BASILE WALTZ
Created on 01/12/2005Latest update on 01/11/2023
Artist: Leo Soileau & Mayeus LaFleur
Author: Leo Soileau/Mayeus LaFleur
Label: Victor
Year: 1928
Accordion player LaFleur (erroneously named Mayuse on the label) was born in Mamou and was killed on the way home from a gig before this record came out. Recorded in a woodshed near Atlanta where the local KKK held their secret meetings. Both Basile and Mamou are places in Evangeline Parish, LA.
Covers:
- 1934:
Joe Falcon & Cléoma Breaux [as Ma Valse préféré on Decca]
- 1935:
Leo Soileau [as Le Gran Mamou on Bluebird]
- 1950:
Harry Choates [as Gra Mamou on Macy's and as Big Mamou in '51 on Hummingbird; replaced Don Guidry in Happy Fats' Rayne-Bo Ramblers; the Hank Williams of cajun, including booze abuse and infidelity; it all went wrong following his hit Jole Blon (see: Ma blonde est partie); also a French side as Gran Mamou]
- 1950s:
Eddie Shuler & his Reveliers [as Grande Mamou]
- 1952:
Link Davis [as Big Mamou; wrote the English lyrics and copyrighted the song; first English version released (on OKeh); ex member of Harry Choates' band; he's also the sax in the Big Bopper's Chantilly Lace and in Johnny Preston's Running Bear (war hoops and all)]
- 1953:
Pete Hanley [idem]
- 1953:
Dolores Gray [idem]
- 1953:
Rusty Draper [idem]
- 1954:
Ella Mae Morse [idem]
- 1961:
Jimmy C. Newman [as Big Mamou]
- 1961:
Everly Brothers [as Gran Mamou]
- 1964:
Waylon Jennings [idem]
- 1966:
Clifton Chenier [as Big Mamou on Crazy Cajun]
- 1968:
Rod Bernard [as Gran Mamou]
- 1974:
Fiddlin' Frenchie Burke [idem]
- 1976:
Commander Cody [as Big Mamou]
- 1980s:
Eddie Blazonczyk [polka version as Mary Lou]
- 1988:
Balham Alligators [as Big Mamou]
- 1989:
Doug Sahm & Queen Ida [Doug's voice is a blueprint of Link's]
- 1990:
- 1994:
Clarence Gatemouth Brown [with Jo-El Sonnier as Big Mammou]
- 1998:
- 2011:
Mark Chesnutt [as Big Mamou]
Not to be confused with Smiley Lewis's Big Mamou (see there).
