Alligator Stomp Vol.4: Cajun Christmas

Alligator Stomp (Series) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 8, 1992)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rhino / Wea
• ASIN: B0000032VK
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #195,572 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Christmas Bayou

2. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

3. It's Christmastime in Louisiana

4. Joy to the World

5. Deck the Halls

6. Please Come Home for Christmas

7. The Little Drummer Boy

8. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town

9. Blue Christmas

10. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

11. Bonne Année

12. Jingle Bell Rock

13. Silent Night

14. Auld Lang Syne

15. Jingle Bells [#]

16. What Christmas Means to Me [#]

17. Up on the Housetop [#]

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

You probably haven't traveled enough if you've never heard Cajun music, and there's a good bet you've never really two-stepped around the Christmas tree until you've two-stepped to either a Beausoleil or Cajun Gold Christmas classic like those found on this 17-track compilation. Alligator Stomp features fiddles, triangles, and accordions a-blazin' along with the French-sung carols and other classics. Henry Fontenot turns in a decidedly different kind of "Jingle Bells," while Belton Richard belts out the holiday blues standard "Please Come Home for Christmas" in his delectable Cajun tongue. Michael Doucet, the ace fiddler for Beausoleil, however, steals some of the thunder here with a charged number, "Bonne Année," a performance piece that highlights his fiddle playing and singing. As they say down on the Bayou, "Bon temp rouler!" --Martin Keller

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great music for the holidays!, December 2, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Alligator Stomp Vol.4: Cajun Christmas (Audio CD)

"Cajun Christmas" provides a fresh interpretation of many Holiday standards and a smattering of Louisiana originals that are true to the spirit of the season. If you are tired of the traditional arrangements and appalled at dogs and cats massacring your favorites, this CD is the perfect antidote. Two strong tracks by Beausoleil, "Christmas Bayou" and "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" lead off the compilation, the latter interpreted as a Cajun waltz. "Joy to the World" is a bouncy, upbeat combo of fiddle and accordian that will lighten the hearts of the most fervent Scrooge. It's hard not to dance to "Jingle Bells" and "Deck the Halls." The layers of instruments and the upbeat tempos create a celebratory tone in these tunes that has disappeared through repetition of the more familiar arrangements. The final song, "Auld Lang Syne," is the best. Michael Doucet starts out with a slow, mellow fiddle but soon turns from the remembrance of the past year to the anticipation of the New Year with a rollicking finish that compels you to bounce around the house.

While all the tracks are strong contributions, the greatest value of this CD is the regeneration of spirit one feels. The old songs seem new and the cumulative effect is to take some of the cynicism out of the increasingly commercialized season. As an added plus, kids seem to respond to the music, which can open up all kinds of discussions about music, history, and of course, Christmas.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome find for 1999, January 12, 2001

By 

"net-girl" (San Ramon, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alligator Stomp Vol.4: Cajun Christmas (Audio CD)

This is a MUST for anyone who can get a little cranky around the holidays from stress. I haven't played it for anyone whose feet and hands could remain still as they listened. This will be a "first grab" out of my CD collection for many years to come.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Joyeux Noel!, November 29, 2006

By 

Johnny Heering "trivia buff" (Bethel, CT United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Alligator Stomp Vol.4: Cajun Christmas (Audio CD)

This CD features Cajun musicians performing Christmas songs. About half the songs are instrumentals, with the other half being sung in either English or Cajun French. This is happy, fun music, featuring an emphasis on accordions and fiddles. All the music here is great. My personal favorite is Belton Richard's "Please Come Home For Christmas", sung in Cajun French, which is the best version of that song that I have ever heard. This CD is sure to make any Christmas party swing.