Customer Reviews

Fiddle King of Cajun Swing

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This CD is as good as anyone could ever hope for, if you are a fan of the dynamic fusion of Cajun, Western-Swing and Country Music that took hold in southwest Louisiana and southeast Texas in the years immediately following World War II. Personified here by fiddler extraordinaire Harry Choates, a small problem attendant to enjoying this pulsating collection of 26 recordings (from 1946-1950) is deciding whether you want to just listen or dance.

Harry Choates was the embodiment of the stereotypical hard living musician who, by many accounts, lived to play music. Born in Rayne, LA in 1922 he was performing regularly by the late `30's, having worked with Leo Soileau's Aces and a musician who is prominently heard on this CD: steel guitarist Julius "Papa Cairo" Lamperez. His first recordings are generally considered to have been done with another Cajun legend, Happy Fats and the Rayne-Bo Ramblers in Dallas in 1940.

Harry Choates position in musical history came in 1946 with his recording of the Cajun Classic, "Jolie Blon." The tune was already well known in Cajun music, but Choates rendition was a commercial sensation. Unfortunately, Choates sold the rights to the recording for $50 and a fifth of whiskey when the release became a hot. Unfortunately, also, the tune is not on this CD (but don't let this fact stop you from buying it).

There are many standouts here, beginning with the first cut, "Allons a Lafayette." Choates alternates between French and English on the vocals on "Poor Hobo;" and Papa Cairo's short break on steel illustrates how nicely his playing compliments Choates' fiddling. But this is just a prelude to the killer combination on "Devil In The Bayou" and "Harry Choates Blues." And forget trying to just listen when you hear "Hackberry Hop." I'm rather partial to Choates' version of the well known "Te Petite," and "It Won't Be Long." Space, not quality, is the reason other selections aren't noted.

I HAVE ALWAYS ENJOYED CAJUN MUSIC AND DECIDED TO GIVE THIS ONE A TRY. HIS MUSIC IS A CROSS BETWEEN WESTERN SWING AND CAJUN, YOU WILL LOVE IT. BY THE WAY 50% OF THE SONGS ARE IN ENGLISH OR BOTH FRENCH AND ENGLISH SO IF YOUR LIKE ME AND DONT SPEAK FRENCH HERE IS AN OPPERTUNITY TO FINALLY KNOW WHAT ALL THE FUN IS ABOUT.

Catchy, raw backwoods fiddle music from the Louisiana bayou... These late-'40s recordings are an interesting mix of cajun, straight old-timey fiddle music and honky-tonk heavy western swing tunes. A veteran of the Louisiana swamp scene, by the postwar years, Choates seemed ready to try just about any style of music and see what would stick -- fortunately, he was pretty darn good at any style he played, and this album is lots of fun from start to finish. The CD version includes ten extra tracks (although his big hit version of "Jole Blon" still is absent...) Cool stuff, a little off the beaten track.

I did not buy this for myself but for someone I knew had been wanting it. When I gave it to them they were thrilled to get it. They are very happy with it and I am too for being able to find it on Amazon.

If you love music, love to dance or just sit, listen and tap your foot this is the music for you.

If you love music, love to dance or just sit, listen and tap your foot this is the music for you.

What is the deal with yankees telling us what Southern music is? Go listen to some sinatra. We don't want you. Long live the South!