Jo-El Sonnier
Here to stay, indeed. An unqualified delight from the first track, this is the 11th album for Sonnier, a Louisiana-born Cajun country master with a hearty, tangy singing style and a pungent, invigorating accordion sound. The album contains a satisfying array of familiar hits, only a few of them previously identified with Sonnier ("Tear-Stained Letter," "Raining in My Heart"). He sings the incomprehensible Elvis standby "Polk Salad Annie," more reasonable choices like "Jambalaya," the traditional Cajun tunes "La Jolie Blonde" and "The Big Mamou" plus Billy Swan's "I Can Help," Procol Harum's "A Whiter Shade of Pale" and Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode." That Sonnier can put his stamp on even these chestnuts testifies to the uniqueness and strength of his style. He is that rare commodity, a consistently entertaining performer. (Intersound)
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