John Delafose – Joe Pete Got Two Women / Arhoolie CD-335

Description

John Delafose – vocals and accordion; Charles Prudhomme – guitar; Joseph Prudhomme – bass; Tony Delafose – drums & rubboard; Geno Delafose – drums; and John “T. T.” Delafose – rubboard.

Most of ARH LPs 1083 & 1088 plus 2 previously unissued cuts.

1. Joe Pete Got Two Women
2. One Hour Too Late
3. Lonesome Road
4. Prudhomme Stomp
5. Co-Fe
6. You Took My Heartache
7. Bye Bye Mo Neg
8. Rag Around Your Head
9. I Just Want To Be Your Lovin’ Man
10. Petite Et La Grosse
11. Joe Pete Lost His Two Women
12. Crying In The Streets
13. Mardi Gras Song
14. Mother’s Day Blues
15. Arthritis Two-Step
16. Grand Mamou
17. Uncle Bud Zydeco
18. Sweet Girl In Texas
19. Oh Negresse
20. Las Valse De Freole
21. Hippity Hop
22. Johnny Can’t Dance

REVIEWS

“John Delafose, represented here by an hour’s worth of early ’80s material, is another player from the more traditional end of the market; `Valse de Creole’ an exciting if cacophonous live recording could almost be a Cajun band. `Mardi Gras’ and `Uncle Bud’ don’t have quite the savage punch of Boozoo Chavis’ version but Delafose and his band are a potent outfit nonetheless. He also has the advantage of mastery over the piano- as well as the button- keyed accordion; the more flexible instrument enabling him to move into bluesier territory and providing good variety for those who might find Boozoo’s minimalism excessive. (Is there such a thing as excessive minimalism?)”

(Brian Peters — Folk Roots)

“John Delafose gets a pleasingly mellow tone from his accordions both button and piano and his sons Tony and T. T. are both rub-boardists of class. (Tony plays drum on the cuts where T. T. scrapes the scrap and when Tony is the rub-board player yet another Delafose Geno hits the kit.) Joseph Prudhomme supplies a funky bass line and his brother Charles is a competant unobtrusive guitarist. Together they are heard to advantage on both traditional and original numbers; a gloriously rude `Uncle Bud’ and an answer to Canray Fontenot’s `Joe Pitre’ which was a juke box hit. They also do a fine job even on such over exposed themes such as `Grand Mamou’ and `Mardi Gras Song.’ Of the originals it’s Delafose’s blues in English that are most impressive being both melodically freshtinged with but not stained by popand verbally original. The last four tracks are live recordings from the 1981 Festival de Musique Acadienne and their furiously energetic `Bop ’til You Flop’ approach is an enjoyable contrast to the more laid back sound of the rest. I enjoyed this CD; so will you.”

(Chris Smith — Blues & Rhythm)