Various Artists (1990, 1992, 1995) -Alligator Stomp Vol.1-5: Cajun & Zydeco

Artist: various

Albums: Alligator Stomp Vol. 1-5

Release date:  1990-1995

Quality:  mp3 CBR 320  

Size:  108 / 117 / 148 /118 /133 MB

“Alligator Stomp is a stellar collection of zydeco, featuring stars and lesser-known musicians. The disc is filled with great, rollicking music -- there simply isn't a weak moment on the disc, and it provides an excellent introduction to one of America's most distinctive musics.” ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

” If you're exploring the pleasures of Louisiana's zydeco and Cajun music, one of the best starting points is Rhino's excellent Alligator Stomp series of the 1990s. Vol. 2's main flaw is its failure to list recording dates -- even if Rhino couldn't find exact recording dates for all of its 18 songs, couldn't the label have at least given the years or approximate years? But the sound quality is fine, Mary Katherine Alden's liner notes are informative, and Rhino's selections are excellent. For high-energy zydeco, it's hard to go wrong with Queen Ida ("My Girl Josephine"), Buckwheat Zydeco ("Zydeco Boogaloo") or the late Clifton Chenier ("Choo Choo Ch-Boogie," "Mama Told Papa"). And for traditional Cajun music, listeners won't be disappointed by Iry LeJeune's "Evangeline Special," the Balfa Brothers' version of the familiar "Jolie Blond" or Jo-El Sonnier's hit remake of "Jambalaya," which was originally a hit for country legend Hank Williams, but has become a Cajun standard. Spanning the '40s to the '80s, this gem-laden CD shouldn't be missed.” ~ Alex Henderson

“The response to Alligator Stomp's first two volumes was so favorable that in 1992, Rhino gave us Volume 3 of the fine series. Regrettably, the CD (which runs from the 1960s to the 1980s) doesn't list either exact or appropriate recording dates. But the sound quality, detailed essay by Chuck Taggart and choice of material aren't anything to complain about. The CD illustrates are the differences between zydeco and traditional Cajun music. While Eddie LeJeune's version of "La Valse de Pont D'Amour," the Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band's arrangement of "High Point Two-Step" and Lawrence "Black" Ardoin's interpretation of "You Used To Call Me" are examples of Cajun traditionalism, gems by Buckwheat Zydeco ("Hot Tamale Baby"), Clifton Chenier ("S'Mappel Fou") and his son C.J. Chenier ("My Baby Don't Wear No Shoes") show us exactly what zydeco is -- Cajun music combined with R&B/soul, blues and Creole music. When French-speaking African-Americans with Creole heritage were influenced by French-speaking Cajun-Americans with Anglo-French heritage, the potent result was zydeco. And when one plays this disc, the richness of those cultures comes alive in a major way.” ~ Alex Henderson

“If you're throwin' a Yule dance party, there isn't a better seasonal collection that features two-steps and waltzes. Of the 17 tracks, 15 were licensed from THE Cajun label, Swallow Records. Beausoleil recorded two songs especially for this compilation, the original "Christmas Bayou" and "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear," performed as an instrumental Cajun waltz. Four tracks are drawn from Beausoleil's fiddler/singer/leader Michael Doucet's Swallow Christmas Bayou CD, including this CD's closer, "Auld Lang Syne," which starts out traditionally slow before finishing off as a spirited two-step. Other highlights include Belton Richard's versions of "Blue Christmas" and "Please Come Home for Christmas," both sung in Cajun French: Richard's mournful vocals and the accompanying steel guitar give both songs added depth. Caveat emptor: if you hate accordions, fiddles, or just having a good time, do not buy this CD.” ~ Dennis MacDonald

“Alligator Stomp, Vol. 5 Cajun & Zydeco: the Next Generation showcases the best artists from the contemporary Cajun and zydeco scenes, including Terrance Simien, Wayne Toups, and David Doucet. Tracks from acts popular with the mainstream, such as Beausoleil's "Zydeco X," Jimmy Breaux' "Perrodin Two-Step," and Clifton Chenier's "My Baby Don't Wear No Shoes," mix with performances from newer artists and purists' favorites like Tasso's "Mon 'Tee Canaille (My Little Sly One)," Bruce Daigrepont's "Mains du Bon Dieu (The Hands of God)," and Robert Jardell's "Waltz of the Broken Family." Balfa Toujours, the Basin Brothers, Zydeco Force, and John Delafose & the Eunice Playboys round out this sampler of Cajun and zydeco music, making it a fine introduction to -- or a welcome reminder of -- the pleasures of both of these vibrant styles. “ ~ Heather Phares

 

Artist: various

Albums: Alligator Stomp Vol. 1 – Cajun & Zydeco Classics

Release date:  1990

Quality:  mp3 CBR 320  

Size:  108 MB

Tracklist:

1              Rockin' Sidney –                My Toot-Toot   2:33       

2              Queen Ida & Her Zydeco Band –                Back Door           2:53       

3              Rocking Dopsie & The Cajun Twisters –  Colinda                3:15       

4              D. L. Menard & The Louisiana Aces –        Lacassine Special             2:16       

5              Clifton Chenier –               Eh, Petite Fille 2:41       

6              Cleveland Crochet –        Sugar Bee           2:40       

7              Bruce Daigrepoint* –      Laissez Faire      2:34       

8              Johnnie Allan –                  Promised Land                 2:03       

9              Jo-El Sonnier –  Jolie Blon            3:20       

10           Rockin' Sidney –                You Ain't Nothin' But Fine           2:32       

11           Rusty & Doug* –               Diggy Liggy Lo   2:05       

12           Boozoo Chavis –                Uncle Bud          2:20       

13           Rocking Dopsie* –            Old Time Zydeco             2:29       

14           Beausoleil –         It's You I Love   3:33       

15           Jo-El Sonnier –  Louisiana Blues                2:28       

16           Queen Ida & Her Zydeco Band –                Mal D'Amour    3:00       

17           Boozoo Chavis –                Paper In My Shoe           2:25       

18           Clifton Chenier –               Zodico Stomp   2:03

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Artist: various

Albums: Alligator Stomp Vol. 2 – Cajun & Zydeco Classics

Release date:  1992

Quality:  mp3 CBR 320  

Size:  117 MB

Tracklist:

1              Terrance Simien & The Mallet Playboys –               Oh Yeh Yai                         

2              Lesa Cormier & The Sundown Playboys* –            Saturday Night Special                 

3              Nathan Abshire –              Pine Grove Blues                           

4              Balfa Brothers, The –       Jolie Blond                        

5              Queen Ida & Her Zydeco Band –                My Girl Josephine                          

6              Iry Le June* –     Evangeline Special                         

7              Clifton Chenier –               Choo Choo Ch-Boogie                  

8              Fats Domino, Doug Kershaw –    My Toot Toot                   

9              Jo El Sonnier* –                 Jambalaya                         

10           Rusty & Doug* –               Louisiana Man                 

11           Boozoo Chavis –                Deacon Jones                  

12           Beausoleil –         Zydeco Gris-Gris                             

13           Buckwheat Zydeco –       Zydeco Boogaloo                           

14           D.L. Menard* –                  The Back Door                 

15           Rockin' Dopsie –                Mardi Gras In New Orleans                       

16           Belton Richard –                The Cajun Stripper                        

17           John Delafose –                 'Ka-Wann'                         

18           Clifton Chenier –               Mama Told Papa

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Artist: various

Albums: Alligator Stomp Vol. 3 – Cajun & Zydeco Classics

Release date:  1992

Quality:  mp3 CBR 320  

Size:  148 MB

Tracklist:

1              Beausoleil –         Tasso/McGee's Reel      4:05       

2              C.J. Chenier & His Red Hot Louisiana Band* –       My Baby Don't Wear No Shoes                 3:10       

3              Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band, The* –            High Point Two-Step      3:53       

4              Rocking Dopsie & The Cajun Twisters –  Zydeco 'Round The World           3:43       

5              Eddie LeJeune –                La Valse De Pont D'Amour (Love Bridge Waltz) 3:27       

6              John Delafose –                 Co-Fé? (Why?)                 2:13       

7              Balfa Brothers, The –       Parlez-Nous À Boire (Let's Talk About Drinking)                 3:12       

8              Clifton Chenier –               Sa M'Appel Fou (They Call Me Crazy)     3:04       

9              Aldus Roger –     Mamou Two-Step          2:31       

10           Nathan & The Zydeco Cha Chas –              El Sid O's Zydeco Boogaloo          3:25       

11           Bruce Daigrepont –          Acadie À La Louisiane (Acadia To Louisiana)         3:01       

12           Buckwheat Zydeco –       Hot Tamale Baby             4:42       

13           Paul Daigle/Robert Elkins & Cajun Gold* –             Danse, Marie, Danse     3:13       

14           Lawrence 'Black' Ardoin & His French Band* –     You Used To Call Me      3:25       

15           Belton Richard & The Musical Aces –        Juste Une Rêve (Just A Dream)                2:51       

16           Fernest & The Thunders* –          It's Alright           2:48       

17           Filé –      Chanson De Mardi Gras (The Mardi Gras Song)                 4:38       

18           Clifton Chenier –               Zydeco Cha Cha               3:49

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Artist: various

Albums: Alligator Stomp Vol. 4 – Cajun Christmas

Release date:  1992

Quality:  mp3 CBR 320  

Size:   118 MB

Tracklist:

1              Beausoleil –         Christmas Bayou             3:12       

2              Beausoleil –         It Came Upon A Midnight Clear                3:55       

3              Johnnie Allan –                  It's Christmas Time In Louisiana                2:28       

4              Jambalaya Cajun Band, The –      Joy To The World            3:23       

5              Harry Fontenot –              Jingle Bells         2:13       

6              Michael Doucet –              Deck The Halls 2:29       

7              Belton Richard –                Please Come Home For Christmas           2:49       

8              Camey Doucet –                What Christmas Means To Me 2:13       

9              Jambalaya Cajun Band, The –      Up On The Housetop    2:19       

10           Michael Doucet –              The Little Drummer Boy               2:13       

11           Cajun Gold* –    Santa Claus Is Coming To Town                 2:29       

12           Belton Richard –                Blue Christmas                 3:02       

13           Cajun Gold* –    Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree        2:27       

14           Michael Doucet –              Bonne Année   1:46       

15           Jambalaya Cajun Band, The –      Jingle Bell Rock                 4:05       

16           Jambalaya Cajun Band, The –      Silent Night        4:41       

17           Michael Doucet –              Auld Lang Syne                3:22

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Artist: various

Albums: Alligator Stomp Vol. 5 – Cajun & Zydeco: The Next Generation

Release date:  1995

Quality:  mp3 CBR 320  

Size:  133 MB

Tracklist:

1              Balfa Toujours –                Two-Step A Tina              2:41       

2              Terrance Simien –             Tout Quelqu'un               3:02       

3              Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys –      La Valse Du Regret         4:36       

4              Zydeco Force –                  Shaggy Dog Two-Step   2:36       

5              Robert Jardell –                 Waltz Of The Broken Family       3:18       

6              Beau Jocque & The Zydeco Hi-Rollers –  Give Him Cornbread      4:55       

7              Jimmy Breaux –                 Perrodin Two-Step         3:08       

8              C.J. Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band* –     My Baby Don't Wear No Shoes                 3:09       

9              Beausoleil –         Zydeco X             4:43       

10           John Delafose & The Eunice Playboys –                  Slow Motion Zydeco

 Featuring – Geno Delafose         3:22       

11           Roddie Romero & The Rockin' Cajuns –  The Ile De Canne Two-Step

 Violin – Michael Doucet               2:52       

12           Chubby Carrier & The Bayou Swamp Band –         Old Time Zydeco             2:53       

13           Tasso (2) –           Mon 'Tee Canaille (My Little Sly One)     3:35       

14           David Doucet –                  J'Etais Au Bal

 Resonator Guitar [Dobro] – Josh Graves              4:12       

15           Nathan & The Zydeco Cha Chas –              Zydeco Road     4:48       

16           Basin Brothers –                A Broken Marriage / Un Mariage Casse                 3:10       

17           Bruce Daigrepont –          Les Mains Du Bon Dieu (The Hands Of God)        4:01       

18           Wayne Toups & Zydecajun –       Lacassine Special             4:24