1. Man Smart, Woman Smarter - C.J. Chenier, Kuhn, J.F.
2. Bad Luck - C.J. Chenier, Chenier, C.J.
3. Richest Man - C.J. Chenier, Carter
4. Too Much Fun - C.J. Chenier, Chenier, C.J.
5. Give Me Some of That - C.J. Chenier, Jones
6. Louisiana Down Home Blues - C.J. Chenier, Jackson
7. Zydeco Cha Cha - C.J. Chenier, Chenier, Clifton
8. Lost in the Shuffle - C.J. Chenier, Chenier, C.J.
9. Got You on My Mind - C.J. Chenier, Thomas, Joe
10. Squeaky Wheel - C.J. Chenier, Chenier, C.J.
11. I'm Not Guilty - C.J. Chenier, Vernon, Mike
12. You Used to Call Me - C.J. Chenier, Chenier, Clifton
13. Louisiana Two-Step - C.J. Chenier, Chenier, Clifton
Amazon.com
Too Much Fun, C.J. Chenier's fourth album as a bandleader, is the best of the four, and more closely resembles his dad's (Clifton Chenier) records than anything else being released these days. In the liner notes, C.J. declares that he plays "real songs," not "this new type of zydeco ... where they just play one riff over and over and shout some words." This knock on Beau Jocque may be unfair (Beau Jocque does as much with one riff and a groove as James Brown once did), but it does signal C.J.'s devotion to his dad's song-based zydeco. C.J. co-wrote four of the songs, recycled three of his dad's and added such inspired choices as the calypso standard "Man Smart, Woman Smarter," Z.Z. Hill's blues standard "Down Home Blues" and Fred Koller's Nashville novelty number "Give Me Some of That." Guitarist Harry Hypolite is still on hand from Clifton's great band, and the younger musicians make the catchy hooks fit comfortably in the dancehall grooves. What really separates this recording from the zydeco pack, however, is C.J.'s singing. Not only can he nail a juicy melody, but he can bring out the story in the lyrics. He tells the woeful tale of all the "Bad Luck" he suffered until he met the right woman with a perfect blend of humor and sincerity, and he delivers the romantic ballad, "Richest Woman," with the raspy, gospel-soul fervor of a Solomon Burke. --Geoffrey Himes
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Too Much Fun
- Audio CD: 0 pages (1995-04-17)
- Publisher: Alligator Records
- Label: Alligator Records
- Studio: Alligator Records
- Average Customer Review:
 based on 5 reviews
- Sales Rank in Music: #97539
Avg. Customer Review:
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating:
Summary: It's what it says on the tin 2008-12-30
Comment: I saw C.J. in Hunstville and have meant to by a CD ever since. Finally got round to it and 'Too Much Fun' is definitely THE nuts. I do hope that the band comes to the U.K. because want to hear Zydeco Cha Cha live. The track Richest Man was a real surprise because although it's slow, it is a wonderful track and C.J.'s voice has such great tone.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating: 
Summary: CJ Chenier, Too Much Fun 2007-12-28
Comment: What is there to say? CJ Chenier is great. If you like this, then you should also like Buckwheat Zydeco.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating:
Summary: Too Much Fun is Really Good Fun 2005-09-02
Comment: If you like Zydeco, if you've been to Louisiana, if you love to dance or you just want to be happy then you'll enjoy C.J. Chenier. He is one of those musicians you discover in some small club and you wonder why he hasn't appeared on Saturday Night Live or one of the nightly talk shows.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating:
Summary: Too Much Fun 2001-08-24
Comment: This is just as the title says! It has slow music. It has upbeat music. It makes you happy and puts you in a good mood! The accordian is the "KEY"! If you close your eyes, you think that you're in New Orleans.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
Customer Rating:
Summary: Hand Clappin', Toe Tappin' Fun...and Lots of It! 2000-06-20
Comment: C.J. Chenier, son of zydeco legend Clifton Chenier really shines on this disc. Too Much Fun is exactly right! You can't help but have fun, singing and dancing along to this disc. These are songs to fill the dance floor. It has a mix of both fast cajun-style songs, and slower, more 'traditional' blues songs. Backed by the Louisiana Red Hots, Chenier's smooth accordion playing changes the mood of each different song. Chenier's solo on "Richest Man", one of the slower songs, is very impressive and original. Quickly became my favorite Zydeco album, and I bet it will become one of yours, too.
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Too Much Fun
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