Bogalusa Boogie

Amazon.com essential recording
Having won unanimous praise as a high-water mark in the zydeco and Cajun traditions, Bogalusa Boogie should have a place reserved for it in any collection of American music. It's got enough driving energy to hold its weight against any rock recording of the mid-1970s, when it was recorded in one day. It's got a trawler full of zydeco soul, too, riding a percussion wave built from the King of Zydeco's brother Cleveland Chenier's rub-board and Robert St. Julian's lag-time blues drumming. Leading the Red Hot Louisiana Band from behind his brawny, always-on accordion, Clifton Chenier charges through "Ride 'Em Cowboy" with devil-may-care abandon and then slinks into a chilled blues on "I May Be Wrong," riffing his accordion off the sax and guitar in splendid contrast. Chenier never sounded better on record than here, and for that fact alone, this is a must-have. --Andrew Bartlett

From Grove Press Guide to Blues on CD
Zydeco pioneer Chenier fronted a killer band when this set was cut in 1975, including brother Cleveland on rubboard and John Hart on saxophone, and it shows why he can never be replaced as the idiom's monarch. Chenier blows harp on two selections in addition to wailing on accordion, and the disc is drenched in bayou funk, with lyrics evenly divided between French and English. (B.D./F.J H.) -- © Frank John Hadley 1993

Tracks:

One Step At A Time
They Call Me Crazy
There's Something On My Mind
Ride' Em Cowboy
My Mama Told Me
I Woke Up This Morning
I May Be Wrong
Take Off Your Dress
Let's Go To Grand Coteau
I'm A Farmer
Ti Na Na
Come Go Along With Me
Bogalusa Boogie

Amazon.com essential recording

Having won unanimous praise as a high-water mark in the zydeco and Cajun traditions, Bogalusa Boogie should have a place reserved for it in any collection of American music. It's got enough driving energy to hold its weight against any rock recording of the mid-1970s, when it was recorded in one day. It's got a trawler full of zydeco soul, too, riding a percussion wave built from the King of Zydeco's brother Cleveland Chenier's rub-board and Robert St. Julian's lag-time blues drumming. Leading the Red Hot Louisiana Band from behind his brawny, always-on accordion, Clifton Chenier charges through "Ride 'Em Cowboy" with devil-may-care abandon and then slinks into a chilled blues on "I May Be Wrong," riffing his accordion off the sax and guitar in splendid contrast. Chenier never sounded better on record than here, and for that fact alone, this is a must-have. --Andrew Bartlett

Customer Reviews:

The King of Zydeco.......2007-01-02

I got this record back when I was in school when Clifton was still burning down the house on Saturday nights down here on the bayou. You couldn't help but be taken away by the backbeat groove of this band. Zydeco was initially the black mans cranked up cajun music. Nowadays, it can be heard all over South Louisiana in various forms.
But here is the man who really put it on the map and it still sounds as good today as it did thirty years ago. Just listen to the contemporaries around the South who still move to that beat.

Great listening!.......2003-12-22

My first and favorite Clifton Chenier recording. Very approachable music even for the uninitiated. I agree with a previous reviewer that if you only try one zydeco CD, this should be the one. Clifton is absolutely "the man" when it comes to hard rockin' zydeco accordion music. If "Allons a Grand Coteau" doesn't put a smile on your face, I don't know what will. This is a killer recording and should be in everyone's collection. Don't pass this one up!

Vas-y Clifton! (Go Clifton!).......2000-05-19

This is the ultimate zydeco album and with good reason. It's loaded with non-stop party music that's quick to capture the spirit of the genre (and its geographical importance) with incredible power, passion and soul. The album initially earned top reviews from the likes of Rolling Stone and became an essential title. The ensemble performance is superb: Paul Sénégal's guitar, Cleveland Chenier's rub-board, John Hart's tenor sax, Joe Brouchet's bass and Robert St.Julian's drums all assist and add weight to Le Roi's accordion work. All these cuts are downright classic, too! Check out "Allons A Grand Coteau", "Quelque Chose Sur Mon Idée" or "Ma Mama Ma Dit". It's guaranteed to cure your blues and get you snappin' in no time flat. Remarkably, this music has aged so little since it first appeared on (originally) LP and on CD. It's immediacy is stunning, its performances sharp and the production still solid (the album was originally recorded in 1975). It's why Clifton Chenier (and it's pronouced Shay-nee-ay) ended up being crowned the King... Want only 1 zydeco album? Get this. But, believe me, you'll want more and more and more once you listen to this great disc!

Ride 'Em - Right on!.......1999-09-13

"Ride 'Em Cowboy" alone would be worth the price of the CD, but this collection has many winners. Highly addictive! To know Clifton Chenier is to love the CD. Not to know him would be shame.