NEWSLETTER #139
Ethnic & World Music
Nathan Abshire & The Pinegrove Boys ->
Various Artists
| CAJUN |
NATHAN ABSHIRE & THE PINEGROVE BOYS |
Fais-Do-Do Records 9082 |
Nathan Abshire & The Pinegrove Boys |
● CD $15.98 |
20 tracks, 46 mins, essential
Previously on, the now out
of print, Flyright 19. Cajun music doesn't get any better than this!
Nathan Abshire was one of the greatest of all cajun singers and
accordionists who was a vital force in the music from the 30s up to his
death in 1981. This collection of 20 great songs and tunes was recorded
for Jay Millers' Kajun & Cajun Classics labels in the early 60s.
Accompanied by a tough band featuring the soaring steel guitar of Atlas
Fruge and the fiddles of Dewey Balfa and Will Kegley he performs a wide
variety of material including a storming remake of his most well known
song Pinegrove Blues, the doomy La La Blues (with blues
harmonica from Lazy Lester), the moving waltz Dreamer's Waltz, the
idiosyncratic Mardi Gras Song with vocals by black singer La La
Laverne and clip-clopping horse sounds and many others. Truly magnificent
music! (FS)
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| AFRICA-MALI |
AMADOU & MARIAM |
Because 3106072 |
1990-1995 : Le Meilleur Des Annees
Maliennes |
● CD $22.98 |
16 tracks, 77 mins, essential
Simply magnificent music.
The Malian blind husband and wife team of Amadou & Mariam have achieved
great success this year thanks to a collaboration with world music cult
favorite Manu Chao. But the duo has been performing together since the
1970s and prior to their first CD release in 1998 they released a series
of five cassettes between 1989 and 1994 which had limited distribution
throughout Africa. This CD presents some of the best of those recordings
with a box set of their complete recordings from this period coming
shortly. On most of these tracks they sing solo and as duets with the only
accompaniment being Amadou Bagayako's wonderful guitar work. They are both
superb singers with voices full of those lovely Islamic soars and swoops.
Amadou's amplified and resonant electric guitar playing has elements of
blues in it as well as the sound of the traditional kora weaving spidery
lines of melody around the vocals. A number of the songs here like their
exquisite Mon Amour and Se Te Djon Ye were recorded later in
a setting with larger groups but these are the original raw versions.
Truly superb and moving music. (FS)
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| AFRICA-MALI |
AMADOU & MARIAM |
Nonesuch 79912 |
Dimanche A Bamako |
● CD $18.98 |
The latest from this superb duo from Mali was produced and
features current world music cult favorite Manu Chao.
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| REGGAE |
BOB MARLEY & THE
WAILERS |
Trojan 80527 |
Soul Revolutionaries - The Early Jamaican
Albums |
● CD $34.98 |
4 discs, 45 tracks, essential
Early reggae in Jamaica was
mainly a singles market, so it was rare for a band to put out an LP. The
Wailers (the original group with Bob, Peter & Bunny) served up in
miniature cardboard LP covers. "Best Of The Wailers" (10 tracks, 25 min)
was their first LP, put out by their producer Leslie Kong on his Beverly's
label in '70 & taken from his singles, put out against The Wailers' wishes
(the young Kong soon mysteriously died of a heart attack after the Wailers
put a curse on him!). "Soul Rebels" (12 tracks - 29 min) was the First LP
recorded as an LP & the Wailer's First fruits with Lee Scratch Perry,
released on Upsetter in '70. The final two discs were the first of a Perry
experiment. The plan was to release both the songs AND the backing tracks
of a dozen songs, with each LP having the Wailers tracks on side 1 & the
"versions" on side 2. It happened, but not quite that way. "Soul
Revolution" (inexplicitly called "Soul Revolution II" on the cover) has
all 12 Wailers vocals (34 min). & includes early versions of such future
classics as Kaya/ Duppy Conqueror & African Herbsman. The
instrumental LP is also here, originally released in such low numbers that
there only a blank white cover for it - here's it's got a black & pale
green version of the "Soul Rev II" cover. (GM)
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| GYPSY |
STRADA |
Fremeaux & Associes 469 |
Gadje |
● CD $15.98 |
16 tracks, 53 mins., highly recommended
Clarinetist/flautist Pierre Langevin and percussionist Pierre Tanguay are
Qu‚bec-based musical adventurers who formed the Strada ensemble 19 years
ago and have released CDs melding everything from medieval to post-modern
influences. This CD is a suite of Gypsy songs, collected from various
Gypsy traditions from Greece to Brittany. The sound is gorgeous and the
emotions amazingly genuine, considering that none of the musicians (also
playing bouzouki, oud, guitar, bagpipes, and vocal chords) were born into
the cultures. Widely varied and engaging start to finish, this is a lovely
romp across Gypsy Europe. (DC)
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| JEWISH/YIDDISH/KLEZMER |
VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Membran 222047 |
Yiddish Songs |
● CD $34.98 |
4 CDs, 76 tracks, about 4 hours, highly recommended
Another fine collection from this obscure label; this time out its Yiddish
songs from from incredibly creative and productive period between 1911-50.
The booklet notes are in English, German, and Hebrew, and although the
complete lack of session notes and specific recording dates and record
labels is a mighty omission, it is difficult to imagine anyone complaining
about the music. Among the wonders here are Second Avenue Square Dance
by the Abe Ellstein Orchestra, Branas Hassene by the Dave Tarras
Trio, Tantst, Tantst, Yidelekh by the Abe Schwartz Orchestra,
Palestine Lidele by Joe Feldman, Yiddisher Charleston by The
Gilt Edged Four, My Yiddish Home by Sophie Tucker, Good Luck
by Lou Lockett's Orchestra, Zum Gali Gali by Yiddish Swingette,
Shirt Tail Stomp by Benny Goodman, Sehr gut by Isa Kremer,
Mazel In Liebe by the Alexander Olshanetzky Orchestra, and on and on.
An incredible treasure of hard-to-find music with generally excellent
sound quality. (JC)
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| CAJUN |
VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Proper BOX 91 |
Cajun Capers - Cajun Music, 1928-1954 |
● CD $24.98 |
Wonderful four CD retrospective of Cajun music with 107
tracks recorded between 1928 and 1954 including some familiar names
(Joseph Falcon, Leo Soileau, Amedie Ardoin, Nathan Abshire, Happy Fats,
Harry Choates, Link Davis, etc.) as well as fine obscure artists like
Dudley & James Fawvor, Bixy Guidry & Percy Babineaux, Joe Credeur & Albert
Babineaux, The Dixie Ramblers, The Thibedeaux Boys, Papa Cairo & His Boys
and others. There is some overlap in the earlier sides with the two JSP
boxes of early cajun (7726 & 7749 - $28.98 each) though this also includes
a lot of sides from the 40s and early 50s which are not covered by JSP.
Includes 52 page booklet with notes, photos, label shots and
discographical details.
NATHAN ABSHIRE: Crying Pinegrove Blues/ Pine Grove Blues/ NASON ABSHIRE &
THE RAYNE-BO RAMBLERS: French Blues/ One-Step De Lacassine/ ALLEY BOYS OF
ABBEVILLE: Tu Peus Pas Me Fair Ce/ AMEDE ARDOIN: Aimez-Moi Ce Soir/ La
Valse Du Ballard/ One Step D'oberlin/ One Step Des Chameux/ Si Dur D'etre
Seul/ Two Step D'elton/ Two Step De Eunice/ Oberlin/ AMADIE BREAUX: Ma
Blonde Est Partie (Jolie Blonde)/ CLEMO BREAUX & JOSEPH F.FALCON: Le Vieux
Soulard Et Sa Femme/ BREAUX FRERES: La Valse D'utah/ VIN BRUCE: Dans La
Louisianne/ Fille De La Ville/ HARRY CHOATES: Jole Blon/ Jolie Blon's
Gone/ HARRY (JOLE BLON) CHOATES: Louisiana Boogie/ HARRY CHOATES & HIS
MELODY BOYS: Hackberry Hop/ Poor Hobo/ HARY (JOLE BLON) CHOATES & HIS
FIDDLE: Gra Mamou/ HARRY CHOATES WITH HAPPY FATS & THE RAYNE-BO R: Lake
Charles Shuffle/ JOE CREDUER & ALBERT BABINEAUX: Ma Cherie/ LINK DAVIS:
Big Mamou/ Cajun Love/ Kajalena/ THE DIXIE RAMBLERS: Barrom Blues/ OSCAR
DOUCET & ALIUS SOILEAU: Oh Bebe/ BUDDY DUHON & HARRY CHOATES: Nobody Cares
For Me/ Old Cow Blues/ JOSEPH FALCON: Lafayette/ THE FALCON TRIO: (My Old
Used To Be) Mon Vieux D'autrefois/ DUDLEY & JAMES FAWVOR: T'est Petite A
Ete T'est Meon/ THE FOUR ACES: Lake Charles Waltz/ COLUMBUS FRUGE: Saute
Crapaud/ J.B. FUSILIER & HIS MERRYMAKERS: Chere Te Te/ CLARENCE “BON TON™
GARLOW: Bon Ton Rula/ BIXY GUIDRY & PERCY BABINEAUX: Je Vais Jouer Celea
Pour Toi/ CHUCK GUILLORY & HIS RHYTHM BOYS: You Just Wait And See/ DELIN
T. GUILLORY & LEWIS LAFLEUR: Quelqu'un Est Jaloux/ THE HACKBERRY RAMBLERS:
A Little Rendezvous In Honolulu/ Darbone's Creole Stomp/ Fais Pas Ca/ J'ai
Pas Bien Fey/ Jolie Fille/ Just Once More/ Neath The Weeping Willow Tree/
On Top Of The World/ Rice City Stomp/ Vinton High Society/ HAPPY FATS &
THE RAYNE-BO RAMBLERS: Gran Prairie/ La Veuve De La Coulee/ Le Response De
Blues De Bosco/ Les Blues De Bosco/ Les Tete Fille Lafayette/ Nouveau
Grande Gueydan/ Ta Oublis De Vernier/ The Old Ice Man/ JOE’S ACADIANS: Il
Y A Pas La Claire De Lune/ JOLLY BOYS OF LAFAYETTE: Jolly Boys Breakdown/
DELMA LACHNEY & BLIND UNCLE GASPARD: Baoille/ ANGELAS LE JEUNNE: Bayou Pom
Pom One Step/ CLIFF LE MAIRE & HIS MELODY BOYS: Along The Bayou/ FLOYD
LEBLANC: Louisiana Stomp/ Orphan Waltz/ HORACE LEBLEAU & BAR-X RAMBLERS:
Korea Blues/ IRY LEJEUNE: Evangeline Special/ Lacassine Special/ MARION
MARCOTTE & HIS CAJUNS: La Nos A' Rosalia/ DENNIS MCGEE: Mon Chere Bebe
Creole/ One Step De Chupic 1929/ One Step De Mamou/ Two Step De La Ville
Platte/ MILLERS MERRYMAKERS: Lake Arthur Stomp/ Pine Island/ ARTELUS
MISTRIC: Belle Of Pont Clare/ BERTMOST MONTET & JOSWELL DUPUIS:
L'abandoner (The Abandoned Waltz)/ MOON MULLICAN: Jambalaya/ JIMMY NEWMAN:
Cry Cry Darling/ Diggy Liggy Lo/ Wondering/ PAPA CAIRO: Big Texas 2/ THE
RAYNE-BO RAMBLERS: Rayne Breakdown/ SHUK RICHARD & THE LOUISIANA ACES:
Jolie Brun/ THE RIVERSIDE RAMBLERS: Wondering/ GENE RODRIGUE WITH THE
BAYOU BOYS: Jole Fille/ THE SEGURA BROTHERS: A Mosquito Ate Up My
Sweetheart/ FLOYD SHREVE & THE THREE ACES: Lonesome Blues/ RED SMITH WITH
THE BAYOU BOYS: Country Boy's Dream/ SOILEAU & ROBIN: Easy Rider Blues/
LEO SOILEAU & MOISE: Le Blues De Nèg' Francais/ LEO SOILEAU & MAYUSE
LAFLEUR: Your Father Put Me Out/ SOILEAU COUZENS: Sur Le Chemin Chez Moi/
LEO SOILEAU’S FOUR ACES: La Valse De Gueydan/ AL TERRY: H-A-D-A-C-O-L/ PAL
THIBODEAUX: Port Arthur Boogie/ THE THIBODEAUX BOYS: La Two Step A Erby/
Tu Pen Pas Ma Retter De Revere/ LAWRENCE WALKER: Amou Two Step/ Lafayette
Two Step/ JOE WERNER & THE RAMBLERS: Crap Shooter's Hop/ She's My Flapper
She's My Baby/ JACK WYATT WITH THE BAYOU BOYS: Why Did You Let Me Love You
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| JAMAICA |
VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Silverline 284516 |
Reggae Pulse - The Heartbeat Of Jamaica |
● CD $17.98 |
CD/DVD 24 tracks, 73 min., highly recommended/essential
A
wonderful collection of seminal recordings from Trojan Records issued
between 1967-1977, this album offers a heavy helping of tracks produced by
the legendary Leslie Kong, including Soul Shakedown Party by Bob
Marley & The Wailers, Isrealites by Desmond Dekker, Rivers Of
Babylon by The Melodians, Many Rivers To Cross by Jimmy Cliff,
Pressure Drop by Toots And The Maytals, among others. A pair of Lee
Scratch Perry-produced cuts (Hurt So Good by Susan Cadogan,
Return Of Django by The Upsetters) also grace the digital grooves, as
do Bob Marley's self-produced Lively Up Yourself and Trench Town
Rock. The DVD side includes the entire album in 5.1 surround sound,
and, more importantly, three bonus tracks: Danny Livingstone's Suzanne,
Beware Of The Devil, Nicky Thomas' Love Of The Common People,
and Jimmy Cliff's Come Into My Life. Essential listening. (JC)
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| MEXICAN-AMERICAN |
VARIOUS ARTISTS |
Smithsonian Folkways 40516 |
Rolas De Aztlan - Songs Of The Chicano
Movement |
● CD $15.98 |
A collection of 19 songs recorded between 1966 and 1999
that helped fuel the Chicano Movement's quest for civil rights, economic
justice and cultural respect. Includes important artists/ activists like
Daniel Valdez, Los Lobos del Este de Los Angeles (later, Los Lobos),
Agustin Lira and Teatro Campesino, Conjunto Aztlan and more. Includes 40
page booklet with notes, photos, information on the songs and lyric
transcripts.
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| JAMAICA |
VARIOUS ARTISTS |
V2 Music 27201 |
Mento Madness |
● CD $18.98 |
18 tracks, 52 min., highly recommended
"Mento is not
calypso," booklet noters Steve Barrow and Paul Coote proclaim. One
difference is in subtlety of expression. Where calypso tends towards the
vulgar, mento shies away from explicit topics. (Solas Market is a
song about buying bananas that might actually be about buying bananas!)
Likewise, mento is more subtle musically as well. And yet, many of the
groups here put the word "calypso" in their names or song titles to meet
the marketing need created by the calypso craze of the 1950s, but the
music remained mento. (Many considered mento to be a rural, lower-class
type of music in contrast to the association calypso has with the city and
its sophistication.) Traditional mento instruments include banjo and/or
guitar, rumba box, bamboo fife, and maracas (and occasionally a "bamboo
sax" and violin). Songs include Blu-Lu-Lup by Lord Fly with Dan
Williams & his Orchestra, Country Gal by Harold Richardson with
Charlie Binger & his Quintet, This Long Time Gal A Never See You by
Monty Reynolds & the Silver Seas Orchestra, and many others. The booklet
notes are informative, although difficult to follow since the pages are in
the wrong order. Now you know. (JC)
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