valse De Amities
13. Les Blues De Crowley
14. Oberlin
15. Tostape De Jennings
16. Le Midland Two Step
17. La Valse Des Chantiers Petroliperes
18. Valse Brunette
19. Tortope D’osrun
20. La Valse Du Ballard
21. La Turtape De Saroied
22. Valse De La Pointe D’eglise
23. Les Blues De La Prison
24. Valse De Mon Vieux Village
25. Si Dur D’etre Seul
26. Aimez-Moi Ce Soir

REVIEW

“The name most mentioned by respected Cajun musicians when asked for the most influential of all south Louisiana French musicians is Amede Ardoin. Ardoin who died more than 40 years ago was a black Creole French-speaking accordion player who single-handedly created the modern Cajun style. The three-dozen songs he recorded in New Orleans San Antonio and New York City (mostly accompanied by Cajun fiddler Dennis McGee) were hugely popular when they were released in the Twenties. Ardoin himself was a sought-after dance musician who played both white Cajun gatherings and black La-la dances and was known for his ability to improvise Iyrics about those in attendance a practice which sometimes got him in trouble. These re-mastered classics demonstrate Ardoin’s power as a musician and a singer. He played in a rhythm-heavy syncopated style and sang with a passion unmatched even to this day in Cajun and Creole song. This is a collection that no fan of Cajun or Zydeco music should be without. It provides an important historical perspective but more to the point it preserves the performance of a true artist who served as a direct link between old-time-Creole and Cajun music and the music of a culture which is still being played today.”

(Ed McKeon — New Briton – (CT) Herald)