MENAGERIE: THE ESSENTIAL ZYDECO COLLECTION is compiled from the best of the band's output on the Island label.

Personnel: Stanley "Buckwheat" Dural, Jr. (vocals, accordion, piano, Hammond organ, melodica, synthesizer); David Hidalgo (vocals, guitar, drums); Dwight Yoakam (vocals); Melvin Veazie, Robert James, Paul Senegal (guitar); Anthony Butler (alto saxophone); Dennis Taylor (tenor & baritone saxophone); Kevin Harris (tenor saxophone); Steve Berlin, Roger Lewis (baritone saxophone); Lee Thornburg, Calvin Landry, Gregory Davis, Efrem Townes (trumpet); Lee Allen Zeno (bass); Kevin Menard, Nathaniel Jolivette, Herman "Rat" Brown (drums); Mark Linett (tambourine); Elijah Cudges (rubboard, cowbell); Wilbert Willis, Patrick Landry (rubboard); The Dirty Dozen Brass Band.

Producers: Rob Fraboni, David Hidalgo, Ted Fox.

Menagerie: The Essential Zydeco Collection collects highlights from Buckwheat Zydeco's three albums for Island Records between 1987 and 1990. There are a number of really good songs here ("Ma 'Tit Fille," "Hey Good Lookin'," "Where There's Smoke There's Fire"), and the compilation actually distills his uneven Island albums into a strong single-disc collection. However, if you're looking for Buckwheat at his best, stick to the Rounder and Black Top releases. ~ Thom Owens

This vastly entertaining collection is drawn from Buckwheat Zydeco's tenure at Island Records, a period which coincided with the first widespread appreciation of zydeco. Zydeco (nee Stanley Dural, Jr.) learned accordion from the master himself, Clifton Chenier, and his bandmates are all virtuosos as well (guitarist Melvin Veazie being particularly gifted).

Among the highlights here are a slowed-down and sinuous take on Hank William's "Hey Good Lookin," done as a duet with Dwight Yoakam, and the two concluding tunes "Maybe a Change" and Maybe I Will." This music reflects Dural's roots as a sideman for '60s soul singer Joe Tex. Party music doesn't get any better.

Entertainment Weekly (2/12/93, p.54) - "...this compilation features enough nonstop, accordion-propelled mayhem to fill a whole month of Fat Tuesday celebrations..." - Rating: B