Track Listing

1. Vagabond Special - Cajun All-Star Band
2. La Chanson d'une Fille de Quinze Ans - Linda Ronstadt and Ann Savoy
3. Diggy Liggy Lo - John Fogerty
4. Je Veux Plus Te Voir - Linda Thompson
5. Pa Janvier Laisse Moi M'en Aller - Patty Griffin
6. Les Flammes de'Enfer - Richard Thompson
7. Ma Mule - David Johansen
8. Ma Blonde Est Partie - Maria McKee
9. Blues de Bosco - Rodney Crowell
10. O, Ma Chere Tite Fille - Linda Ronstadt and Ann Savoy
11. Valse de Balfa - Linda Thompson
12. Two Step de Prairie Soileau - Cajun All-Star Band
13. Arrette Pas La Musique - Nick Lowe
14. Tout Un Beau Soir en me Promenant - Maria McKee

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #40150 in Music
• Released on: 2002-03-05
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.com
Cajun music might not need a tribute--after all, it has held its own and remained popular for a very long time now--but the music on this disc is glittering enough to shine in any company. Ann Savoy (the grande dame of Cajun music who assembled this project) and Linda Ronstadt pair up to gorgeous effect on two songs, Richard Thompson offers his own particular edgy style to "Les Flammes d'Enfer," Nick Lowe sounds convincingly Arcadian on "Arrette Pas la Musique," and Maria McKee brings a transparent soulfulness to her contributions. Surprisingly, however, no one tackles the Cajun anthem, "Jolie Blonde." There are plenty of other big names in the collection, with former Creedence Clearwater Revival frontman John Fogerty standing out on the classic "Diggy Diggy Lo"--but then his former band always featured the bayou influence. Ironically, however, it's the two instrumental cuts by the anonymous band of Cajun all-star musicians that come across best, showing that even when the stars come out to play, there's never a complete substitute for authenticity. These American roots are strong indeed. --Chris Nickson

Customer Reviews

Ragin' Cajun Tribute
Organized by Cajun music mistress Ann Savoy, this all-star effort is a tribute to the Cajun music of southwestern Louisiana which has had a great, though largely unacknowledged, effect on both country and rock since the 1960s. To show how this came to be, Savoy assembles the best Cajun musicians of the region and puts them together with a whole lot of really great folks, including ex-CCR frontman John Fogerty, British rocker Nick Lowe, the highly underrated Maria McKee, and country-rock goddess Linda Ronstadt.

Although Cajun music, like almost every other form of ethnic music in America, tends to be a largely acquired taste, EVANGELINE MADE is a good way to get involved in it. Linda harmonzies with Savoy on "Song Of A Fifteen Year Old Girl" and "Oh My Dear Little Girl", and in Acadian French yet, while Maria gets her licks in on "My Blonde Left" and "On A Beautiful Evening While Walking." And Fogerty gets to essay the Cajun standard "Diggy Liggy Lo."

All that's missing from the album, of course, is "Jole Blon", and probably only because it is now far too well known outside the Cajun world. All in all, this is a well-thought-out album done for the love of a style that is not heard often in its unadulterated form on the radio. It is also proving at this time to be a hard album to find in regular record stores, but don't hesitate to seek it out. You won't be sorry that you did.

Best CD I Have Bought!
I have never written a review at Amazon and this may be my only one. The reason I am writing it is my deep appreciation to Ann Savoy for putting this work together.

I fell in love with this CD from the moment it started playing and I haven't taken it out of the player yet. All of the tracks are outstanding and the total work is masterfully done. If you are a fan of Cajun music or if you are just looking for an introduction, you can do no better than this selection.

This is honestly the best CD I have bought, ever. I can't recommend it high enough.

Jim Bessman said it best:

"Cajun music comes from the heart. And then it goes straight to the heart - the heart of the listener."

For a good comprehensive overview of the CD please read Erik's review.

AH-EEEEIY!!!
The trick Ann Savoy has managed with this album is to both honor the traditions of the rich Cajun music heritage AND give some new twists and perspectives via perfect choices of non-Cajun artists to perform the songs. Whether John Fogerty or Richard Thompson or Linda Ronstadt, the singers manage to get inside the songs -- even though they're all in French, which is the ONLY way this material can be sung. And the mix of lively two-steps, stately waltzes and sad ballads covers the whole breadth of Cajun material and life. This is the perfect introduction to the music and culture for anyone even remotely curious, but also a strong addition to collections of devoted Cajun aficianados.