Volume 8
JIN 9081 | 2006
Volume 7
JIN 9073 | 2002
Volume 6
JIN 9064 | 1999
Volume 5
JIN 9053 | 1997
Volume 4
JIN 9042 | 1994
Volume 3
JIN 9041 | 1994
Volume 2
JIN 0107 | 1991
Volume 1
JIN 0106 | 1991
| Swamp Gold Collection 
Original Hits from the Gold Era of Louisiana Swamp Pop In the early 50's, a special brew of rock and roll music was developing in Cajun South Louisiana. This new sound blended Rock & Roll, New Orleans rhythm and blues, country, blues, and Cajun into a musical gumbo, and it was simply called South Louisiana music - until British fans named it "Swamp Pop" in 1971. Since its first record release in 1957, JIN Records has been the premier label of Swamp Pop releases, releasing hundreds of 45rpm singles and several albums in the years that followed. Radio stations and juke boxes exploited the many regional hits. Many releases by artists like Rod Bernard, Johnnie Allan, Jivin' Gene, Clint West, Tommy McLain, Rockin' Sidney, Cookie & the Cupcakes, Warren Storm, and others became national and international hits. These Swamp Pop artists have sold millions of records, far surpassing current Cajun and Zydeco artists, yet Swamp Pop remains the least recognized of South Louisiana's indigenous music. Swamp Pop still survives today and has been preserved for generations to enjoy in this unique collection of original hits from the Golden Era of Louisiana Swamp Pop. Collect all 8 volumes!
Reviews...
Blog Critics Magazine
Swamp Gold Volume 8 If you were a teenager in the South in the 1950's or 1960's, you might think some of the music on this album is very familiar. If you grew up in South Louisiana, following the music and hitting the bayou dancehalls, it's almost a sure thing that you'll remember a lot of these songs. Swamp Gold - Volume 8, on the Jin Records label, has a rich trove of old tunes from those days but it also features some newer music, including some from current swamp pop stars.
The very fact that we're reviewing Volume 8 implies that there were 7 preceding volumes, and that is indeed the case. The series began in 1991, and all volumes follow the same formula as this one, which is mostly Southern-flavored honky-tonk ballads, with the addition of a couple of tunes from mainstream pop. Within that framework, the producers have put together an interesting listing of songs.
The very first cut, "You Got Me Whistling", was a big regional success back in the 1960's, and Johnnie Allan was probably one of the biggest stars in the South. True to it's name, the song begins with his whistling (and humming) but his strong voice soon takes over.
There are a number of other good vintage songs, including the bluesy "You Don't Have To Go" with Rockin' Sidney giving it a zydeco flavor. I also enjoyed Tommy McClain's "Am I That Easy To Forget", and a song that was a legitimate number one hit nationally, John Fred and the Playboys doing "Judy In Disguise (With Glasses)".
Moving into tunes from the 1970's and 1980's, we're given some treats too. Clint West's very nice, driving version of "High Heel Sneakers" really rocks, and I also enjoyed "Haunted House", a quirky and bouncy tune by Rufus Jagneaux. (A Cajun name if I ever heard one.)
Newer tunes include modern swamp pop star Don Rich, whose solo album I reviewed recently, showing good form on "Give Me Just One More Chance", and I also enjoyed "Raised on Swamp Pop Music" by Willie Tee.
A nice combination of old and new, Southern country-pop with a added dollop of blues and zydeco, the perfect recipe for swamp-stompin' or just plain old listening fun. written by The Big Geez |