Bon Ton Roulet (CD - 1981)

Personnel: Clifton Chenier (vocals, accordion); Robert St. Judy (guitar, bass, drums); Felix James Benoit (guitar); Morris Chenier (fiddle); John Hart (tenor saxophone); Elmore Nixon (piano); Joe Morris (bass); Bob Murphy (drums); Cleveland Chenier (rubboard).

Recorded between 1964 & 1973. Includes liner notes by Chris Strachwitz and Dix Bruce.

Personnel: Clifton Chenier (vocals, accordion); Felix James Benoit (guitar); Elmore Nixon (piano); Bob Murphy (drums).

Liner Note Author: Chris Strachwitz.

Recording information: Houston, TX (02/08/1964-09/??/1973); Sierra Sound Laboratories, Berkeley, CA (02/08/1964-09/??/1973); Ville Platte, LA (02/08/1964-09/??/1973).

Editor: Dix Bruce.

Photographer: Chris Strachwitz.

These are some of the recordings that helped place Clifton Chenier further afield from his Louisiana/Texas home base. After his appearance at the Berkeley Blues Festival in 1966 Chris Strachwitz and his Arhoolie Records label began recording Chenier and his band in earnest, both in Houston and in Berkeley. This 21 song set combines tracks from an earlier LP, a 45, as well as previously unreleased songs. This serves as a strong introduction to the man who was justifiably called the King of Zydeco. In fact, it's easy to see why he took that blues festival audience by storm: Besides it's undeniably infectious rhythmic grooves, this music has a strong grounding in the blues. ("If I Ever Get Lucky" is nothing if not a subtly powerful performance by a blues band.)l minimize