Bayou Blues

Amazon.com
Here is where the Chenier legend began. This disc contains the 12 Bumps Blackwell-produced tracks Clifton cut in 1955 in Los Angeles for Specialty Records. On tracks like "The Cat's Dreamin'" or his first hit single, "Ay 'Tète Fey" (which is the Cajun-French form of its better-known title, "Eh, Petite Fille" meaning "Hey, Little Girl"), Chenier's amalgam of blues, R&B, and rock & roll mixed with traditional French dance tunes is still rough but already has the power and drive that he (and his accordion) would later hone to a fine edge. Instrumental greats and mainstays of Chenier's early road bands like tenor saxman Lionel Prevost and guitarist Lonesome Sundown add their considerable talents to these sessions. The starting point for any comprehensive Chenier collection. --Robert Baird

Bayou Blues,Clifton Chenier,Specialty,Cajun / Zydeco / New Orleans,Creole,Pop,Soul/Reggae/Rhythm & Blues,Zydeco

Average customer rating: This one is a must have!! As always.... Knock out!! Just The Best Blues Guitar Around Tab Never Disappoints

Power of the Pontchartrain Tab Benoit Manufacturer: Telarc ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Blues | Styles | Music New Orleans Blues | Regional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Texas Blues | Regional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Electric Blues Guitar | Blues | Styles | Music Modern Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Similar Items: Moment of Truth Solid Ice Katrina Was Her Name Close as You Get In the Palace of the King ASIN: B000Q9OD1M Release Date: 2007-06-26

Tracks:

1. Don't Make No Sense
2. Good To Ya, Baby
3. Shelter Me
4. Power Of the Pontchartrain
5. For What It's Worth
6. Midnight And Lonesome
7. Sac-au-lait Fishing
8. Somebody's Got To Go
9. I'm Guilty Of Lovin' You
10. Addicted
11. One Foot In the Bayou

Amazon.com

Tab Benoit's album titles leave little doubt as to where he's from or the music he plays. Brother to the Blues, Fever for the Bayou, Wetlands, and now Power of the Pontchartrain exude the sweaty Louisiana swamp, blues, and R&B inherent in their names. But that only tells part of the story--the rest is in the grooves where Benoit's distinctive, grainy voice and tough Telecaster leads bring soul, grit, and intensity to a sound already infused with an earthy sensibility. There's more of the same on this disc, but that's no criticism. Benoit generally sticks with others' songs here, yet he unearths hidden gems. Julie Miller's "Midnight and Lonesome" is dragged into the murky swamps as a driving ballad with eerie qualities that live up to its name. Miller and husband Buddy are also credited with the righteous-yet-rugged gospel of "Shelter Me." "Somebody's Got to Go," originally by Lonnie Johnson, gets a crisp, frisky makeover, and even Buffalo Springfield's crusty "For What It's Worth" takes a swim in the muddy waters of Benoit's home state, with a little help of some altered, post-Katrina lyrics. The guitarist lets his Cajun influences fly on the bouncy rhythms of "Sac-Au-Lait Fishing," the album's only original, and shifts into pleading Otis Redding mode for the aching blues ballad "I'm Guilty of Lovin' You." The Chicago-by-way-of-the-Delta shuffle of "One Foot in the Bayou" is also an apt description of Benoit's approach. He touches on a variety of Americana styles, yet always keeps part of himself planted firmly in the wetlands of his roots. --Hal Horowitz

Customer Reviews:

This one is a must have!!.......2007-07-26

Once again Tab Benoit has outdone himself! His artistry shines on this album like never before! Gritty, haunting blues in Midnight And Lonesome, High steppin, foot tappin sounds in Sac Au Lait Fishing, and heartfelt pain in I'm Guilty of Lovin You. I have been a diehard fan of Tab Benoit for many years and must say this is one of his best efforts yet. I can hardly wait to see him live on stage again!

As always...........2007-07-22

Every time you buy a Tab Benoit's CD you can be sure that you will not be disappointed. And, as always, the brand new "Power of the Pontchartrain" confirms that rule. Excellent material played extremely well by Tab and the accompanying band. This time the "Louisiana's Leroux" are the supporting band and this is not irrelevant to the great final result. In fact the band spent several years, as explained in the linear notes, with one of the greatest Louisiana blues player of all time Mr. Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown. The album is really very good and I would take the risk to say that from my point of view this is Tab's best effort so far. Tab's voice sounds great as always and the guitar playing is absolutely fantastic throughout the entire CD. The excellent and clean production and sound of Telarc Blues deserve a mention too. All the eleven songs in the menu are very strong and you will not be tempted to use the skip bottom of your CD player at any time, however I believe that a special mention is deserved by the great cover of the Stephen Stills' classic "For what it's worth", by the deep blues "Midnight and lonesome" that for me is the best cut of the bunch, and by the two mid tempo "Somebody got to go" and "Addicted". Very highly recommended for all the blues lovers.

Knock out!!.......2007-07-16

Popped this into my CD player in the car the minute I got it and 5 minutes later was actually saying "Holy Smokes!!" outloud. Like all his music this CD is a knock your socks off collection of music. We saw him in person this summer and he is fabulous. Got called back for 2 encores and the crowd was screaming for more. He's the greatest guitar player I've heard since Stevie Ray Vaughn and he sings too!!

Just The Best Blues Guitar Around.......2007-07-15

Folks, if you haven't had the opportunity to hear and/or see Tab Benoit, then you're missing one of the greatest blues guitarist's in today's world. This man has IT! His music is as infectious as his love for the bayous of Louisiana and the blues greats he has played with and learned from. Treat yourself to some great music when you sit back and crank it up listening to Tab sing and just wear out that Fender of his that's shown on the allbum cover. Enjoy!!

Tab Never Disappoints.......2007-07-02

I never worry when I buy a Tab Benoit CD because his material is consistently good and his style doesn't change much over time. He is a superb rhythm guitarist and songwriter and a great live performer. His Louisiana style of blues is on display again with Power of the Pontchartrain. Besides the title cut, my favorite tune is Sac-Au-Lait Fishing, which makes you want to get up and dance. I also like One Foot in the Bayou. All in all, a great CD if you like a New Orleans style blues band.

Average customer rating: Awesom Very pleasantly surprised hear him in person! Gumbo blues In New Orleans the Blues will Never Die

Fever for the Bayou Tab Benoit Manufacturer: Telarc ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Chicago Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Contemporary Blues | Blues | Styles | Music General | Blues | Styles | Music New Orleans Blues | Regional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Texas Blues | Regional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Electric Blues Guitar | Blues | Styles | Music Modern Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Similar Items: Grant Street Brother to the Blues The Duke Meets the Earl Whiskey Store Live It's Time ASIN: B0007QJ1IO Release Date: 2005-03-22

Tracks:

1. Night Train
2. Little Girl Blues
3. I Smell A Rat
4. Fever For The Bayou
5. Lost In Your Lovin'
6. Golden Crown
7. I Can't Hold Out
8. The Blues Is Here To Stay
9. Got Love If You Want It
10. Blues So Bad
11. My Bucket's Got A Hole In It

Amazon.com

Houma homeboy Tab Benoit may have snuck up on some blues fans, but his status as the best and brightest of modern Louisiana bluesmen is now too obvious for any to ignore. His swamp-saturated sound and incisive Telecaster attack, also heard on the Whiskey Store and Whiskey Store Live dueling-guitar albums with Jimmy Thackery, easily personalizes classics, such as Elmore James's "I Can't Hold Out," featured here with saxist Jimmy Carpenter. But Benoit's at his best with the bayou beat. As on 2003's The Sea Saint Sessions, Benoit spotlights the musical heritage of New Orleans by using two guest vocalists who are Crescent City icons: Mardi Gras Indian "Big Chief" Monk Boudreaux and dynastic percussionist/vocalist/composer Cyrille Neville. Boudreaux vocally parades through "Golden Crown" at a fittingly funky Mardi Gras tempo, while Neville provides two songs: the percussion-embellished "Little Girl Blues" and the history lesson "The Blues Is Here to Stay," on which he vocally duets with Benoit between some of the album's best guitar work.

Buddy Guy's "I Smell a Rat" is the album's longest track as Benoit, beginning with a tasty intro, takes his most extended guitar workout, conjuring up a late-night blues club feel in the process. Benoit also contributes three originals, including the zydeco-tinged title track, an anthem of Cajun pride that serves him well as a signature song. Also his is the swamp stomper "Night Train," the album opener. At the other end is a surprise finale, a sublime front-porch, finger-picking acoustic rendition of "My Bucket's Got a Hole in It". --Michael Point

Customer Reviews:

Awesom.......2007-07-16

Words don't say enough about this bluesman. He makes a guitar sing and dance. I agree with another review "give him a grammy".

Very pleasantly surprised.......2007-05-14

I had never heard of Tab Benoit until I heard him on Sirius Channel 74. I decided to explore and settled on this CD. Let's just say I wasn't disappointed, this is a great disc.

hear him in person!.......2007-02-14

Oh my gosh, he took the audience away. We are Califorians and maybe we get to see the best. Coach House performance was unbelieveable........

Gumbo blues.......2005-10-02

Tab gives one of his best album performances with raw edged blues, Louisiana-style.

In New Orleans the Blues will Never Die.......2005-09-16

Guitarist Tab Benoit's newest presents a lively aray of cajun flavored sounds -- from straight ahead blues to Zydeco. In the wake of the Katrina disaster it will contribute to our resolve that the spirit and sounds of New Orleans and the Bayou will be seen and heard again. Laissons les Bons Temps Roulez!

Average customer rating: Tab's Blues Bayou Allsorts.

Best of the Bayou Blues Tab Benoit Manufacturer: Vanguard Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Blues | Styles | Music New Orleans Blues | Regional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Similar Items: Brother to the Blues Fever for the Bayou Power of the Pontchartrain Hurricane on the Bayou Voice of the Wetlands ASIN: B000GFLJJA Release Date: 2006-08-08

Tracks:

1. Voodoo On The Bayou
2. Drownin' On Dry Land
3. Somehow
4. Jambalaya
5. Nice And Warm
6. Rainy Day Blues
7. Gone Too Long
8. What I Live For
9. Mother Earth
10. Crawfishin'
11. Standing On The Bank
12. The Seventh Son
13. You Got What I Want
14. Cherry Tree Blues
15. Hot Tamale Baby
16. These Blues Are All Mine

Amazon.com

What's best about Best of the Bayou Blues is Tab Benoit's spankin' electric guitar tones and lean 'n' nasty licks on numbers like the ode to Cajun living "Voodoo on the Bayou" and the stinging, vibrato-drenched epic "These Blues are All Mine." This collection of Louisiana-themed tunes plucked from Benoit's five early Vanguard albums relate to the singer-and-six-stringer's swampland raising. They also showcase his versatility--veering from his customary plugged-in blues framework to a gentle acoustic take on the Delta classic "Mother Earth" to a roaring zydeco romp through Clifton Chenier's dancehall anthem "Hot Tamale Baby." Willie Nelson guests on "Rainy Day Blues," trading vocals and blending his nylon-string guitar with Benoit's Telecaster. A brisk jaunt through Hank Williams's "Jambalaya" seems more lagniappe than main course, but when Benoit's guitar comes crying into the soulful, homesick "Nice and Warm"--which plays out like a page written in this road warrior's diary on an especially lonely night--he more than compensates for the few slights among these 15 tunes. --Ted Drozdowski

Customer Reviews:

Tab's Blues.......2006-11-13

This maybe the perfect bayou blues CD and Tab Benoit delivers all these songs with finesse and energy. There are classic tracks - Drowin' on Dry Land, Jambalaya, Rainy Day Blues and Hot Tamale Baby. His self-penned titles all have classic blues appeal - all tracks are great. I love Nice and Warm; Gone too long; Crawfishin'; These blues are all mine. This CD is pretty much a best of and every track is guaranteed to raise your pulse. This guy is so good I just wished I lived in the US, so I could see him live. I also have his Fever for the Bayou CD, and I sense that Tab Benoit has a great sound - The Blues are here to stay. Tab Benoit has a great voice and he sure knows how to play a well worn guitar. Love the blues and you will love this CD.

Bayou Allsorts........2006-11-13

This album highlights Tab at his best and includes a great selection of sounds from his previous albums. Some new songs and some old and traditional make it a spicy mix to suit the blues ear. No matter which type of blues genre you are into this can't fail to please.

Average customer rating: Not enough O's in SMOOOOOOOOTH.... RICK SHAQ GOLDSTEIN SAYS: "BB, BASIC BLUES, ON THE BAYOU!" BB is great as always.....but please drop the organ! Blues on the Bayou Wow, this is awesome!

Blues on the Bayou B.B. King Manufacturer: Mca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Chicago Blues | Blues | Styles | Music General | Blues | Styles | Music Electric Blues Guitar | Blues | Styles | Music Modern Blues | Blues | Styles | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Riding with the King Blues Summit Live in Cook County Jail Deuces Wild B.B. King - Greatest Hits ASIN: B00000DF6O Release Date: 1998-10-20

Tracks:

1. Blues Boys Tune
2. Bad Case Of Love
3. I'll Survive
4. Mean Ole' World
5. Blues Man
6. Broken Promise
7. Darlin' What Happened
8. Shake It Up And Go
9. Blues We Like
10. Good Man Gone Bad
11. If I Lost You
12. Tell Me Baby
13. I Got Some Outside Help I Don't Need
14. Blues In 'G'
15. If That Ain't It I Quit

Amazon.com's Best of 1998

Opting for simplicity this time around, B.B. King gets by with a little help from his excellent backing band, producing an album that's evocative of the Louisiana countryside where it was recorded. After over half a century in the business, King knows what he's about: he makes playing good blues sound easy, and every track on Blues on the Bayou is a treat. --Genevieve Williams

Amazon.com essential recording

There's an undeniable pleasure in listening to a veteran bluesman do his stuff. For Blues on the Bayou, which he also produced, B.B. King presents a stripped-down, simply-arranged recording that's as tight as a coiled spring and smooth as a freshly-polished dance floor. From the first track, "Blues Boys Tune," a slow instrumental dripping with organ riffs, this CD is chock-full of the sort of guitar work that a master like King makes sound effortless. Whether it's the mid-tempo playfulness of "Bad Case of Love," or the slow "Blues Man" with its sparkling-clean guitar work, or the wistfulness of "Darlin' What Happened," or the sheer sweetness of "If I Lost You," Blues on the Bayou proves why King is considered the reigning master of blues guitar. Even the violins sound right and proper here, and King's sidemen turn in some impressive work as well; there are in particular some great piano solos on this disc. On the whole, Blues on the Bayou is a slow-burning treat. --Genevieve Williams

Customer Reviews:

Not enough O's in SMOOOOOOOOTH...........2007-06-11

I've always liked B.B. King's music ever since I was a kid when I'd catch him on TV periodically. He just seemed genuine in his playing and the style and sound was something that appealed to me personally. So I started to collect some of his music in the late 70's after I got out of college.

Then I had the privilege of seeing him perform "live" twice in the mid 90's while I lived in Spokane, WA. His love of the music and his joy in bringing it to you was palpable. The thrill was definitely not gone for Riley B. King.

So I started to revisit his catalog and I came across Blues On The Bayou. The reviews were sterling across the board, but what attracted me to this particular disc out of all 15 or so that I have was that he used his ROAD BAND in the studio. For many artists, this is not standard practice. They use producer chosen studio folks for their recording sessions. This is one reason that mainstream music coming out of Nashville has that "sameness" to it - it's all the same guys playing in different configurations behind a variety of artists. The music might as well come off the end of a conveyor belt coming out of a factory for all the originality it displays.

Well, not in this case. First thing they did here was use a little recording studio somewhat off the beaten track. This is good strategy because it eliminates the distractions over the course of the days given over to recording. There's just pretty much you and the music and so you can get deeper into it as you attempt to find the best sounds in recording it. In the case of this disc, it paid off in spades.

The choice of songs fits the title and the musicianship is top notch across the board. If you like lively, smooth sounding blues, you can't go wrong here. Sample the various tunes and I dare you to tell me I'm wrong....

RICK SHAQ GOLDSTEIN SAYS: "BB, BASIC BLUES, ON THE BAYOU!".......2007-01-27

To quote BB himself: "All live, all real. No overdubs, no high-tech tricks. JUST THE BASIC BLUES!" Shaq, "The King Of The World Blues Reviewer" says: "This is what I call mellow blues." This is the kind of music you want on, when you want to relax. A rainy day in winter, open the curtains, put this CD on, sit back, and let BB gently, serenade you. There's no better way to end this review, than to quote the other "King" (BB) himself: "In case you're interested, my favorite is "I'll Survive," a song I wrote back in the fifties. I sang it then, but I'm not sure I understood it .Now I know the meaning of survival."

BB is great as always.....but please drop the organ!.......2006-08-19

I bought this CD as part of a music club because it was one of the free ones I received after I bought a certain number, thinking this would not be the best of BB King's career surely ended long ago. I could not have been more wrong with that assumption.

I have many BB King albums, and several on this CD I would rank as being up there with my all time favorite hits from the King, most notably, "Blues Man". If one song could sum up the life of BB King, it is this song. My one complaint with a few of the songs on this album is the organ....in my opinion it is completely out of place for several of the tracks (we are talking about the blues here, right?), but overall it does not take away that much from a really good late-career album.

At a time when many artists are putting out rehashes of old songs or teaming up with other singers for a half-hearted attempt at a new album, BB takes a chance with an entirely new album late in his career and does a really good job of it. It is obvious BB loves what he is doing, and his band, as always, is fantastic. This may not be his best album, but if you are a fan of BB King you will find it surprisingly enjoyable.

4 stars....one deduction for the organ.

Blues on the Bayou.......2006-07-17

B.B. King is an outstanding performer. The CD selections are first-rate.

Wow, this is awesome!.......2005-10-26

In my opinion, this CD contains BB King's finest work. It is a great compilation of smooth blues from beginning to end and truly reflects the intended ambiance of a casual Louisianna setting without modern day recording magic. Simply a talented team of accomplished musicians with BB King singing some pure down home blues. I highly recommend this CD and consider it a must have for any serious blues fan!

Average customer rating: very very good James Booker at his best "Resurrection Of The Bayou Maharajah" A disappointment Blown away by Booker Booker tames the piano

Resurrection of the Bayou Maharajah James Booker Manufacturer: Rounder / Umgd ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Blues | Styles | Music New Orleans Blues | Regional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Traditional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music General | Live Albums | Blues | Styles | Music Acoustic Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Piano | Blues | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music Boogie-Woogie | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music Rounder Records | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: New Orleans Piano Wizard: Live! Junco Partner Spiders on the Keys King of the New Orleans Keyboard Classified ASIN: B0000002ZS Release Date: 1993-07-22

Tracks:

1. Medley: Slow Down/Bony Maronie/Knock On Wood/I Heard It Through The Grapevine/Classified
2. Medley: Tico Tico/Papa Was A Rascal
3. Medley: Lawdy Miss Clawdy/Ballad At The Maple Leaf
4. Minute Waltz
5. All By Myself
6. Save Your Love For Me
7. Junco Partner
8. St James Infirmary
9. Gitanarias
10. Medley: Life/Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee/It Should Have Been Me
11. Pop's Dilemma/Irene Goodnight

Customer Reviews:

very very good.......2007-04-29

This is a live club recording of the great James Booker.
The first thing to say about this is that the sound quality is varied and its not a top notch Piano either. These recordings weren't supposed to come out at all.
Booker is erratic, and evidence of this can be found in "All By Myself" which they have had to edit because he probably stopped mid song, being distracted by something or someone. That said "All By Myself" is my favourite track, its a barnstorming performance capturing everything thats great about James Booker.
If you have any interest in New Orleans Piano players, this CD and its sister (Spiders...) are essential purchases. This is what Booker was like when he was just left to play on his own without the constraints of a Band. Nearly all of it is worth having, and quite a lot of it is utterly brilliant.

James Booker at his best "Resurrection Of The Bayou Maharajah".......2007-04-02

James Booker is like a centaurian trickster part man part piano. He "plucks" out otherwordly bass notes and conjures up odd meters out of that beat up upright. Don't let some of the non-sensical words fool you. "Papa Was A Rascal" and the all too short "Lawdy Miss Clawdy" are part of some ritual for the initiated only. You know from the first chord of "Slow Down Baby" this is something special. You ain't never heard piano like that or a voice like that. This is sacred jonko music from some shaman. and he's letting you in on it all. Go for the ride 'cause smoke is rising on the bayou and this...is New Orleans.

A disappointment.......2007-01-12

At the outset let me say that I am a great fan of James Booker and wish he had left more recorded material for us to enjoy. It is therefore really disappointing when the talent is overshadowed by the poor quality piano Booker was given for this (and other) series. They must have thought he was a honky tonk player. The left hand of the piano is almost non existent. Just compare the sound here with that on the 'New Orleans Piano Wizard: Live!' Tracks such as Minute Waltz and Gitanarias which showcase his chops and classical background sound amateurish. That he can make a bad piano sound as good as he does is a reflection of the man's genius.

Blown away by Booker.......2005-01-23

I first got turned on to the genuis of the mighty James Booker by a rehearsal tape with which he played with the Jerry garcia Band (1-7-76). Since then I've intended to make a Booker purchase but unfortunatly he's not the easiest performer to find in the cd bins.

Well I finally found one and boy what a find! Words cannot even begin to express the joy I get from listening to James. Genius is all that comes to mind. Definatly one of the all time greats of any genre. If you've never heard him or heard very little this cd will make you a fan for sure. Music of the gods!

Booker tames the piano.......2002-03-26

This recording is a great, great treasure. We are lucky to have Booker live, and of all the booker albums out, this one is perhaps the most profound. The first two tracks are astonishing, and throughout the album, Booker fuses Chopin, Monk, Fatha' Hines, and Cecil Taylor- but it's pure Booker, that mad genius.

Musicians play the piano, but this is one case in which Booker tames the piano; he is in complete control, and as most people have stated- I, too, could swear that I hear at least 3 hands on the piano on all his recordings. Listen to "St. James Infirmary" on this record. It is one of the most diabollicaly painful, lonesome performances ever, ranking with the painful tunes of Hank Williams, Leadbelly, and Lennon.

Average customer rating: ***1/2. Solid swamp blues Steller One of the all-time blues legends Dirty Swampy Treat.

Bayou Lightning Lonnie Brooks Manufacturer: Alligator Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Chicago Blues | Blues | Styles | Music General | Blues | Styles | Music Texas Blues | Regional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Electric Blues Guitar | Blues | Styles | Music Modern Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Alligator Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music General | Blues | Indie Music | Stores | Music Texas Blues | Blues | Indie Music | Stores | Music Electric Blues Guitar | Blues | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Live from Chicago Roadhouse Rules Fast Fingers West Side Soul Bad News Is Coming ASIN: B0000009XJ Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. Voodoo Daddy
2. Figure Head
3. Watchdog
4. Breakfast In Bed
5. In The Dark
6. Worked Up Woman
7. Alimony
8. Watch What You Got
9. I Ain't Superstitious
10. You Know What My Body Needs

Customer Reviews:

***1/2. Solid swamp blues.......2005-08-05

One of Lonnie Brooks' more consistent albums, "Bayou Lightning" is a good 40 minutes of chugging Louisiana grooves.
The opener, "Voodoo Daddy", loses a lot of steam towards the end...Brooks should have cut it short at three minutes instead of letting it clock in at almost five. But those first three minutes are top-notch, and songs like the slow blues ballad "In The Dark", the swinging "Watchdog" and the grinding album closer "You Know What My Body Needs" are equally fine.

Not everything is equally memorable, and the arrangements are a little bit unvaried, but nothing is excactly bad either. Brooks does a good "I Ain't Superstitious", originally a single for the mighty Howlin' Wolf, and "Figure Head" and "Alimony" pack some punch as well. Lonnie Brooks is more exciting as a live performer, though, and to me "Bayou Lightning" lacks a little bit of spark and a little bit of grit.
But fans will definitely want a listen, and those who prefer the smoother and more mainstream urban blues of B.B. King to the gnarly sounds of Howlin' Wolf and John Lee Hooker should take note as well.
3 1/2 stars. Really good.

Steller.......2004-04-01

When the weather becomes nice and I am going on a road trip with the windows rolled down, this is my album of choice to turn up and let it all out. Some of the best guiter and and lyrics around. It's a feel good album.

One of the all-time blues legends.......2001-05-11

I had the immense pleasure of seeing Lonnie Brooks in concert a number of years ago, and it still rings as one of the 2 or 3 most incredible concert experiences of my life. (And I was also lucky enough to get a chance to speak with him after the show, at which time he mentioned that he had been nursing a really sore throat all night ... which totally surprised me, since I didn't hear an inkling of that during the concert. Just the sign of a true professional, giving 150% even when under the weather.)

This was the first album I ever heard of his work, and it's still my favorite. I think I originally bought it because I thought the album cover looked cool, with the lightning coming off of Lonnie's guitar, but I soon found that Bayou Lightning was far more substance than flash.

If you're a fan of the blues, and for some reason aren't familiar with Brooks' work, pick up this album and give it a spin. Then try to get out to see him live, where he's often joined by his son Ronnie Baker Brooks, who's also quite a talented axe man. Before you know it, you'll feel the blues growin' inside your body like a fever ... a fever that Lonnie Brooks has no doubt had inside him since the day he was born. Lightning, indeed.

Dirty Swampy Treat........2001-02-22

The only shame here is you can't see Lonnie live.

Lonnie is a national treasure that the local Chicago bar circuit would be remiss to lose.

Lonnie's set these days doesn't seem to include much from this classic gem, but you still get a sense of what a modern bluesman should sound like, and where Lonnie came from.

Song one, Voodoo Daddy, is so earthy and determined that the listener is hooked from the word go. Lonnie yells a little more than he sings, and he milks his guitar for sounds most players had no clue a guitar could make.

"Wound Up Tight" might be a better album for the Lonnie novice, but this album tells a better story about how lucky Chicago is that Lonnie moved here from Texas.

Lonne Brooks is truly a descendent of the blues greats, bridging the gap between John Lee Hooker and Muddy Waters to the next generation.

Average customer rating: A Wonder of Joy from a sad man Cajun Hillbilly Great Gets Recognized

Devil in the Bayou - The Gold Star Recordings Harry Choates Manufacturer: Bear Family ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Blues | Styles | Music Traditional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Cajun & Creole | Cajun & Zydeco | Regional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music General | Country | Styles | Music Honky-Tonk | Country | Styles | Music Western Swing | Country | Styles | Music General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music General | Blues | Indie Music | Stores | Music Blues | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Cajun Capers: Cajun Music 1928-1954 Good For What Ails You: Music of the Medicine Shows 1926-1937 ASIN: B0000665DC Release Date: 2002-10-21

Tracks:

1. Jole Blon (Pretty Blond)
2. Louisiana Boogie
3. Poor Hobo
4. Port Arthur Waltz
5. Dragging The Bow
6. Tondelay
7. Basile Waltz
8. It Won't Be Long
9. Louisiana
10. Cajun Hop (Les Blues Du Port Arthur)
11. Allons A Lafayette
12. Harry Choates Special
13. Wrong Keyhole (The Right Key [But The Wrong Keyhole])
14. San Antonio Waltz
15. Honkey-Tonking Days
16. Everybody's Waltz (Wednesday Night Waltz)
17. I'm Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town
18. Have You Heard The News (Good Rockin' Tonight)
19. Joe Turner
20. Nobody Cares For Me
21. Old Cow Blues (Milk Cow Blues)
22. Devil In The Bayou
23. Chere Meon
24. Bayou Pon Pon (Bear Creek Hop)
25. Harry Choates Blues
26. Te Petite (T'est Petite Et Mignonne)
27. Fa-De-Do Stompo (Fais Do-Do Stomp)
28. Rubber Dolly
29. Jole Blon (English Version)

Tracks:

1. Honkey-Tonking Days
2. Lawtell Waltz
3. Maggie Waltz (When You And I Were Young Maggie)
4. Mari Jole Blon (Jole Blon's Husband)
5. Gulf Coast Waltz
6. Missing You
7. Rye Whiskey
8. Sidewalk Waltz
9. Oh-Meon
10. Corpus Christi Waltz
11. Jolie Blon's Gone
12. Valse De Lake Charles
13. Hackberry Hop
14. Je Pase Durvan' Ta Port (I'll Pass In Front Of Your Door) (J'ai Passe Devant Ta Porte)
15. Tip-E-Te Tip-E-Ta Ameon (You're Cute And You're Little) (T'est Petite Et Mignonne)
16. Poor Hobo
17. Jole Blon (Pretty Brunette)
18. Yes, I Love You
19. O.S.T. Gal
20. A Little High Chair
21. The Old Man Ice
22. I Know You Feel The Way I Do
23. Lake Charles Shuffle (Instrumental)
24. I've Grown So Lonely For You
25. Gran P'rairie (Cajun Hop)
26. La Polka A Gilbert (Old Time Polka)
27. Le Veuve De La Coulee (Cajun Hop)
28. Les Tete Felle Lafayette (Cajun Hop)

Customer Reviews:

A Wonder of Joy from a sad man.......2007-05-06

I can't speak with any authority about this genre, like Kevin. I came to Harry Choates (wish I knew how to pronounce his name correctly!) via the wonderful novels of James Lee Burke, who's from New Iberia, LA, where Choates had a beloved presence during his tragically brief career.

I knew I loved cajun music, but had never heard the plaintive voice and magical fiddle of Harry, or anyone who so artfully mixed the cajun style with others current at the time. This set is truly a pleasure machine, and I agree that reading the included biography of Choates is worth the price alone. It contains all the songs of the other top rated Choates CD, and so much more. What's wonderful is that it covers not only his cajun music, but's also peppered with many tunes of varying styles--Tex-Mex, blues, jazz-influence. 'Missing You' on the 2nd CD brought tears to my eyes. And, a special section featuring his early work as a teen with Happy Fats and his Rayne-Bo Ramblers: the vocals (especially A Little High Chair) are heartrending.

I put it on in the car, open the windows and blast the volume up with a big grin on my face, tapping my toe on the accelerator and steering wheel, while any with open windows near me smile back. Buy it and smile! Buy it and dance while you do chores! Buy it and warm your heart and feel human.

The authenticity and soul of this music reminds me why I'm so dissatisfied with most modern music.

Cajun Hillbilly Great Gets Recognized.......2002-11-15

Harry Choates was a Cajun fiddler who had a major country crossover hit with his version of "Jole Blon." Primarily thought of as a Cajun fiddler, Choates drank deeply from western swing and jazz traditions, just listen to his superb performance of "I'm Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town." (This title was finally reissued on CD with this set.) The excellent Bear Family compilation pulls together Choates' Gold Star recordings and includes an extensive, newly researched biography--worth the price of the set alone. This is a wonderful reissue, now let's finish the job by reissuing his recordings on the Macy's label. "Devil in the Bayou" belongs in every Cajun, Country, and fiddle collection.

Average customer rating: Hot! Nice Bluegrass/Old Time Reissue Great old time Banjo and Fiddle Smoakin' hot old-style bluegrass

Bayou Bluegrass Jim Smoak & The Louisiana Honeydrippers Manufacturer: Arhoolie Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Blues | Styles | Music Traditional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music General | Folk | Styles | Music Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music Bluegrass | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music General | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Carolina Boy ASIN: B00006BXGR Release Date: 2002-08-27

Tracks:

1. Calinda
2. Run, Boy, Run
3. Liza Jane
4. My Last Dollar is Gone
5. Old Dan Tucker
6. The Lakes of Ponchetrain
7. Rabbit, Where's Your Mammy?
8. Underneath the Weeping Willow
9. Chicken Pie
10. Kissin' Cousins
11. Woodchuck in the Deadnin'
12. Poor Man
13. Whoah, Mule, Whoah
14. Great Big Billy Goat
15. Bill Cheatum
16. Raisin' a Ruckus Tonight
17. The Fisher's Hornpipe
18. East Bound Train
19. Hop Light, Ladies
20. Silver Dagger
21. Mama Don't Allow

Customer Reviews:

Hot!.......2003-04-28

This CD is great! It makes you want to hit the floor and dance a jig! You can't help but feel good when you listen to this music. It has so much energy! Jim Smoak is my all time favorite banjo picker. This is a great sampling of his unique style.

Nice Bluegrass/Old Time Reissue.......2003-01-10

Finally reissued on CD, this is fine bluegrass/old time music by Smoak's band. Smoak once belonged to Bill Monroes seminal Bluegrass Boys and the bassist Lum York was a long time member of the great Hank Williams' band. The CD is full of good music and a joy to listen to through and through.

Great old time Banjo and Fiddle.......2002-09-17

Jim Smoak is my Banjo teacher but even I was surprised to find such solid Banjo and Fiddle playing. This is old time music and you can hear that 'High Lonesome Sound'.
I was also surprise to hear Jim do most of the singing.
Although called 'Bayou Bluegrass', I hear that same old down home sound I heard in the backroads of Kentucky a long time ago.

Smoakin' hot old-style bluegrass.......2002-08-29

Sorry, I couldn't resist the pun (above).... This is some truly blistering old-fashioned bluegrass from this sharp Louisiana combo. In the 1950s, hotshot banjo plunker Jim Smoak was a longtime member of Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys, and later on part of Hylo Brown's band. In the early '60s he formed his own band, the Honeydrippers, which he headed up until 1972, when this album originally came out. In addition to Smoak's hot, old-fashioned five-string banjo playing, the group had a great fiddler and a tireless rhythm section. Fans of the lively, rougher end of old-school bluegrass will want to check this one out. It smokes! (This disc is an expanded version of an old Arhoolie LP, and now includes several tunes recorded in 1961, when the band first got together...)

Average customer rating: Brilliant King of the Bayou Blues

Bayou Blues Clifton Chenier Manufacturer: Specialty ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Zydeco | Cajun & Zydeco | Regional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Cajun & Creole | Cajun & Zydeco | Regional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Similar Items: Bogalusa Boogie Louisiana Blues & Zydeco Zydeco Sont Pas Sale Clifton Chenier & His Red Hot Louisiana Band in New Orleans Where There's Smoke There's Fire ASIN: B000000QKG Release Date: 1989-06-30

Tracks:

1. Boppin' The Rock
2. The Things I Did For You
3. Yesterday
4. Clifton's Squeeze-Box Boogie
5. I'm On My Way-Part 1
6. Eh, Petite Fille
7. All Night Long
8. Opelousas Hop
9. I'm On My Way-Part 2
10. Think It Over
11. Zodico Stomp
12. The Cat's Dreamin'

Amazon.com

Here is where the Chenier legend began. This disc contains the 12 Bumps Blackwell-produced tracks Clifton cut in 1955 in Los Angeles for Specialty Records. On tracks like "The Cat's Dreamin'" or his first hit single, "Ay 'Tète Fey" (which is the Cajun-French form of its better-known title, "Eh, Petite Fille" meaning "Hey, Little Girl"), Chenier's amalgam of blues, R&B, and rock & roll mixed with traditional French dance tunes is still rough but already has the power and drive that he (and his accordion) would later hone to a fine edge. Instrumental greats and mainstays of Chenier's early road bands like tenor saxman Lionel Prevost and guitarist Lonesome Sundown add their considerable talents to these sessions. The starting point for any comprehensive Chenier collection. --Robert Baird

Customer Reviews:

Brilliant.......2007-04-15

Truly a great disc. This is the blues, but unlike any blues you've heard before. My only complaint is its too short.

King of the Bayou Blues.......2002-09-06

In this 1955 session, Clifton Chenier and his Zodico Ramblers laid down track after track of greasy, back-beat shuffles and boogies for the Specialty Record Label. Rolling instrumentals like "Boppin' the Rock," "Zodico Stomp" and "Opelousas Hop" demonstrate Chenier's masterful touch and wonderful delivery on the accordion, an instrument not normally associated with the blues; that said, this recording is unmistakably a blues record.

Ironically, one of the most interesting elements of this recording has little to do with music. "Eh, Petite Fille," offers listeners an example Creole. Creole is a blending of two or more pidgin (simplified) languages resulting in the synthesis of language that is adopted as the "mother tongue" by a group of people. Creole languages are spoken all over the world but the blend of French, English, and several African dialects merged in Louisiana to create a uniquely American language.

"Bayou Blues" is an entertaining record that often belies the outstanding musicianship of Chenier and his Zodico Ramblers. While Clifton Chenier may not have been the "King of the South" as he proclaimed, he certainly was the King of the Bayou Blues.

Average customer rating: Country Clarence

Down South in the Bayou Country Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown Manufacturer: Sunny Side ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Blues | Styles | Music Texas Blues | Regional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Electric Blues Guitar | Blues | Styles | Music Modern Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Similar Items: Gate Swings Alright Again! Back to Bogalusa Long Way Home Right Place, Right Time: Live at Tipitina's ASIN: B000G1R4A2 Release Date: 2006-07-18

Tracks:

1. Breaux Bridge Rag
2. Folks Back Home
3. Bayou Sam
4. Loup Garou
5. Louisian'
6. Sweet Texas Rose
7. Sheriff's Barbecue
8. Bad Week For Old Fiddlers
9. Sunrise Cajun Style
10. Louisiana Woman
11. Rosalie
12. Jambore
13. Waiting For Gate's Express
14. Gate's Express
15. Cassoulet
16. Never Ending Song Of Love

Customer Reviews:

Country Clarence.......2007-03-10

Know mostly as a bluesman, Gatemeouth Brown turns his hand to Louisian' Country and produces a fabulous little gem of an album. I bought this on vinyl when it was originally released and was mightily impressed then and just received it on CD. It hasn't been off the player, iPod, computer and/or car since. Nearly all the songs are by local Louisiana writers (particularly Hoyt Garrick) and they've come up trumps. Great songs, great playing (particularly by the steel and bass players), great remastered sound and contains some deep, deep southern grooves. Gate only plays fiddle on this one and shows what a great player he is. Contains a couple of minor bonus tracks, but it's the main album on show here and what a fantastic show it is.

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