Too Much Fun (album)

Too Much Fun
Studio album by
C. J. Chenier
Released1995
StudioArdent
GenreZydeco
LabelAlligator
ProducerC. J. Chenier, Bruce Iglauer
C. J. Chenier chronology
I Ain't No Playboy
(1992) 		Too Much Fun
(1995) 		The Big Squeeze
(1996)

Too Much Fun is an album by the American musician C. J. Chenier, released in 1995.[1][2] He is credited with his backing band, the Red Hot Louisiana Band.[3] It was his first album for Alligator Records.[4] Chenier supported it with a North American tour.[5] The first single was "Man Smart, Woman Smarter".[6]

Production

The album was produced by Chenier and Bruce Iglauer.[6] It was recorded over a week, the longest amount of time that Chenier had spent working on an album; his main concern was ensuring that all the songs sounded different, rather than employing the same zydeco tempo.[7] Chenier played alto saxophone as well as accordion.[8] The Memphis Horns and Vasti Jackson contributed to the album.[9][10] "Zydeco Cha Cha", "Louisiana Two Step", and "You Used to Call Me" were written by Chenier's father, Clifton.[11] "Down Home Blues" is a cover of the song made famous by Z. Z. Hill.[10]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[12]
The Associated Press[13]
Blade-CitizenB+[14]
MusicHound Folk: The Essential Album Guide[15]
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings[16]

The Washington Post wrote that the album is "an arousing example of how zydeco's polyrhythms can benefit from the ballad conventions and horn charts of Memphis soul."[10] The Telegram & Gazette said that "Chenier's singing is as impressive as the band's playing, with his voice carrying the rich resonance of a pure bluesman."[17] The Chicago Tribune concluded that "much of the music comes off as zydeco-peppered blues rather than freshly- seasoned zydeco."[18]

The Record determined that "Chenier's flamboyant accordion-playing is complemented by his smooth, soulful baritone voice and a superb backing band."[19] The Journal & Courier opined that the "reigning crown prince of zydeco delivers the instant party record of the season."[20] The Associated Press stated that Too Much Fun "works better than most studio zydeco albums."[13]

AllMusic noted that "it would be unthinkable in the zydeco tradition to have too much fun without dancing being on the agenda, so dance tunes rule the record."[12]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Man Smart, Woman Smarter" 
2."Bad Luck" 
3."Richest Man" 
4."Too Much Fun" 
5."Give Me Some of That" 
6."Louisiana Down Home Blues" 
7."Zydeco Cha Cha" 
8."Lost in the Shuffle" 
9."Got You on My Mind" 
10."Squeaky Wheel" 
11."I'm Not Guilty" 
12."You Used to Call Me" 
13."Louisiana Two Step" 

References

  1. ^ Swenson, John, ed. (1999). The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album Guide. Random House. p. 141.
  2. ^ Iglauer, Bruce (2018). Bitten by the Blues: The Alligator Records Story. University of Chicago Press. p. 318.
  3. ^ Dickerson, Chris (June 2, 1995). "C.J. Chenier, Friday at FitzGerald's...". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. P.
  4. ^ Koster, Rick (2000). Texas Music. St. Martin's Publishing Group. p. 247.
  5. ^ Thompson, Stephen (March 28, 1996). "Chenier Brings Funky Zydeco to Crystal". Rhythm. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 7.
  6. ^ a b "Album reviews — Too Much Fun by C. J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 19. May 13, 1995. p. 76.
  7. ^ Weatherford, Mike (April 21, 1995). "Zydeco master Chenier has fun with his music". Las Vegas Review-Journal. p. 2D.
  8. ^ Chapman, Geoff (June 29, 1995). "C.J. Chenier, Too Much Fun". Toronto Star. p. H12.
  9. ^ Tisserand, Michael (2016). The Kingdom of Zydeco. Skyhorse.
  10. ^ a b c Himes, Geoffrey (June 23, 1995). "C. J. Chenier takes Zydeco to Memphis". The Washington Post. p. WW17.
  11. ^ Krewen, Nick (June 8, 1995). "C.J. Chenier, Too Much Fun". Ego. The Hamilton Spectator. p. 4.
  12. ^ a b "Too Much Fun Review by Rose of Sharon Witmer". AllMusic. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  13. ^ a b Fidler, Eric (April 14, 1995). "Record Rack". The Burlington Free Press. AP. p. 15A.
  14. ^ Trageser, Jim (April 14, 1995). "Zydeco". Blade-Citizen. Preview. p. 19.
  15. ^ MusicHound Folk: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 148.
  16. ^ The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin Books. 2006. p. 118.
  17. ^ McLennan, Scott (August 31, 1995). "Cajun Festival quite an affair". Telegram & Gazette. p. C1.
  18. ^ Reger, Rick (March 29, 1996). "Concertline". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. T.
  19. ^ Johnson, Steven C. (May 19, 1996). "Zydeco". Books & Music. The Record. p. 13.
  20. ^ Bangert, Dave (April 28, 1995). "The good times keep rolling with Chenier". TGIF. Journal & Courier. p. 6.
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