Zydeco Dynamite: The Clifton Chenier Anthology

 (6 customer reviews)

Hot damn! Those are the best words I can come up with to describe this package of Clifton Chenier's music released by Rhino. This is a party in a box!There are very few people in the Southern US who have not heard of Clifton Chenier, the crowned king of Zydeco. For those of you who haven't, this is a wonderful place to start. You will hear Chenier in the 50's, when he was first breaking onto the music scene, and you can hear the development of his brand of music into what we now know as modern zydeco. The newest tracks on the compilation are from the mid-80's, just three years before Chenier's untimely death from failing kidneys and diabetes.In Chenier's music, one will hear the traditional strains of Cajun folk music mixed with the blues, R & B, country, and rock and roll. The opening track, "Eh, Petite Fille" is representative of the more traditional Cajun stylings one will hear in this collection. In the songs "Night and Day my Love,' and...Read more

For those of us who were fortunate enough to see this master musician live (for me first in 1972 at Winterland and then in the 80's on numerous occasions at Tipitina's) it is an absolute epiphany to see this collection made available. I've purchased every recording on Rhino and Alligator I could get my hands on. Now I see this, and my eyes are getting larger than my head! To say that Clifton was the King of Zydeco would be a gross understatement. He was the King of Jazz, syncopation, music, ethereal voices, Rythm and Blues (particularly Blues). He could express more on an accordian than 15 angels could at the height of their power, circled around the deity him/herself. If you didn't find your hips and legs moving and your whole body shaking when Clifton and his band were playing, then "Jack" you were "dead."

I recieved this CD set in the mail right before July 4th and was able to play it outside while the family was feasting on my Oak wood roasted pulled pork butt. Believe it or not I don't know what was better the music or the food. You have to give it to Rhino Records for putting this Outstanding Collection togeather. Even though this set has a high price tag on it you would have to spend a small fortune if you were to purchase these many years of great music on different CDs or even LPs (if you could find them).

Clifton Chenier was known as the real"King of Zydeco" and anyone who listens to this collection will understand why. For many folks this collection is all they will need to open up the door of real Zydeco music for them. These CDs take me back 30+ years when I was sailing the Gulf in the Merchant Marines and Clifton Chenier was in his heyday at the top of the Zydeco and Cajun world. There will never be another man that can display the soulful talent that was purged...Read more