Customer Reviews

The Best of Clifton Chenier

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4 star:		(1)
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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.

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!

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".

Someone here at Amazon has completely screwed up this playlist.

"I'm On the Wonder" (2:40), as it's listed here, is actually "Black Gal". "Black Gal"(4:13) here at Amazon is actually "Ain't No Need of Cryin'". "Ain't No Need of Cryin'" (4:44) is mislabeled too and is actually "Johnny Can't Dance". "Johnny Can't Dance" (3:10:) is really "Bon Ton Roulet". "Bon Ton Roulet" is really "Zydeco Cha Cha". "Zydeco Cha Cha" is actually "Ma Mama Ma Dit". Ad nauseam.

The first six songs are correctly labeled; after that it's a mess. So here's how it should read:

7. All Your Love
8. Party Down at the Blue Angel Club
9. Why Did You Go Last Night?
10. Ma Mama Ma Dit
11. Zydeco Cha Cha
12. Bon Ton Roulet
13. Black Gal
14. Johnny Can't Dance
15. I'm On the Wonder
16. Zydeco Sont Pas Sale
17. Ain't No Need of Cryin'
18. Interview with Clifton Chenier

Clifton Chenier and his Red-Hot Louisiana Band used to play weekly gigs at Antone's in Austin back in the '70's, and I'd go every night. They'd open at 8pm and play without a break (until Clifford Antone asked him to, so he could sell more liquor) until 2am. To this day I can hardly believe I actually took full advantage of something magnificent in my life for once. And everyone danced. Everyone, to the most amazing rock and roll band that ever existed. It was the most rockin' period of my life, and I'm glad I was there and not anywhere else on the face of the earth.