King of the Bayous

Chenier's early '60s albums for the Arhoolie and Specialty labels made Zydeco the major musical form it is today. His aggressive, almost metallic accordion style and his passionate, rough-hewn singing, piled high with New Orleans R&B and Cajun sounds, make his a unique legacy that carries on in to the 1990s. This 18-track album recorded from 1965 through 1970 includes the full Arhoolie album, plus a few tracks that never made it onto vinyl at the time. There are zydeco rockers and some misery and blues ballads, all done in Chenier's patented style. If you're not familiar with the brute force and energy of zydeco, this 62-minute collection is your best bet. If you are already addicted, he is, after all, the king. Those extra tracks are prime collector's bait. --Louis Gibson