Personnel includes: Clifton Chenier, Stanley "Buckwheat" Dural.

Personnel: Clifton Chenier (vocals, accordion); Clifton Chenier; Paul Senegal (guitar); Lon Price (saxophone, tenor saxophone); John Hart (tenor saxophone); Stanley Dural (piano, organ); Stanley Dural Jr. (piano, Hammond b-3 organ); Robert Peter St. Julian, Robert Peter (drums); Cleveland Chenier (vocals, rub-board).

Audio Mixer: Stephen Hodges.

Liner Note Authors: Philippe Rault; Jim Bateman.

Recording information: Studio In The Country, Bogalusa, LA (02/1976).

Photographers: Dennis Wile; Christian Rose; Valerie Justome.

This is a 2007 reissue of Clifton Chenier's 1979 album FRENCHIN' THE BOOGIE. Powered by Chenier's propulsive organ, the music is pure Cajun R&B, complete with washboard, burbling bass, and lyrics sung in French. The set list features covers of classic blues and rock & roll tunes, including "Caldonia," "Every Day I Have the Blues," and "I Just Want to Make Love to You." The high octane energy never abates for a second over the set's 14 tracks, making FRENCHIN' THE BOOGIE a fine document of classic Zydeco at its best.

Clifton Chenier, the king of zydeco, is heard in prime form on this reissue from 1976. Since Chenier's first language was French and some of his top fans were from France, many of the selections on this set have his French lyrics to familiar songs. It is quite interesting hearing such numbers as "Let the Good Times Roll," "I've Got a Woman," and "Everyday I Have the Blues" sung in French. Chenier's band, which used a few substitutes for this studio set, is top-notch with the pianist-organist being Stanley Durell, Jr., the future "Buckwheat Zydeco." The music has plenty of blues, rock & roll feeling, and the passion of R&B, all mixed together to form zydeco. While many of the selections are fairly brief, each number features a solid groove and plenty of spirit. Recommended. [The 2007 edition featured one bonus track.] ~ Scott Yanow

Living Blues (p.67) - "Chenier's voice is its usual combination of whisky-coarsened raspiness and buoyant jubilation."