Label: Swallow Records.
Release Date: 1975.
Releases: 1979, 1986, 1994.
Release Info: Studio Recording.
Styles: North American Traditions, Regional Blues, Swamp Blues, Zydeco, Cajun, Louisiana Blues.
As on Nathan Abshire's prior Swallow album Pine Grove Blues, the Balfa Brothers take a prominent role as accompanists. It differs from the previous record, though, in that Abshire takes just five of the lead vocals on the 12 selections. The lead singing is distributed much as it would be in a leaderless band, some vocals taken by Rodney Balfa, others by Dewey Balfa, and some by Thomas Langley. Also, the production is usually crisper this time around, and the percussion more to the forefront in the mix. In respect to repertoire and performance, though, it's pretty much the same traditionally-based mix of 2-steps and waltzes, up-tempo and slow tempo. The alternation of different lead singers helps alleviate the similarity that causes the attention of many to drag over the course of a Cajun album. The slower, more lugubrious numbers have a welcome honky tonk country feel. The closing "La Noce a Rosalie" is the most atypical piece, sounding a little like an unplugged front porch toss-off, with spoken sections from Abshire. The Good Times Are Killing Me was paired with another Abshire album originally issued on Swallow, Pine Grove Blues, on a single-disc Ace CD reissue.
by Richie Unterberger
Credits: Nathan Abshire - accordion, keyboards, primary artist, vocals; The Balfa Brothers - primary artist.
Tracks: 1) Choupique Two Step; 2) Tracks of My Buggy; 3) Nathan's Layfayette Two Step; 4) Dying in Misery; 5) Tramp sur la rue; 6) Partie a grand basile; 7) J'ai etais au balle; 8) Valse de Kaplan; 9) If You Don't Love Me; 10) Offshore Blues; 11) Let Me Hold Your Hand; 12) La noce a Rosalie.