The Best of Swamp Pop Classics

by Best Of Swamp Pop Classics / Va

Overview

As difficult as it is to say exactly what swamp pop is or isn't (a quick try would be to say that it is vocal group-inspired R&B with some Cajun and zydeco elements tossed in, although there are plenty of exceptions to any definition one could make), it is fundamentally a Louisiana and East Texas-based dance music with a bit of a late-'50s pop feel. Swamp pop may be hard to pin down, but you damn well know it when you hear it. Or put another way, anything a swamp pop artist plays is therefore swamp pop by default, which pretty much leaves the door wide open. This pleasant sampler of artists on the Mardi Gras Records roster doesn't exactly clear up any questions about what swamp pop is, but it sure is fun to listen to, and it swings gently from start to finish. Highlights include the opener, Charles Mann's Cajun take on Dire Straits' "Walk of Life," Bill Matte's accordion, guitar, and triangle take on "Bye Bye Puppy Love," and Link Davis, Jr.'s version of the classic "Honky Tonk" instrumental, although there really isn't a weak link in this whole set. Fun stuff, no matter what you call it. ~ Steve Leggett

Product Details

Release Date:	06/27/2006
Label:	Mardi Gras
UPC:	0096094110428
Rank:	139483

Tracks

1. Walk of Life  - Charles Mann
2. Tuff  - Ace Cannon  - Link Jr. Davis
3. Lean on Me
4. Tell Her One More Time  - Jay Randall
5. Red Red Wine  - Neil Diamond  - Charles Mann
6. Bye Bye Puppy Love
7. Good Hearted Man
8. Oh Darling  - Jay Randall
9. Help Me Forget Her
10. Life Problem  - Elton Anderson  - J. West
11. Running out of Fools
12. I Will Be Your Jim
13. Honky Tonk  - Link Jr. Davis
14. Bye Bye Little Angel  - Elton Anderson
15. Can't Stop My Loving You  -  Little Victor & The Vistas
16. Restless Night
17. It's Alright
18. Loneliest Man in the World
19. Keep Your Arms Around Me  - Charles Mann  - O.B. McClinton
20. Ensemble Encore

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Charles Mann   Primary Artist
Link Davis Jr.   Primary Artist
Little Victor & The Vistas   Primary Artist
Jay Randall   Primary Artist
Elton Anderson   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Ace Cannon   Composer
O.B. McClinton   Composer
Neil Diamond   Composer
J. West   Composer