Let the Good Times Roll: Essential Recordings

Personnel: Selwyn Cooper (guitar); Calvin Landry (trumpet); Nathaniel Jolivette (drums); Elijah Cudges (rub-board).
Audio Mixers: Glenn Berger; Gregg Lunsford.
Audio Remasterer: Marcello Azevedo.
Recording information: Blue Jay Recording Studio, Carlisle, MA (04/1983-04/1985).
Photographer: Linda Vartoogian.
Buckwheat Zydeco can be counted on for a joyous, upbeat zydeco party groove and his albums are remarkably consistent in that regard. This set draws tracks from his mid-'80s albums for Rounder Records, including sides from 1983's Turning Point, 1985's Waitin' for My Ya Ya, and 1987's Buckwheat's Zydeco Party, and makes a nice sampler and introduction to what was arguably Buckwheat Zydeco's most commercially viable and inspired period. The title track, "Let the Good Times Roll," "Hot Tamale Baby," and a nice version of Fats Domino's "Walkin' to New Orleans" are among the highlights. ~ Steve Leggett