Alive and Pickin' [Live]

1. I Wouldn't Trade Texas for the World

2. Not Tonight, I've Got a Heartache

3. Troubles

4. Cowboy Mardi Gras

5. Follow Your Heart

6. How Good a Bad Woman Feels

7. Make You Mine

8. I Don't Think I'll Go to Mexico

9. Buy Me a Bar

10. Texas Woman

11. Una Mas Cerveza

12. [Untitled]

Alive and Pickin',Tommy Alverson Band,Two of a Kind,Contemporary Country,Country,Country & Western,New Traditionalist,Pop

Average customer rating: Country with a Cajun Heart The obligatory live album and the contractual obligation Two Terrific Albums from the Ragin' Cajun One album of Doug Kershaw Live in 1975, the other a 1978 studio album

Alive & Pickin'/Louisiana Man Doug Kershaw Manufacturer: Wounded Bird Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Zydeco | Cajun & Zydeco | Regional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Cajun & Creole | Cajun & Zydeco | Regional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music General | Folk | Styles | Music Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music Similar Items: The Best of Doug Kershaw The Cajun Way Ragin' Cajun - Doug Kershaw in Concert Spanish Moss The Best of Doug & Rusty Kershaw ASIN: B0009RQRME Release Date: 2005-07-12

Tracks:

1. Introduction
2. Diggy Liggy Lo
3. Battle of New Orleans
4. Medley: Orange Blossom Special/You Are My Sunshine
5. Natural Man
6. Alive & Pickin'
7. Cajun Joe (The Bully of the Bayou)
8. Cajun Stripper
9. Dixie Creole
10. Louisiana Man
11. Uncle Pen
12. Jambalaya (On the Bayou)
13. Louisiana Man
14. Marie
15. Pourquoi M'Aimes-Tu Pas?
16. Subterranean Homesick Blues
17. I Just Want to Feel the Magic
18. Hardly Anymore
19. French Waltz
20. If You Don't, Somebody Else Will
21. Sooner I Go
22. Louisiana Sun

Customer Reviews:

Country with a Cajun Heart.......2006-07-22

This is a double purchase which is a real treasure. I used to clean house to the songs from an old cassette, which is all worn out now, but my house was spotless. Thank goodness I was travelling thru Amazon and threw the Kershaw boys name in the search area to see if anything was available. These two CDS came up and I didnt hesitate to purchase. One thing I miss about the CD's of today is not getting a pic of the artist as the years go by. Isnt that why we have family photos? Dont let the opportunity to slip by to own some real Cajun Heart, it also helps in the long drives when ur stuck in traffic to and from work, that is where i get my most play time and I can still see them on the OPry with his brother and on the Hee Haw shows. I Love u Doug wherever you are.

The obligatory live album and the contractual obligation.......2006-04-25

The mid-70's saw a lot of trends unfold in the music business. Certain styles came to the fore that left an indeliable mark on all music. The nation went gaga over disco, and the south, well, decided that was too limp. So, "southern rock" became the Next Big Thing.
Doug Kershaw jumped on the southern rock bandwagon.
"Alive & Pickin'" isn't that bad of an album. Really. "Cajun Stripper" shows that Doug, this time around, can actually handle an accordian somewhat. He even throws in some decent electric violin (I say violin instead of fiddle with great reason), but the overall product leaves a bad taste in your mouth. There's nothing particularly Cajun about the music, it sounds nothing like what Doug had done beforehand (re: the LPs Cajun Way and Spanish Moss, and even the honky fluff that followed in their wake), and it sounds like the backing band is doing a poor man's imitation of the Marshall Tucker Band. On top of that, of course, is that very little of this album is actually live. Much of it was done in the studio, overdubs and edits galore (in that time period, it was common)
Doug went from sounding like a Rebel flag waving bar veteran to a ridiculous Cajun-styled Keith Moon on his next album. Of course, the "Ragin Cajun" album doesn't follow "Alive & Pickin'" on this CD, instead the 1978 album "Louisiana Man" (how many albums bore this title beforehand? Pull out your Rusty & Doug records...) is included.
This album was done to fill up the final slot on his contract with WB. First we start out with the lamest cover of "Jambalaya (On The Bayou)" known to man. Yes, the cover by Gerry & The Pacemakers was taken into account. Doug introduces the track with "To the Cajun land, and to my Cajun people". Two things which no longer gave him the time of day, as the Cajuns would take such as an insult. Yet ANOTHER version of "Louisiana Man" follows, but its not the Shakespearean drama-fest that the version on the "Swamp Grass" album was. Moving on, the question is, "who wants to hear Doug Kershaw cover Randy Newman?", unless you want to hear "Marie", the answer would be no. Then we get a Jesse Winchester tune, in French, and Doug once again shows us how horrible his French speaking is, as he sings the number in Canadian French. Then there's the unspeakable Dylan cover. "Don't try No-Doze"? C'mon Doug! "Just Wanna Feel The Magic" is a nice Mel McDaniel cover and its a contender for best track on the LP. "Hardly Anymore" is MOR while "French Waltz" is just as generic as its title. "If You Don't..." is an upbeat tune with a pumping dance beat and gets old fast. The "Sooner I Go" and "Louisana Sun" were better the first time around, back when Rusty & Doug recorded them in the 60's. The latter track previously appeared on the "Devil's Elbow" album.
Bottom line: Doug is a better showman than a recording artist.

Two Terrific Albums from the Ragin' Cajun.......2006-03-03

If you are at all a fan of Cajun country or just a some good fiddlin, then this disc is a real treat. It compiles some of Doug Kershaw's finest work on one disc. Before this, these two records were nearly impossible to find, even on vinyl. When I was growing up, my father had both of these and played them constantly. I was a bit afraid that perhaps my memories were better than the music. But I've listened to this nearly every day since I bought it and can say they hold up remarkably well.

Alive & Pickin' is a recording from a raucous live show in Atlanta in 1974. Kershaw's energy seems unending and his fiddling is the real star here. His Orange Blossom Special medley is a highlight, featuring a blistering fiddle. Favorites Diggy Diggy Lo and Louisiana Man are also featured. The concert recording has no annoying track breaks, so listening to it straight through makes it almost seem like you're there (even though I would've be less than a year old!)

The Lousiana Man I believe is from a few years later and features another recording of Louisiana Man as well as an energetic rendition of Hank William's Jambalaya (On the Bayou). A quality studio album, with a little less emphasis on the fiddle, but a great listen. Of particular interest are a few ballads showcasing Doug's vocal talents, which provide a really nice contrast to some of the more boisterous stuff.

My only quibble would be that the recordings sound more like straight transfers rather than remasters, so the sound comes off a little flat in places. Alive & Pickin' especially suffers a bit from a lack of bass. This is pretty minor, though. The music is still a joy to listen to.

One album of Doug Kershaw Live in 1975, the other a 1978 studio album.......2005-08-29

Doug "Ragin' Cajun" Kershaw's original Warner Bros. albums had never been on CD before Collectables' reissues of "The Cajun Way," "Spanish Moss," "Flip, Flop and Fly," and "The Ragin' Cajun" and this CD on Wounded Bird, a twofer of "Alive and Pickin'," which was recorded live in Atlanta in 1975 and full of the Kershaw style of singing and musicianship and is a great extravaganza, and 1978's "The Louisiana Man," which is a studio album with some traditional cajun songs and lots of mainstream country styled songs and not quite the extravaganza as the live album on this disc, but it is very good nonetheless. As he is much better as a live performer than as a recording artist in the studio although his studio work is great, this disc IS the disc to start with as it contains the bulk of his signature songs live and/or in the studio and flows better than the "Best of" CD that Warner issued in 1989. One track on the live album worthwhile is a medley of "Orange Blossom Special" and "You Are My Sunshine" which Doug performs in the Doug Kershaw style showcasing his fiddling talent.

Average customer rating: Good Texas Country

Alive and Pickin' Tommy Alverson Band Manufacturer: Two of a Kind ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music New Traditionalist | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Country | Styles | Music General | Live Albums | Country | Styles | Music Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music General | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Texasongs Heroes and Friends ASIN: B00005Y7PP Release Date: 2001-06-19

Tracks:

1. I Wouldn't Trade Texas for the World
2. Not Tonight, I've Got a Heartache
3. Troubles
4. Cowboy Mardi Gras
5. Follow Your Heart
6. How Good a Bad Woman Feels
7. Make You Mine
8. I Don't Think I'll Go to Mexico
9. Buy Me a Bar
10. Texas Woman
11. Una Mas Cerveza
12. [Untitled]

Customer Reviews:

Good Texas Country.......2002-02-12

This is a great album and I would recommend it to any TEXAN.

Average customer rating:

Steve Mann: Alive & Pickin' Steve Mann Manufacturer: Bella Roma Music ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Blues | Styles | Music Acoustic Blues | Blues | Styles | Music Similar Items: Try Me One More Time ASIN: B000CAGLGA Release Date: 2005-08-02

Tracks:

1. Ash Grove Announcer
2. Jelly Roll
3. If You Live
4. Soldier's Drill
5. Elephant Song
6. Amazing Gospel Tune
7. Charlie James
8. Rag Mama
9. East Colorado
10. Moppers Blues
11. Two Nineteen
12. Trouble in Mind
13. Winin' Boy
14. Here I Am Again
15. Holly
16. Medley for David
17. Prison Cell Blues
18. Seven Foot Freak-out

Product Description

Unique, sensitive, masterful intertpretations and arrangements of acoustic guitar blues with vocals of the young Steve Mann, and three tracks with Janis Joplin from the 1960s. Several self-penned songs, including his classic instumental "Holly."

Average customer rating:

Alive and Pickin' Tommy Alverson Band Manufacturer: Smith Music Group ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music New Traditionalist | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Country | Styles | Music General | Live Albums | Country | Styles | Music Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music Similar Items: Heroes and Friends ASIN: B0000C3I1T Release Date: 2003-08-12

Tracks:

1. I Wouldn't Trade Texas For The World
2. Not Tonight, I've Got A Heartache
3. Troubles
4. Cowboy Mardi Gras
5. Follow Your Heart
6. How Good A Bad Woman Feels
7. Make You Mine
8. I Don't Think I'll Go To Mexico
9. Buy Me A Bar
10. Texas Woman
11. Una Mas Cerveza
12. Untitled

Music Album:

1. All in Your Head
2. All the Girls I Am
3. Back on the Street Again
4. Be Here [Import]
5. Bean Blossom
6. Best of the Best of Charley Pride
7. Big Dreams in a Small Town
8. Bobbie Cryner
9. Born & Raised in Black & White
10. Can't Back Down

Music Album