I'm Never Comin Back: Roots of Zydeco

Amede Ardoin | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 30, 1995)
• Original Release Date: November 14, 1995
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Arhoolie Records
• ASIN: B0000023TE
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #274,492 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely seminal., August 28, 2004

By 

Idiosyncrat (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I'm Never Comin Back: Roots of Zydeco (Audio CD)

First off, don't get this CD expecting very high-fidelity audio. All material here is from the 1930's, and about half of it was recorded with field equipment. (The other half was recorded in an NYC studio, and sounds much better, is comprised of solo performances, without backing fiddle.)

This is an essential recording if you're interested in the history of Cajun and Zydeco music. These have developed as two distinct styles, but Ardoin is a figure that towers above both. Amede Ardoin was a black Creole musician who brought a strong blues influence to Cajun music, and defined the accordion playing style.

This collection has nearly everything he recorded that survives. His first four recordings are in another collection (the strangely-titled "Cajun Dance Party", which I'll recommend in addition to this one using the Amazon feature for doing this.)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great performer and pioneer of Cajun/Zydeco., December 25, 2009

By 

Jeremy Babicz "Bama" (Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: I'm Never Comin Back: Roots of Zydeco (Audio CD)

I only recently heard the recorded works of Amédé Ardoin via the internet through a folk music site featuring the PBS program "American Patchwork" Series by the late and great Alan Lomax. I finally got around to purchasing another album with both Amédé Ardoin and Dennis McGee are featured on called J'ai Ete Au Bal [I Went to the Dance], Vol. 1. From then on in I was very interested in his works. When I got this CD for Chirstmas I was ecstatic. To say the least, I had already heard some of the samples on this site. But finally hearing them in their entirety was even greater. My only complaint is the quality of some of the songs. I understand that a few of them are field recordings, but for the most part, the rest of the songs sound great. His voice is heart breaking and so soulful and his accordion playing is frenzied and so lively. The blues pieces on the album are something of a hit or miss, but I enjoyed the majority. For the most part, it's great album with little disappointment. For anyone who enjoys earlier roots music, especially early Cajun and Creole, this is a must have!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Proto-cajun-zydeco, June 28, 2007

By 

T. Bekken (Austmarka Norway) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: I'm Never Comin Back: Roots of Zydeco (Audio CD)

Monsieur Ardoin played a mean accordion, but his haunting vocals are just as astonishing. This music is for the ages. Even though I hardly understand a word of standard French - let alone the cajun version sung here - the music speaks to me. Anyone who wants to have a perspective on African-American music needs to hear this stuff.