Boogie Woogie Zydeco is an album by the American zydeco band Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band, released in 1991.[2][3] The album was part of the zydeco revival of the late 1980s and early 1990s, and was noted for its especially fast tempos and rock elements.[4][5][6]

Production

The album was recorded in Evanston, Illinois.[7] The band wrote 12 of the album's 15 songs.[8] "Good for the Goose" is a cover of the Rockin' Sidney song; "Dog Hill" is a cover of the Boozoo Chavis song, while ""Madelaine" is a traditional song.[9][10][11] The two washboards heard on the album were played by Carrier's brother and cousin.[12] Rodney Dural, Buckwheat Zydeco's nephew, played bass on Boogie Woogie Zydeco; David LeJeune played guitar.[13][14]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[7]
Boston Herald	B+[14]
Chicago Tribune	[11]
MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide	[15]
Orlando Sentinel	[10]
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings	[16]

The Washington Post wrote that "Carrier's singing is nothing to write home about either, but at least it's more engaging than the tedious blues-rock guitar solos that punctuate the album with dulling frequency."[9] The Orlando Sentinel determined that "Carrier isn't a Cajun purist, but he's a third-generation accordionist ... The traditional element is prominent in both his spritely playing and the band's washboard-driven polyrhythms."[10]

The Edmonton Journal stated that "Carrier mixes various shades of dance music with a couple of washboards, bass and percussion keeping up the pace."[8] The Telegram & Gazette noted the addition of "hot Southern-rock guitar licks."[17] The Commercial Appeal concluded that Boogie Woogie Zydeco showcases Carrier's "fine accordion playing, tight band and strongly traditional approach to zydeco's Cajun-Creole-R&B fusion."[18]

AllMusic wrote that "Carrier slows down the tempo for the 1960s-type soul numbers 'Be Fair to the People' and 'Sherrie', both of which are so appealing that they make one wish he embraced slower tempos more often."[7] The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings praised the "exceptionally crisp, articulate and well-recorded percussion."[16]

Track listing

References