Early American Cajun Music

Amazon.com
The music on this historical collection comes from Avoyelles Parish, on what is described as the northern fringe of "Cajun country" in Louisiana. The three musicians represented here are little known, even in their own region, and made recordings that were not distributed widely outside of their native territory. These 24 songs represent the full range of Cajun music at the time and include folk ballads, some dance tunes, and plenty of back-porch-style folk songs. The set is interesting as a historical document of a small region, but the recording quality is pretty poor (which is probably a result of the originals as much as the records that these CDs were mastered from); the musicians are good, not great; and few of the performances are remarkable for either content or musicianship. Exceptions include a few of accordionist John Bertrand's pieces, which have a rough, idiosyncratic style that will certainly appeal to Cajun squeezebox enthusiasts. This one is strictly for ardent collectors of old Cajun music. --Louis Gibson

Early American Cajun Music,Various Artists,John Bertrand,Yazoo,Acadian,Cajun,Cajun / Zydeco / New Orleans,Early American,Field Recordings,Pop,Traditional Cajun,World Music

Average customer rating: Blind Uncle Gaspard Is Wonderfull worth a listen

Early American Cajun Music Various Artists , and John Bertrand Manufacturer: Yazoo ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Zydeco | Cajun & Zydeco | Regional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Cajun & Creole | Cajun & Zydeco | Regional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music General | Folk | Styles | Music Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music Cajun & Zydeco | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music North America | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Early American Cajun Music: The Early Recordings of Leo Soileau Old-Time Cajun Music The Balfa Brothers Play Traditional Cajun Music, Vols. 1-2 ASIN: B00000G4NR Release Date: 1999-01-19

Tracks:

1. The Baby And The Gambler - Delma Lachney
2. On The Water's Edge - Blind Uncle Gaspard
3. Cousinne Lilly - John Bertrand
4. Baoille - Delma Lachney
5. French Town - Blind Uncle Gaspard
6. Miserable - John Bertand
7. The Dancer - Delma Lachney
8. Sitting In The Window Of My Room - Blind Uncle Gaspard
9. The Swallows - John Bertrand
10. Going Down The Road - Delma Lachney
11. The Rabbit Stole The Pumpkin - John Bertrand
12. Parish Name - Delma Lachney
13. Upstairs - John Bertrand
14. Dear Friend My Life Is Ruined - Delma Lachney
15. Valse De Gueydan - John Bertrand
16. Louisiana - Delma Lachney
17. The Jailor's Daughter - John Bertrand
18. Red River - Delma Lachney
19. The Tired Soldier - John Bertrand
20. Last Wednesday Night - Blind Uncle Gaspard
21. The North Bridge - John Bertrand
22. Mother's Farewell - Delma Lachney
23. The Abandonment - John Bertrand
24. I Find A Pretty Girl - Delma Lachney

Amazon.com

The music on this historical collection comes from Avoyelles Parish, on what is described as the northern fringe of "Cajun country" in Louisiana. The three musicians represented here are little known, even in their own region, and made recordings that were not distributed widely outside of their native territory. These 24 songs represent the full range of Cajun music at the time and include folk ballads, some dance tunes, and plenty of back-porch-style folk songs. The set is interesting as a historical document of a small region, but the recording quality is pretty poor (which is probably a result of the originals as much as the records that these CDs were mastered from); the musicians are good, not great; and few of the performances are remarkable for either content or musicianship. Exceptions include a few of accordionist John Bertrand's pieces, which have a rough, idiosyncratic style that will certainly appeal to Cajun squeezebox enthusiasts. This one is strictly for ardent collectors of old Cajun music. --Louis Gibson

Customer Reviews:

Blind Uncle Gaspard Is Wonderfull.......2005-03-16

I have not heard this compilation but I have heard the Blind Uncle Gaspard songs on it. They are amazing. Completely unique and beautiful. I disagree with the Amazon review.

worth a listen.......2004-04-10

Don't let Amazon's editorial review above by Louis Gibson dissuade you, this is a good, very listenable compilation. It's contemplative and gentle but has a lot of the earmarks one would associate with the genre. My favorite so far has been "Sur Le Borde De L'Eau (On The Water's Edge)" sung by Blind Uncle Gaspard, one of those remote ballads of singing sailors, young girls on the water's edge, a lost ring and tragic death, all of which seems to spring straight from the psyche. Beautiful piece. There are a lot of stand-outs though and in particular "La Danseuse" is one of the select tracks to make it onto Harry Smith's Anthology.

Yep, I liked it.

Average customer rating: Worth it just to hear Mayeus LaFleur Pioneer Cajun Performer

Early American Cajun Music: The Early Recordings of Leo Soileau Leo Soileau Manufacturer: Yazoo ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Zydeco | Cajun & Zydeco | Regional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Cajun & Creole | Cajun & Zydeco | Regional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music General | Folk | Styles | Music Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music Cajun & Zydeco | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music North America | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Early American Cajun Music The Balfa Brothers Play Traditional Cajun Music, Vols. 1-2 ASIN: B00000G4NP Release Date: 1999-01-19

Tracks:

1. Bastile
2. La Valse De Josephine
3. Mama, Where You At?
4. Easy Rider Blues
5. Grosse Mama
6. La Valse A Moreau
7. Demain C'Est Pas Dimanche
8. C'Est Pas La Peine Tu Pleures
9. The Criminal Waltz
10. Je T'Ai Rencontre Dans Le Brouillard
11. Your Father Put Me Out
12. Ma Mauvaise Fille
13. La Valse De Pacaniere
14. Le Blues De Neg' Francais
15. Allons, Tous Boire Un Coup
16. Ma Chere 'Tite Fille
17. La Valse Penitentiaire
18. Sur Le Chemin Chez Moi
19. Je Veux Marier

Customer Reviews:

Worth it just to hear Mayeus LaFleur.......2005-11-05

Yep, this is digging early and I have to agree, very bluesy sounding. Yet to hear LaFleur sing, one can easily imagine him weeping, tears streaming down his face and on his accordian as he played. Powerful stuff.

Pioneer Cajun Performer.......2005-06-17

This wonderfully remastered Yazoo CD contains the early recordings of Leo Soileau, one of the most important pioneer Cajun recording artists. The material is from his earliest sessions (he only narrowly missed making the first Cajun records)and concentrates on fiddle duets and fiddle-accordion pieces. Of special importance are the forward looking duets with Mayeus Lafleur (who was killed shortly after their recording session), which anticipate the dancehall sound of the post WW2 era. Soileau and Lafleur are gloriously insync here. The tension filled duets with accordionist Moise Robin show that Soileau is already pulling away from accordion based music, though these are some of the bluesiest Cajun records ever cut. The fiddle duets harken back to the house dances of Soileau's youth. The CD does not present a complete picture of Soileau as an artist. After 1929 he began forming string bands that borrowed heavily from country and western swing, forging a new sound that reflected Cajuns' interaction with the modern world. Those string band recordings need fully reissue because they were heavily influential along the Gulf Coast and are really how Soileau is remembered in the dancehalls of Louisiana. That said, this is a wonderful CD that fully explores the early years of a great artist.

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2. En L'an 2001
3. Entre Amigos
4. Escape Velocity
5. Eu Sou a Marron [Import]
6. Fest Vraz: Celtic Music From Brittany France
7. Floor Side of Fela [Import]
8. Forever [Import]
9. Full Circle
10. Garofano Rosso [Import]

International Music

International Music