In 1972, French filmmaker Jean-Pierre Bruneau visited Evangeline Parish to shoot a documentary about Cajun music when this accompanying recording was made. Now, nearly three decades later, this beautiful body of music that’s the unabridged 27-track reissue of the ’74 LP bears interesting historical consequence. Not only was it the first all Cajun-Creole music soundtrack, it captured its dignitaries playing in various combinations that few recordings have ever presented.

Several tracks feature fiddler Dewey Balfa and the Balfa Brothers playing live together—a notable fact in that although the Brothers were known for their ‘live’ magic, such a complete recording has never been available commercially. From there, the Balfa Brothers either accompany others as an ensemble or individually. With the charging accordion playing of Nathan Abshire, they tackle “Ma Négresse,” the first version of the title song, “The Lemonade Song” and “The Mosquitos Ate Up My Sweetheart.” The golden-voiced Shirley Bergeron and his accordion-playing father Alphee do an incredible job with “La Valse de la Belle,” “Madame Bosco,” and “J’ai Fait Mon Idée” with Dewey Balfa on fiddle. The rock-solid guitar playing of Rodney Balfa accompanies Creole fiddler Canray Fontenot and lifelong pal accordionist “Bois Sec” Ardoin on “Bonsoir Moreau” and “Les Barres de la Prison.” The rendition of “Bosco Stomp” has to be the most intriguing version ever, a jam session featuring Ardoin, Abshire, Dewey Balfa, Fontenot, Rodney Balfa and even a banjo played by Terry Bertrand.

Besides the above-mentioned names, this collection is literally a gold mine in other ways. It’s the only recording Bee Fontenot, a very bluesy accordion player, ever made. Fontenot opens the proceedings with his masterpiece “Cornbread,” plays the popular “Chère Toutoute,” and Douglas Bellard’s autobiographical “The Prison Gate.”  There are also rare cuts from brother Freeman Fontenot and two more, of a French folk nature, from twin brothers Bee and Ed Deshotels. Dennis McGee and brother-in-law Sady Courville play their renowned “Ma Chérie Bébé Créole” and “Madame Young” (“Colinda”) while accordionist Ambroise Thibodeaux and friends, including an unknown steel guitarist, tear up of “Les Haricots Sont Pas Salés #2” during Revon Reed’s radio show. There may be other collections on the market but for my money, none are as soulful as this.