Track Listing

1. Bebe et la Gambleur (The Baby and the Gambler) - Delma Lachney
2. Sur la Bord de l'Eau (By the Water's Edge) - Blind Uncle Gaspard
3. Cousinne Lilly - John Bertrand
4. Baoille - Delma Lachney
5. Natchitoches - Blind Uncle Gaspard
6. Miserable - John Bertrand
7. Danseuse (The Dancer) [Instrumental] - Delma Lachney
8. Assi Dans la Fenetre da Ma Chambre (Sitting in the Window of My Room) - Blind Uncle Gaspard
9. Swallows - John Bertrand
10. Je M'En Vas Dans le Chemin (Going Down the Road) - Delma Lachney
11. Rabbit Stole the Pumpkin [Instrumental] - John Bertrand
12. Avoyelles (Parish Name) [Instrumental] - Delma Lachney
13. Upstairs - John Bertrand
14. Cher Ami Ma Vie Est Ruini (Dear Friend My Life Is Ruined) - Delma Lachney
15. Valse de Gueydan - John Bertrand
16. Louisiana (Louisiana) [Instrumental] - Delma Lachney
17. Fille du Ge�lier (The Jailer's Daughter) - John Bertrand
18. Riviere Rouge (Red River) [Instrumental] - Delma Lachney
19. Soldat Fatigue (The Tired Soldier) - John Bertrand
20. Mercredi Soir Pass� - Blind Uncle Gaspard
21. Pont de Nante (The North Bridge) - John Bertrand
22. Aurevoir d'Une Mere (Mother's Farewell) - Delma Lachney
23. Delaisser (The Abandonment) - John Bertrand
24. Je Me Trouve une Jolie Fille (I Find a Pretty Girl) - Delma Lachney

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #357282 in Music
• Released on: 1999-01-19
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .23 pounds

Amazon.com
The music on this historical collection comes from Avoyelles Parish, on what is described as the northern fringe of "Cajun country" in Louisiana. The three musicians represented here are little known, even in their own region, and made recordings that were not distributed widely outside of their native territory. These 24 songs represent the full range of Cajun music at the time and include folk ballads, some dance tunes, and plenty of back-porch-style folk songs. The set is interesting as a historical document of a small region, but the recording quality is pretty poor (which is probably a result of the originals as much as the records that these CDs were mastered from); the musicians are good, not great; and few of the performances are remarkable for either content or musicianship. Exceptions include a few of accordionist John Bertrand's pieces, which have a rough, idiosyncratic style that will certainly appeal to Cajun squeezebox enthusiasts. This one is strictly for ardent collectors of old Cajun music. --Louis Gibson

Customer Reviews

worth a listen
Don't let Amazon's editorial review above by Louis Gibson dissuade you, this is a good, very listenable compilation. It's contemplative and gentle but has a lot of the earmarks one would associate with the genre. My favorite so far has been "Sur Le Borde De L'Eau (On The Water's Edge)" sung by Blind Uncle Gaspard, one of those remote ballads of singing sailors, young girls on the water's edge, a lost ring and tragic death, all of which seems to spring straight from the psyche. Beautiful piece. There are a lot of stand-outs though and in particular "La Danseuse" is one of the select tracks to make it onto Harry Smith's Anthology.

Yep, I liked it.

Blind Uncle Gaspard Is Wonderfull
I have not heard this compilation but I have heard the Blind Uncle Gaspard songs on it. They are amazing. Completely unique and beautiful. I disagree with the Amazon review.