Zydeco Dynamite: The Clifton Chenier Anthology

Amazon.com essential recording
The most comprehensive way to get to know the late "King of Zydeco," this beautifully packaged and annotated two-CD set contains cuts spanning accordionist Chenier's entire career as the best known performer and chief innovator of the Gulf Coast's most danceable, infectious music. Beginning with a rare early cut he recorded at a radio station in Lake Charles, Louisiana, this set's 40 tracks cover his years on Specialty, Zynn, Arhoolie, Maison de Soul, and several other smaller labels, veering back and forth between hard rockin' R&B influenced material and more traditional two-steps and waltzes. Most of the great Chenier-penned classics like "Zydeco Cha Cha," "Hot Rod," "Hot Tamale Baby" and "Johnny Can't Dance" are here. Overall, an excellent picture of Chenier's towering talents. --Robert Baird

Zydeco Dynamite: The Clifton Chenier Anthology,Clifton Chenier,Rhino / Wea,Cajun,Cajun / Zydeco / New Orleans,Creole,Pop,United States of America,World Music,Zydeco

Average customer rating:

"What a Masterpiece"

40 tracks from 10 different labels spanning 30 years...

Need a new addiction?

Da King!

Explosive tour de force from the King of Zydeco.

Zydeco Dynamite: The Clifton Chenier Anthology
Clifton Chenier
Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea
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
Rhino Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

The Ultimate Collection

Bogalusa Boogie

Very Best of Freddy King 1

The Allen Toussaint Collection

Grant Street

ASIN: B0000032Z8
Release Date: 1993-04-06

Tracks:

Eh, Petite Fille
Louisiana Stomp
All Night Long
The Cat's Dreamin'
My Soul
Standing On The Corner
The Big Wheel
Baby Please
Bayou Drive (Sloppy)
Night And Day My Love
If I Ever Get Lucky
It Happened So Fast
Hey Ma Ma
Ay Ai Ai
Bon Ton Roulet
Hot Rod
I Am Coming Home
Johnny Can't Dance
Tu Le Ton Son Ton (Once In A While)
Zydeco Cha Cha

Tracks:

Josephine Par Se Ma Femme
I'm On The Wonder
I'm A Hog For You
Tighten-Up Zydeco
One Step At A Time
Zydeco Sont Pas Sale (Snapbeans Ain't Salty)
Cotton-Picker Blues
The Hucklebuck
Easy, Easy Baby
Ride Em Cowboy
Sa M' Appel Fou (They Call Me Crazy)
Bogalusa Boogie
My Babe
Choo Choo Ch-Boogie
Road Runner
Shake It, Don't Break It
I'm The Zydeco Man
Love Me Or Leave Me
What'd I Say
Hot Tamale Baby

Amazon.com essential recording

The most comprehensive way to get to know the late "King of Zydeco," this beautifully packaged and annotated two-CD set contains cuts spanning accordionist Chenier's entire career as the best known performer and chief innovator of the Gulf Coast's most danceable, infectious music. Beginning with a rare early cut he recorded at a radio station in Lake Charles, Louisiana, this set's 40 tracks cover his years on Specialty, Zynn, Arhoolie, Maison de Soul, and several other smaller labels, veering back and forth between hard rockin' R&B influenced material and more traditional two-steps and waltzes. Most of the great Chenier-penned classics like "Zydeco Cha Cha," "Hot Rod," "Hot Tamale Baby" and "Johnny Can't Dance" are here. Overall, an excellent picture of Chenier's towering talents. --Robert Baird

Customer Reviews:

"What a Masterpiece".......2005-07-06

I recieved this CD set in the mail right before July 4th and was able to play it outside while the family was feasting on my Oak wood roasted pulled pork butt. Believe it or not I don't know what was better the music or the food. You have to give it to Rhino Records for putting this Outstanding Collection togeather. Even though this set has a high price tag on it you would have to spend a small fortune if you were to purchase these many years of great music on different CDs or even LPs (if you could find them).
Clifton Chenier was known as the real"King of Zydeco" and anyone who listens to this collection will understand why. For many folks this collection is all they will need to open up the door of real Zydeco music for them. These CDs take me back 30+ years when I was sailing the Gulf in the Merchant Marines and Clifton Chenier was in his heyday at the top of the Zydeco and Cajun world. There will never be another man that can display the soulful talent that was purged out of the Zydeco King, Clifton Chenier!
As said earlier this set is worth every penny - and more!

40 tracks from 10 different labels spanning 30 years..........2004-11-29

Rhino does another admirable job. They gathered 40 tracks from about 10 different labels that covers his beginning in 1955 to his death in 1984...chronologically of course with lots of interesting notes and photographs. This collection has gotten my mouth salivating for Jazz Fest...4 more months!!!

Need a new addiction?.......2002-12-13

Look, if you're not much of a drinker and you still have all your teeth in your head, then I'd rather you didn't read this. It is saps like you that ruin my good time by barging in on my favorite bars and dancing like you're at club 54. Now, on the other hand, if you're an ugly boozer like myself (not just someone who binges, mind you, but a bona-fide drunk with a majorly distended belly) who lives to get blind drunk to the sounds of greasy, crazy, rocking madness, then by god in heaven, read on. This cd (and all things Chenier) are IT! At his best, Clifton is comparable to Otis and Hound Dog Taylor at thier best. In other words, it's freakish how brilliantly rockin' and raw he is. So, really, buy it...you'll be hooked...heavy as lead.

Da King!.......2000-06-25

For those of us who were fortunate enough to see this master musician live (for me first in 1972 at Winterland and then in the 80's on numerous occasions at Tipitina's) it is an absolute epiphany to see this collection made available. I've purchased every recording on Rhino and Alligator I could get my hands on. Now I see this, and my eyes are getting larger than my head! To say that Clifton was the King of Zydeco would be a gross understatement. He was the King of Jazz, syncopation, music, ethereal voices, Rythm and Blues (particularly Blues). He could express more on an accordian than 15 angels could at the height of their power, circled around the deity him/herself. If you didn't find your hips and legs moving and your whole body shaking when Clifton and his band were playing, then "Jack" you were "dead."

Explosive tour de force from the King of Zydeco........1999-08-11

Hot damn! Those are the best words I can come up with to describe this package of Clifton Chenier's music released by Rhino. This is a party in a box!

There are very few people in the Southern US who have not heard of Clifton Chenier, the crowned king of Zydeco. For those of you who haven't, this is a wonderful place to start. You will hear Chenier in the 50's, when he was first breaking onto the music scene, and you can hear the development of his brand of music into what we now know as modern zydeco. The newest tracks on the compilation are from the mid-80's, just three years before Chenier's untimely death from failing kidneys and diabetes.

In Chenier's music, one will hear the traditional strains of Cajun folk music mixed with the blues, R & B, country, and rock and roll. The opening track, "Eh, Petite Fille" is representative of the more traditional Cajun stylings one will hear in this collection. In the songs "Night and Day my Love,' and "If I Ever Get Lucky, " one may find themselves believing that they are listening to a blues band, especially when one pays close attention to the guitar work on "...Lucky." Experience the actual feeling of zooming down the road in the very rock and roll "Hot Rod," as Chenier and the band work their magic at the pace of a 32 Ford Coupe zipping down a two lane Louisiana highway. Perhaps the shocker on this album is his reworking of the classic big band tune, "Choo Choo Ch-Boogie," one of my favorite recorded versions of this song.

In this collection you will hear the talents of Stanley "Buckwheat" Dural, who has himself become a zydeco legend, and C.J. Chenier, who carries on his father's tradition.

Ay ai ai! This is one hot package and a damn fine collection to play at the next party you have where you really want people to enjoy themselves. For who can't help but to tap their foot, or feel the urge to get up and dance when confronted with the jolting rhythms contained in this excellent package?!

This is one of the best albums I have obtained in years! Laissez les bon temps roulet!

Rock Music: