Evangeline Made: A Tribute to Cajun Music

History

Producer Ann Savoy's goal for Evangeline Made was to demonstrate the affection of popular artists for Cajun music. She enlisted various pop performers along with members of BeauSoleil, her own group with her husband accordionist Marc Savoy and fiddler Michael Doucet of the Savoy Doucet Cajun Band as well as other musicians to "renew and extend Cajun tradition rather than simply re-create it."

Vocal performances include two duets by Linda Ronstadt and Savoy, John Fogerty, Rodney Crowell, Patty Griffin, Nick Lowe, Maria McKee, and David Johansen. Each song is sung in French even though most of the artists don't speak the language. The two instrumental tracks do not identify the musicians performing.

Reception

Evangeline Made was nominated for Best Traditional Folk Album at the 45th Grammy Awards.

Music critic Richie Unterberger, writing for Allmusic, rated the album 4 of 5 stars, writing: "The production is understated and sympathetic, as it's neither hardcore Cajun music nor Cajun music that's been bleached into pop… Purists might find this something of a sellout, a dilution of the real and rawer thing for ears unaccustomed to the real deal. Perhaps they have viable points, but here's a fact which might be hard for them to face: this simply has much more variety, skillful singing, and thoughtful, pleasing production than most Cajun records do, without compromising the spirit of the music."

Writing for No Depression, Don McLeese called the album "musical interplay so soulful and vibrant it transcends the language barrier." and avers the collection "honors the music not as a folk purist’s artifact, but as a living dynamic. Not one of the fourteen cuts seems less than a labor of love"

Music critic Mike Warren reviewed the album for The Pitch and of the songs, wrote, "Because they're in French, and because they're sexy as hell, the songs have an air of sultry mystery that's part of the best Cajun music."

Track listing

1. "Vagabond Special" (Marc Savoy) – 2:56
2. instrumental
3. "La Chanson d'Une Fille de Quinze Ans (Song of a Fifteen Year Old Girl)" (Traditional, Ann Savoy, Marc Savoy) – 2:26
4. featuring Linda Ronstadt and Ann Savoy
5. "Diggy Liggy Lo" (J. D. Miller) – 3:22
6. featuring John Fogerty
7. "Je Veux Plus Te Voir (I Don't Want You Anymore)" (Belton Richard) – 3:31
8. featuring Linda Thompson
9. "Pa Janvier, Laisse Moi M'En Aller (Pa Janvier, Let Me Go)" (Traditional, Ann Savoy) – 3:54
10. featuring Nancy Griffin
11. "Les Flammes d'Enfer (The Flames of Hell)" (Austin Pitre) – 2:35
12. featuring Richard Thompson
13. "Ma Mule (My Mule)" (Traditional) – 3:24
14. featuring David Johansen
15. "Ma Blonde Est Partie (My Blonde Left)" (Traditional) – 2:35
16. featuring Maria McKee
17. "Blues de Bosco (Bosco Blues)" (Eddie Shuler) – 4:21
18. featuring Rodney Crowell
19. "O, Ma Chère 'Tite Fille (Oh,My Dear Little Girl)" (Cléoma Falcon, Ann Savoy) – 3:49
20. featuring Linda Ronstadt and Ann Savoy
21. "Valse de Balfa (Balfa Waltz)" (Will Balfa) – 2:56
22. featuring Richard Thompson
23. "Two Step de Prairie Soileau" (Traditional) – 4:03
24. instrumental
25. "Arrêtte Pas la Musique (Don't Stop the Music)" (George Jones) – 3:00
26. featuring Nick Lowe
27. "Tout un Beau Soir en Me Promenant (On a Beautiful Evening While ...)" (Traditional) – 3:12
28. featuring Maria McKee

Personnel

Production notes: