Fernest and the Thunders - Fernest and the Thunders

Size: 210 MB
Time: 30:36
File: Flac
Released: 1979
Styles: Zydeco
Art: Front

1. It's Alright (2:43)
2. Mother Dear (2:33)
3. Midnight Train (2:52)
4. You Can Make It if You Try (2:31)
5. Little Woman (2:13)
6. Irene (2:41)
7. My Girl Josephine (1:52)
8. Lonely, Lonely Nights (2:09)
9. Zyedeco Boogoloo (2:27)
10. Mean, Mean Woman (3:38)
11. Little Rain Falling (2:19)
12. Send Me Some Lovin' (2:30)

Arceneaux was born to a large Creole family based in Carencro, Louisiana. Arceneaux first picked up his brother-in-law's accordion as a child and learned to play by copying his father, Ferdinand Arceneaux, who was a Creole musician whom he backed at local house parties. By the 1960s, Arceneaux had switched to guitar in his rock and roll group Fernest and the Thunders. Not until 1978, at the behest of his hero Clifton Chenier, did Arceneaux return to the accordion. Also in 1978 Arceneaux and his band were discovered by Belgian blues enthusiast Robert Sacre, recorded their first album, and began touring heavily, particularly in Europe. Arceneaux later earned the title "The New Prince of Accordion" for his virtuostic playing.

In addition to his band Fernest and The Thunders, Arceneaux's discography includes recordings under band names Fernest Arceneaux and the Zydeco All Stars, and Fernest Arceneaux & His Louisiana French Band.

Fernest and the Thunders FLAC

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Fernest Arceneaux - Zydeco Blues Party / Old School Zydeco

Album: Zydeco Blues Party
Size: 102,3 MB
Time: 43:18
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1994
Styles: Blues Zydeco
Art: Full

01. I'm On My Way Back Home (4:25)
02. Last Night (5:42)
03. Bernadette (3:13)
04. Mother's Love (3:49)
05. My Negress (Pine Grive Blues) (3:27)
06. Eh Mama (2:51)
07. Choo Choo Cha Boogie (2:30)
08. Jolie Blonde (3:25)
09. Don't Mess With My Toot Toot (2:51)
10. Zydeco Boogaloo (3:42)
11. The Fish Song (4:07)
12. Don't Tell Your Mother (3:09)

ZYDECO BLUES PARTY, Fernest Arceneaux's first widely distributed release, reveals how much Arceneaux's style has been influenced by Clifton Chenier and Buckwheat Zydeco. This is hard, bluesy zydeco, what Stanley Dural of Buckwheat Zydeco called "zydeco with an African trim." The recording also demonstrates why Arceneaux has been appreciated in Southwest Louisiana as a master accordionist for so long.

The band's version of "Jolie Blonde," the virtual Cajun national anthem, is a hot one. Rockin' Dopsie Jr.'s frottoir (rub board) playing gives drive and character to the rhythm section. Hopefully, this marvelous disk will let everyone outside of Louisiana know that this band ranks with the very best zydeco ensembles. This is music for dancing!

Zydeco Blues Party

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Album: Old School Zydeco
Size: 131,5 MB
Time: 56:03
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2000
Styles: Blues Zydeco
Art: Full

01. Whole Lot Of Love (5:43)
02. Going Back To Big Mamou (3:39)
03. Hippy Ti Yo (4:14)
04. Jai Passe Devant Ta Porte (4:29)
05. Tu Le Ton Son Ton (4:37)
06. So Long (I Hate To See You Go) (6:05)
07. Old School Zydeco (3:01)
08. Joe Pete Has Two Women (3:44)
09. Good For The Gander (5:42)
10. When The Saints Go Marching In (3:16)
11. Three Nights A Week (3:48)
12. Watch That Dog (7:40)

Personnel: Fernest Arceneaux (vocals, accordion); Paul "Lil' Buck" Senegal (guitar); Jerry Jumonville (saxophone); Joseph Edwards (drums, washboard).

A torch-bearer for the classic zydeco traditions personified by Clifton Chenier, Fernest Arceneaux earned the title "The New Prince of Accordion" for his virtuosic prowess. Born August 27, 1940 to a large sharecropping family based in Lafayette, Louisiana, he first picked up his brother-in-law's accordion while working the fields as a child, and learned his craft by copying his father, himself a rural musician whom the youngster often backed at local house parties. However, by the 1960s, Arceneaux had abandoned his zydeco roots to play guitar in a rock & roll band, a group which originally featured two drummers and created such a mighty racket that they were dubbed Fernest and the Thunders. Only during the late 1970s -- and only at the behest of his hero Chenier himself -- did Arceneaux return to the accordion, and soon the Thunders made the move from rock to zydeco. Discovered in 1978 by Belgian blues aficionado Robert Sacre, the group -- also featuring singer/bassist Victor Walker, guitarist Chester Chevalier and drummer Clarence "Jockey" Etienne -- mounted the first of many European tours, and within months they recorded their debut LP Fernest and the Thunders; albums like 1979's Rockin' Pneumonia and 1981 Zydeco Stomp! followed, but shortly after recording the latter, Walker was killed in a barroom brawl. Arceneaux himself then assumed vocal duties, although as a result of asthma his presence failed to pack the same punch; still, the Thunders remained a popular live attraction, especially on the Gulf Coast crawfish circuit, and continued issuing LPs including 1985's Zydeco Thunder, 1987's Gumbo Special and 1994's Zydeco Blues Party. Gumbo Special appeared in fall 2000. ~by Jason Ankeny

Old School Zydeco

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