J'AI FAIT TOUT LE TOUR DU PAYS (LES HARICOTS SONT PAS SALÉS)
Created on 30/11/2018Latest update on 19/04/2024
Artist: Jimmy Peters and ring dance singers
Author: traditional
Label: Rounder
Year: 1934
Lomax recording in Jennings, LA. It's all about poverty. The singer asks his mother: O mam, mais donnez-moi les haricots. She answers: Oyé yaie, les haricots sont pas salés. Haricots (snap beans) were a spring crop (June). As it takes much labor to can them beans, the whole neighborhood came helping, so there was music involved, in this case: call & response, like in church, what they called juré in Southwest Louisiana. Released as part of the Alan Lomax Collection on cd Deep River Of Song - Louisiana (2004).
Covers:
- 1934:
Wilbur Shaw [same refrain in O Dago; Lomax recording in New Iberia, LA]
- 1949:
Lightnin' Hopkins [as Zolo Go; that's how Gold Star studioboss Bill Quinn spelled it; Sam Hopkins was related with Clifton Chenier, imitating Cliff's accordeon on electric organ; in fact Sam introduced his nephew to Arhoolie boss Chris Strachwitz]
- 1961:
Sidney Babineaux [as Zydeco sont pas salés in medley with Rayne One Step; first version by an accordionist, bridging the gap between the juré original and the later Chenier classic; another Arhoolie master]
- 1962:
Albert Chevalier [idem; both this version and Sidney Babineaux's released on Arhoolie cd Zydeco Volume One The Early Years (1989)]
- 1965:
Clifton Chenier [as Zydeco et pas sale on his first Arhoolie lp; on reissues re-titled Zydeco sont pas salé; recorded at the Gold Star Studio in Houston and introduced with the historic conversation with his brother and frottoir player Cleveland Chenier: Eh toi, Tout que'que chose est correcte? C'est bon, c'est bon boy. Tout que'que chose est magnifique? O nèg, quittons amuser avec ça. Alons le Zydeco! Lyric line about two dogs (Hip et Taïaud) was borrowed from Joe Falcon & Cléoma Breaux recording (They Stole My Sled) Ils on volé mon traineau (1934)]
- 1974:
Carrière Brothers [as Zydeco sont pas sale, neg]
- 1980:
Anderson Moss [as Zydeco pas salé; most rhythmic juré version]
- 1980:
Zachary Richard [as Les Haricots sont pas salés with young Sonny Landreth live]
- 1985:
Wayne Toups [as Zydeco sont pas salés]
- 1996:
Chubby Carrier [als Zydeco sont pas salé]
- 2002:
Veillée [as Zydecos sont pas salés; same tune as Jimmy Peters; on cd Recycling The Lomax Recordings (2014)]
