Bogalusa Boogie

Clifton Chenier

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 1, 1993)
• Original Release Date: July 1987
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Arhoolie Records
• ASIN: B0000001HJ
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #122,319 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  #40 in	Music > Indie Music > World Music > Cajun & Zydeco
  #89 in	Music > Indie Music > World Music > North America

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

Having won unanimous praise as a high-water mark in the zydeco and Cajun traditions, Bogalusa Boogie should have a place reserved for it in any collection of American music. It's got enough driving energy to hold its weight against any rock recording of the mid-1970s, when it was recorded in one day. It's got a trawler full of zydeco soul, too, riding a percussion wave built from the King of Zydeco's brother Cleveland Chenier's rub-board and Robert St. Julian's lag-time blues drumming. Leading the Red Hot Louisiana Band from behind his brawny, always-on accordion, Clifton Chenier charges through "Ride 'Em Cowboy" with devil-may-care abandon and then slinks into a chilled blues on "I May Be Wrong," riffing his accordion off the sax and guitar in splendid contrast. Chenier never sounded better on record than here, and for that fact alone, this is a must-have. --Andrew Bartlett

From Grove Press Guide to Blues on CD

Zydeco pioneer Chenier fronted a killer band when this set was cut in 1975, including brother Cleveland on rubboard and John Hart on saxophone, and it shows why he can never be replaced as the idiom's monarch. Chenier blows harp on two selections in addition to wailing on accordion, and the disc is drenched in bayou funk, with lyrics evenly divided between French and English. (B.D./F.J H.) -- © Frank John Hadley 1993

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Vas-y Clifton! (Go Clifton!), May 18, 2000

By	Ralph Quirino (Keswick, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is the ultimate zydeco album and with good reason. It's loaded with non-stop party music that's quick to capture the spirit of the genre (and its geographical importance) with incredible power, passion and soul. The album initially earned top reviews from the likes of Rolling Stone and became an essential title. The ensemble performance is superb: Paul Sénégal's guitar, Cleveland Chenier's rub-board, John Hart's tenor sax, Joe Brouchet's bass and Robert St.Julian's drums all assist and add weight to Le Roi's accordion work. All these cuts are downright classic, too! Check out "Allons A Grand Coteau", "Quelque Chose Sur Mon Idée" or "Ma Mama Ma Dit". It's guaranteed to cure your blues and get you snappin' in no time flat. Remarkably, this music has aged so little since it first appeared on (originally) LP and on CD. It's immediacy is stunning, its performances sharp and the production still solid (the album was originally recorded in 1975). It's why Clifton Chenier (and it's pronouced Shay-nee-ay) ended up being crowned the King... Want only 1 zydeco album? Get this. But, believe me, you'll want more and more and more once you listen to this great disc!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great listening!, December 21, 2003

By	R. Plemmons "deltadad" (Texas, United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

My first and favorite Clifton Chenier recording. Very approachable music even for the uninitiated. I agree with a previous reviewer that if you only try one zydeco CD, this should be the one. Clifton is absolutely "the man" when it comes to hard rockin' zydeco accordion music. If "Allons a Grand Coteau" doesn't put a smile on your face, I don't know what will. This is a killer recording and should be in everyone's collection. Don't pass this one up!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The King of Zydeco, January 1, 2007

By	Christopher John (Louisiana) - See all my reviews

I got this record back when I was in school when Clifton was still burning down the house on Saturday nights down here on the bayou. You couldn't help but be taken away by the backbeat groove of this band. Zydeco was initially the black mans cranked up cajun music. Nowadays, it can be heard all over South Louisiana in various forms.
But here is the man who really put it on the map and it still sounds as good today as it did thirty years ago. Just listen to the contemporaries around the South who still move to that beat.