Taking a brief detour from the current episodes, with this one mix.  Being Mardi Gras weekend I wanted to get this one out; Cajun drinking songs mix. Be merry and stay warm..

1.Soileau Couzens- Allons Tous Boire Un Coup
2.Jimmy Newman- Drunkards Waltz
3.Guidry Brothers- Le Recommendation Du Soulard
4.Nathan Abshire- Lemonade Song
5.Elise Deshotel- La valse de Bon Baurche
6.Bois Sec Ardoin and Canray Fontenot- Jogue au Plombeau
7.Cleveland Crochet and the Sugar Bees- Drunkards Dream
8.Harry Choates- Rye Whiskey
9.Robert Bertrand- Drunkard's Two Step
10. Balfa Brothers- Parlez nous a boire
11. Jimmie Choates- Petite Negress

Down Home Cajun Music- Cajun Classics Part Two 1967-1969

Continuing on with J.D. Miller's Cajun labels. Miller's Cajun Classics were back in 1967. Why the four year gap in the label's output? That remains unknown. But during these years we get some great recordings from Floyd LeBlanc and some other Miller regular recording artists. After 1969 Miller would stop using the Cajun Classics label and a new label would take its place.

1.Floyd LeBlanc- Tolan Waltz (Cajun Classics 2001) 1967
2.Bobby Leger and the Lake Charles Playboys- Parting Waltz (Cajun Classics 2003) 1967
3.Milton Adams and the Midnight Playboys- Midnight Playboys Special (Cajun Classics 2005) 1968
4.Milton Adams and the Midnight Playboys- Your Papa Threw Me out (Cajun Classics 2008) 1968
5.Dee Landry- Lemonade Song (Cajun Classics 2010) 1968
6.Sundown Playboys- Riceville Special (Cajun Classics 2012) 1969
7.Aldus Mouton and the Wandering Aces- The Cajun Two Step (Cajun Classics 2013) 1969
8.Aldus Mouton and the Wandering Aces- Wandering Aces Waltz (Cajun Classics 2013) 1969
9.Happy Fats- Bayou Buck A Roos Special (Cajun Classics 2014) 1969
10.Happy Fats and Tee Denise- Carencro Waltz (Cajun Classics 2014) 1969

*All selections from the original 45 rpm records

Down Home Cajun Music- KAJUN Records Part 1
Next in JD Miller's Cajun labels was KAJUN, which started in 1960. The label first seemed to be a outlet for JD's newest artist he was recording; Nathan Abshire. The recording affair left Nathan unhappy with Miller's production and he left in 1963. The label's output ended with a few more artist's recordings. Like the Cajun Classics label before it, the KAJUN label would be revived in the 1970's. Here is some of the recordings from Kajun Record's 1961-1963 output.

Nathan Abshire- Popcorn Blues (Kajun 500) 1961
Nathan Abshire- La Banana Au Nonc Adam (Kajun 501) 1961
Nathan Abshire- Mardi Gras Song (Kajun 502) 1961
Nathan Abshire- Pinegrove Blues ( Kajun 503) 1961
Nathan Abshire- Crying Heart Waltz (Kajun 505) 1962
Nathan Abshire- Good Time Two Step (Kajun 506) 1962
Nathan Abshire- Dans Grand Bois (Kajun 507) 1963
Nathan Abshire- Wondering ( Kajun 510) 1963
Earl Rebert- Going In  The Corner (Kajun 511) 1963
Bobby Leger- Durald Waltz (Kajun 512) 1963
Voylen Esthay- Church Point Breakdown (Kajun 513) 1963

JM Recordings

*All selections from the original 45 rpm records.

Down Home Cajun Music- Cajun Classics Part 1

Continuing on with Cajun labels J.D. Miller started. After he stopped recording Cajun music on his Feature label in 1955, he started up two new labels devoted to Cajun recordings in 1959. In that year he started the Cajun Classics label and signed Nathan Abshire after he left the Khoury's label. Many of the other artists that appeared on this label had recorded for Miller before. In 1964 after only a couple of releases, Miller stopped releases on Cajun Classics, only to revive the label a couple years later. This set collects one side from each of the label's releases from 1959 and 1964.


Nathan Abshire- Hoola "Hoop Two Step" Cajun Classics 101 (1959)
Aldus Roger- "Oson Two Step" Cajun Classics 102 (1960)
Aldus Roger- "New Mardi Gras Dance" Cajun Classis 103 (1960)
Voylen Esthay- "Heartbreak Two Step" Cajun Classics 104 (1960)
Robert Bertrand- "Its Too Late" Cajun Classics 105 (1960)
Aldus Roger- "Crowley Two Step" Cajun Classics 106 (1960)
Lionel Cormier & Sundown Playboys- "Black Bayou Special" Cajun Classics 107 (1960)
Terry Clement- "Les Files Mexie" Cajun Classics 108 (1960)
Jimmy Choates- "Le Blues De La Louisianne" Cajun Classics 109 (1963)
Dee Landry- "Tout Les Soir" Cajun Classics 109 (1964)

*All selections from the original 45 rpm records.

While the 1950's and 1960's found the up rise of many independent labels, the first one in Louisiana devoted to Cajun music was started by J.D. Miller. Starting in 1946, J.D. started his first label, Fais Do Do.  Over the next couple of episodes, we will devote episodes of the podcast to labels Miller created for Cajun music. 

Down Home Cajun Music-  A Fais Do Do Series 1947-1955 

Starting in the late 1940's, J.D. Miller starting recording Cajun French music in Crowley. He first started the Fais Do Do label, there he recorded Happy Fats and Doc Guidry, Lee Sonnier, Jimmie Choates and others. He followed with his Feature label where he recorded Amadie Breaux, the first recordings of the Sundown Playboys, Aldus Roger and Pee Wee Broussard. J.D.'s labels were the first independent Cajun labels in Louisiana giving many artists a platform to record at. He continued recording Cajun French music till around 1955, then shifted his focused on country and blues. His first labels would be some of the many that he started.

Happy, Doc and the Boys- Gabriel Waltz (Fais Do Do F-1000) 1947
Lee Sonnier- Chere Catan (Fais Do Do F1002) 1947
Jimmie Choates- Chere Meon (Fais Do Do F1009) 1948
Amadie Breaux- Acadian Two Step (Feature F1023) 1950
Aldus Roger- Hix Wagon Wheel Special (Feature F1028) 1954
Sundown Playboys- Welcome Club Waltz (Feature F1037) 1951
Louis Spell- Lover's Waltz (Feature 1040) 1952
Pee Wee Broussard- M&S Special (Feature F1064) 1953
Cleveland Mire- Hudson Breakdown (Feature F1033) 1951
Abe Manuel- Hippy Ti Yo (Feature 1098) 1955
Austin Pitre- Prison Two Step (French Hits F500) 1955

(JM Recordings)

*All selections from the original 78rpm records.

Down Home Cajun Music- Percy Babineaux and Bixy Guidry

The recordings of Percy Babineaux and Bixy Guidry are a treasure, but somewhat lost in time. The duo's recordings are among the most obscure Cajun recordings from 1929. They recorded in New Orleans in 1929 for Victor, and their last recording was issued on Bluebird in the early 1940's. Their haunting recordings are overshadowed by other artists of the time, sadly. Of special note, their recording of "J'vai Jouer Pour Toi"  was the original version of "J'Ai Ete au Bal". Also their  "Vien A La Maison Avec Moi" became what is known as the "Kaplan Waltz".  Their recordings can be found on the Tompkins Square cd- "Let Me Play this for You".

1. Vien A La Maison Avec Moi (Victor 22210) 1929
2 .J'Vai Jouer Celea Pour Toi (Victor 22210) 1929
3 . Qu' Est Que J' Ai Fait Pour Entre Peuni Si Longtemps (Victor 22365) 1929
4. La Valse Du Bayou (Victor 22563) 1929
5. Je Tai Toujors Dis Dene Pas Fair Sa (Victor 22563) 1929
6. Elle A Plurer Pour Revenir (Victor 22365) 1929
7. Waltz of Longwood (Bluebird 2084) 1929
8. I Am Happy Now (Bluebird 2084) 1929

Rayne Bo Ramblers- Cajun Boogie (RCA 2200) 
Franchie Martin & Eddie Shuler- Boogie Woogie Tout Le Temps (GCL 108)
Adam Hebert- Open the Door (Swallow 127)
Terry Clement- Diggy Liggy Lo (Feature 1090)
Shorty LeBlanc- My Little Cabbage (Goldband 1147)
Louisiana Lannis- Muscadine Eyes (Starday 268)
Lawrence Walker- Keep Your Hands Off It (Khoury's 624)
Robert Bertrand & Nathan Abshire- S'En Aller Dedans Lake Charles (GCL 125)
Cajun Trio Plus One- La Bonne Cord, Mauvais Yo Yo (Swallow 10138)
Veteran Playboys- Lover's Blues (Lanor 537)
Joe Bonsall- Creole Song (Yep 2498)
Sidney Brown & Jo'El Sonnier- Fee Fee Poncheaux (Yep 2498)

Down Home Cajun Music- Ron Brown Interview.

You don't have to like just Cajun music to appreciate the record collection and research of Ron Brown. His collection and devotion to research go beyond just that. Although I talk to him on a regular basis; I felt it was important to document and discuss his research and collection of Cajun music. If you are a fan over Cajun music, I can assure you that you owe a debt of gratitude to him. Here is almost two hours in conversation with 78 collector Ron Brown.

Robert Bertrand was a great fiddle player and singer. He left behind a impressive discography as a sideman and on his own. He recorded from 1958 until his early death in 1974. The episode provides a overview of early recordings done by Robert; especially those that features his vocals.

Down Home Cajun Music- Robert Bertrand Part 1.

1."Allons A Lake Charles"- Robert Bertrand and Nathan Abshire (1958) GCL 125
2."S'en Aller Dedans Lake Charles"- Robert Bertrand and Nathan Abshire (1958) GCL 125
3."Lost Love Waltz"- Robert Bertrand and Lake Charles Playboys (1959) Fais-Do-Do 1000
4."Drunkard's Two Step"- Robert Bertrand and Lake Charles Playboys (1959) Fais-Do-Do 1000
5."La Banana Au Non Adam"- Robert Bertrand with Nathan Abshire (1960) Kajun 501
6."It's Too Late"- Robert Bertrand and his Lake Charles Playboys (1961) Cajun Classics 105
7."Chere Te Mon"- Robert Bertrand and his Lake Charles Playboys (1961) Cajun Classics 105
8."My Mama and Papa"- Robert Bertrand with Phil Menard (1967) Folk Star 1209
9."Pas Revenir a la Maison"- Robert with Jo'El Sonnier (1966) Goldband 1171
10."Mon Senx Ont Sous"- Robert with Jo'El Sonnier (1966) Goldband 1173
11."La Valse De Prison"- Robert with his Louisiana Ramblers (1968) Goldband 1197

*All Selections from the orginal 45's and Lp's.

Down Home Cajun Music- Dennis McGee: Later Recordings Volume One

Dennis McGee recorded early on from 1929 till 1934, recording many classic Cajun fiddle songs. After 1934 he didn't appear on record again till the 1970's. With a new interest in traditional Cajun music, Dennis and his first recording partner, Sady Courville, were out recording and performing. Here are some of the great recordings we have from that period.

Dennis McGee- Madame Young (MRP 060)
Dennis McGee and Sady Courville- Adieu Rosa (Trikont 0156)
Dennis and Sady with Preston Manuel- Fe Fe Poncheaux (Swallow 6046)
Dennis and Sady- Crowley Two Step (Morning Star 16001)
Dennis and Sady- Tante Alice (Morning Star 16001)
Dennis McGee- Two De Eunice (MRP 060)
Dennis and Sady- Cowboy Waltz (Trikont 0156)
Dennis and Sady- Indian Reel (Morning Star 16001)
Dennis and Sady- Tolan Waltz (Morning Star 16001)
Dennis and Sady- Chere Mom (Morning Star 16001)
Dennis and Sady- Gabriel Waltz (Morning Star 16001)

*All selections from the original Lp's.