Best Kept Secret (Chris Ardoin album)

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Best Kept Secret
Best Kept Secret (Chris Ardoin album).jpg
Studio album by
Chris Ardoin
Released2000
Studio Ultrasonic
Genre Zydeco
Label Rounder
Producer Scott Billington
Chris Ardoin chronology
Turn the Page
(1998)		Best Kept Secret
(2000)		Life
(2003)

Best Kept Secret is an album by the American musician Chris Ardoin, released in 2000. [1] [2] He is credited with his band, Double Clutchin'. [3] Ardoin supported the album with a North American tour. [4]

Contents

Production

Recorded at Ultrasonic Studios, in New Orleans, the album was produced by Scott Billington. [5] [6] Sean Ardoin left the band prior to the recording sessions. [7] Chris Ardoin played rhythm and lead guitar, accordion, rubboard, and bass. [8] Ardoin wrote most of the album's songs. [7] "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" is a version of the song made famous by the Temptations. [9] "If It Makes You Happy" is a cover of the Sheryl Crow song. [10] "I Don't Want Nobody Here but You" was written by John Delafose. [11]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Age Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [9]
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [12]
Orlando Sentinel Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [8]
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [11]

OffBeat wrote that, "track after track, the accordion whiz kid puts on the show, pumping out endless sequences of innovative and improvised riffs—flying up and down the scales while hammering out barrages of squealy high notes along the way." [13] The Orlando Sentinel determined that "Ardoin and rhythm guitarist Nat Fontenot lock their guitar parts as tightly as a couple of funk players who've been gigging together for decades." [8] Billboard said that "Ardoin's accordion is propulsive and imaginative; he attacks the rhythm line like a jazz soloist, but he never loses the zydeco groove." [6]

The Boston Globe noted that "unexpected pop salutes (a bit of George Michaels here, Bobby McFerrin there) play into the rhythmic jams." [14] Bass Player praised Curley Chapman's "tight, punchy tone and unfailing groove." [15] Keyboard stated that the "hybrid mixture blends the traditional elements of Cajun, zydeco, and Creole with contemporary elements." [16] The Herald-Sun listed Best Kept Secret among the best albums of 2000. [17]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Holdin' On" 
2."Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" 
3."What You Got Down There? Part 2" 
4."Best Kept Secret" 
5."Hold That Tiger" 
6."What's in That Bayou?" 
7."Lyin' Cryin' and Tryin'" 
8."If It Makes You Happy / It Just Ain't Right" 
9."I Don't Want Nobody Here but You" 
10."Storm Don't Last Long" 
11."Get Gone" 
12."Chris's Trail Ride" 

Personnel

References

  1. ↑ "Chris Ardoin Biography by Jason Ankeny". AllMusic. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  2. ↑ "In the Bins". The Columbus Dispatch. July 18, 2000. p. 6B.
  3. ↑ "Chris Ardoin". Daily World. Opelousas. November 25, 2007.
  4. ↑ Catling, Roger (April 26, 2001). "Ardoin Brings Zydeco's 'Best Kept Secret' to Town". Calendar. Hartford Courant. p. 31.
  5. ↑ Billington, Scott (2022). Making Tracks: A Record Producer’s Southern Roots Music Journey. University Press of Mississippi.
  6. 1 2 "Best Kept Secret". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 32. August 5, 2000. p. 26.
  7. 1 2 Bowen, Bliss (July 14, 2000). "Chris Smither, Chris Ardoin Lead New Releases". MTV News. Archived from the original on December 23, 2023. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 Gettelman, Parry (July 21, 2000). "The Zydeco Sound Is Alive and Kicking". Orlando Sentinel. Calendar. p. 13.
  9. 1 2 Reilly, Terry (August 25, 2000). "CD Reviews". Ego. The Age. p. 7.
  10. ↑ "Don't overlook a few mid-week shows...". The Berkshire Eagle. April 20, 2001. p. D4.
  11. 1 2 The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin Books. 2006. p. 13.
  12. ↑ "Best Kept Secrets Review by Al Campbell". AllMusic. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  13. ↑ Willging, Dan (September 1, 2000). "Chris Ardoin and Double Clutchin', Best Kept Secret". Reviews. OffBeat.
  14. ↑ Simon, Clea (August 24, 2000). "Chris Ardoin and Double Clutchin' Best Kept Secret". The Boston Globe. p. Cal.8.
  15. ↑ Bradman, E E (November 2000). "Best Kept Secret". Bass Player. Vol. 11, no. 11. p. 86.
  16. ↑ "Christ Ardoin: Best Kept Secret". Keyboard. Vol. 27, no. 8. August 2001. p. 12.
  17. ↑ Van Vleck, Philip (December 29, 2000). "2000 cranks out awesome music worth a listen". The Herald-Sun. p. D3.
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