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Re: Top Early Cajun Music Compilations

I guess I'm basing where I put the Balfa's music more on how old I think their music is, as opposed to when it was recorded. Thinking more historical ties.

Re: Top Early Cajun Music Compilations

Where did my post go? I made a long reply! It's gone. I will try again.

I concur with Wade's list and Bryan's suggestions. Here's a few more:

Louisiana Cajun and Creole Music: The Newport Field Recordings
https://www.amazon.com/Louisiana-Cajun-Creole-Music-Recordings/dp/B003YOMNBS
See my long review of it on Amazon.

Prior to that, LSU professor Harry Oster recorded Austin Pitre and Melton Molitor in the late 1950s, leased it to Prestige International Records, then to Arhoolie. The original lp is long out of print but we can thank Jack Bond for finding it on eBay and letting me digitize it. The whole thing is on my website at http://npmusic.org/artists.html#pitremolitor
Without this recording, Cajun Folk Music, the Newport Festival may have never invited Cajun musicians to perform.

All Austin Pitre's Swallow output is essential to me. I recommend this compilation, which has more than Floyd's Early Cajun Singles.
https://www.amazon.com/Essential-Recordings-Austin-Evangeline-Playboys/dp/B00JG52X96
See my Amazon review here too.

Between his time with Khoury and Swallow Nathan Abshire did a series of fine recordings for J.D. Miller. Out of print, there was a cd on Flyright that has this lp input plus additions: https://www.discogs.com/Nathan-Abshire-And-Pinegrove-Boys-The-Nathan-Abshire-And-The-Pinegrove-Boys/release/3417697

You have to have Popcorn Blues, French Two Step, Dreamer's Waltz, and his Mardi Gras Song with the pounding of horse hooves. Classic! And since it's J.D. Miller the sound quality is Nathan's best.

I can't remember if Mitch included Ambrose Thibodeaux, but all his lps are essential to me. My favorite is probably the yellow one, More Authentic Acadian French Music, for his versions of Poor Hobo, Lacassine Special, Long Point Two Step, Two Step de Musicien, La Louisianne Two Step, War Widow Waltz.

His vocals might not be your cup of tea but essential for me is Adam Hebert. Swallow compilation here: https://www.amazon.com/Essential-Hebert-Cajun-Music-Collection/dp/B00IH9BPSM
See my Amazon review

We owe a debt of thanks to Tina Pilione for releasing 2 cds of Maurice Barzas and the Mamou Playboys live at Snook's Lounge in Ville Platte. The tapes may have been made as late as the 80s but I guarantee you they're playing just as they did in the 50s and 60s. Barzas was very solid!

There are probably some others worth mentioning, like Alphee and Shirley Bergeron, Allie Young, Moise Robin, but hard to find.

You can hear the excitement of the groups being appreciated in this compilation:
https://www.amazon.fr/Haricots-Sales-enregistrements-Musique-Creole/dp/B00000B8OZ/ref=sr_1_2/254-0139983-0613633?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1481831498&sr=1-2&keywords=Les+haricots+sont+pas+sal%C3%A9s

I know I am leaving out some things. Maybe I will come back and update.

ETA: First update! Get Joe Bonsall!
https://www.amazon.com/Essential-Collection-Bonsall-Orange-Playboys/dp/B00IT5H92A

Re: Top Early Cajun Music Compilations

Good stuff. I left out the field recordings of Lomax and Oster. Good for a libary. I left out the Swallow sessions since that covers 60s and 70s. Of course, throughout that later time period, old masters that grew up during the early years, that never got a chance to record, such as Ambrose Thibodeaux and Varise Connor got their chance much later in life and are featured on later compilations. Good materials there.

To clarify, the Lawrence on Swallow is important mainly for the later Swallow recordings. His Khoury stuff sounds better on the Cajun Honky Tonk CDs.

Also, another I forgot to add to the list is:

26 - Cajun Dance Party: Fais Do-Do (Legacy/Columbia, 1994)
This contains alot of what was listed above, but has a few missing Breaux and Falcon materials to round off your collection including some Ardoin and Segura. Probably the best compilation of early Cajun at the time in 1994.

Neal can def talk about the later period compilations better than I can.

WF

Re: Top Early Cajun Music Compilations

"To clarify, the Lawrence on Swallow is important mainly for the later Swallow recordings. His Khoury stuff sounds better on the Cajun Honky Tonk CDs."

I agree. Cajun Honky Tonk 1 and 2 on Arhoolie have the better sounding Lawrence Walker Khoury sides. I think the La Louisianne lp has the best sounding version of Unlucky Waltz on La Louisianne LL-126, A Tribute to the Late, Great Lawrence Walker.

For accordion-minded fans, there's another good Arhoolie compilation, Pioneers of Cajun Accordion 1929-1936, subtitled Louisiana Cajun Music Vol. 9. Has Joe Falcon, Amede Ardoin, Breaux Brothers, Angelas LeJeune, Lawrence Walker, Nathan Abshire with the Happy Fats band, Delin Guillory, Bixy Guidry. OT 128



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