Too Much Fun | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1995 | |||
Studio | Ardent | |||
Genre | Zydeco | |||
Label | Alligator | |||
Producer | C. J. Chenier, Bruce Iglauer | |||
C. J. Chenier chronology | ||||
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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]
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]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [12] |
The Associated Press | [13] |
Blade-Citizen | B+ [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]
No. | Title | Length |
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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" |