The Best of Clifton Chenier

Clifton Chenier | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 22, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Arhoolie Records
• ASIN: B000087J7F
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #85,842 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Collection!!!, July 22, 2003

By 

Pete Flowers (Oakland, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Best of Clifton Chenier (Audio CD)

A great introduction to the best singer/accordionist in the history of Zydeco, this collection features a mix of Chenier's classic Zydeco standards, like "Ay, ai, ai" and "Zydeco Sont Pas Sale" as well as some great blues numbers. One of the strengths of this title, as well as a weakness, is that longtime Chenier producer Chris Strachwitz set out to highlight Chenier's blues abilities, which are considerable. Chenier was an outstanding blues singer, but the price for the inclusion of each blues number is the exclusion of a Zydeco masterpiece (although the listener never feels shorted, as there is not a bad cut on the whole album). I suppose it is a six of one, half a dozen of the other, with the high level of blues actually adding another facet to the King of Zydeco (if the quality were any less, then I might complain, but as it is, it's really perfect).

Overall, the album is outstanding: some of the best Zydeco music ever made, interspersed with top-notch blues and topped off with a fascinating interview, which, along with a previously unreleased version of "Zydeco Sont Pas Sale" make this interesting even to a long-time Clifton Chenier fan.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Collection of a Master, November 6, 2003

By 

Derrick Peterman (San Jose, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Best of Clifton Chenier (Audio CD)

I guess I'm not qualified to evaluate whether this is the best collection of Chenier's work, but this is a great collection. I was surprised that Chenier is a pretty good blueman, but the Zydeco numbers are the best, and that's why most people want to listen to. I suppose alternating the blues with the zydeco balances the collection.

The interview at the end of the CD starts to meander, but I was surprised to hear Chenier say he invented Zydeco mostly to distiguish himself from other musicians, rather than some compelling need to create a new musical form.

There maybe a better collection out there, but this was good enough for me!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not the definitive collection, March 31, 2010

By 

SKooLBoY jiM (Eugene, OR) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Best of Clifton Chenier (Audio CD)

This is a best of on the Arhoolie label. Don't get me wrong, you can't go wrong with a Clifton Chenier cd. He went into the studio and banged them out live no rehearsing or second takes. I prefer his blues and soul stuff slightly over the zydeco stuff. Not by much but I just prefer funkier more soulful material. The zydeco stuff is great also. The best Clifton Chenier compilation is the Rhino one. It has the early Specialty and Bayou Blues stuff that is just amazing. Lonesome Sundown and Philip Walker on guitar. It smolders. Plus the Rhino one has the very hard to find Chess stuff on it which I could swear has an uncredited Etta James singing back up vocals on "My Soul".