Customer Rating:  
Summary: An OK Starting Place
Comment: Doug Kershaw has issued many albums over the years, a few of which are starting to show up once again in reissues. Of all of those recordings available, what is truly the BEST of the BEST? This CD includes tracks like "Diggy Diggy Lo" from his debut, "The Cajun Way", but also includes lackluster items such as "Jambalaya" and Doug's 6th (that I know of) to date re-make of "Louisiana Man", which would have been better represented from the version on his debut. Doug's music in the early - mid 70's was little more than badly executed Nashville product, although proficiently played, sounded like the assembly line that the town's name conjures up. This is shown in cuts like "Hippy Ti Yo" and "Mama's Got The Know How", "Mamou Two-Step" is a nice, albeit untruthful cover of a tune (no, Doug did NOT write it, its a traditional tune), "You Don't Want My Love" and "Sally Jo" come from the album "Devil's Elbow", which should have been called "Doug Kershaw Records Other Famous People's Songs That Buddy Killen's Publishing Company Owns The Rights To", and a Fats Domino cover of "I'm Walkin'", that sounds so stiff and lethargic that one wonders how it managed to make it to #96 on the charts. The CD contains a rarity, an alternate version of "It Takes All Day To Get Over Night" which any fan of Doug is sure to enjoy hearing. There's no liner notes, aside from production credits. That said, it's a cheap purchase, and everyone who might need just one Doug Kershaw CD in their collection will find that this one will suffice. For the LP listeners, though, go find his "Spanish Moss" LP.
Go see Doug live if you can, as no recording can do him justice.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Just a little taste of the "Ragun' Cajun"
Comment: There are few artists that can get the fiddle to sing like Kershaw, but the best of Doug Kershaw should really be a lot longer and have some live cuts on it.Think of this as an appetizer. "Louisiana Man," with Kershaw's depiction of life on the bayou is a necessity for anyone who enjoys this type of music, and there is a good cover of Hank Williams's classic "Jambalaya" but the sound overall is very thin and does not do this artist justice. If it's all you can find it's better to have some Kershaw than none, but keep looking, you can do better.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Very good!!
Comment: I have been a fan of country and zydeco for as long as I can remember. I actually heard Mr. Kershaw when I was in Louisiana not to long ago and I instantly liked what I heard. If you are a fan of country or zydeco, I would definately recommend this album.
Customer Rating:
Summary: great album
Comment: Doug Kershaw loves, caresses and torments a fiddle the way no man did, no matter where or how he is playing it. The fiddle seems an extension of him. Often though, recording fail to catch that wild man vitality you see in his live performances. Kershaw simply comes alive before an audience and feeds off their adoration, their amazement.
This is a very good Kershaw album, with all his great - but one has to wonder. One of his biggest hits Jamestown Ferry is not only an albums currently available. So strange, it's ones of his best works, where the fiddle is not taking certain stage.
Super introduction if you don't know the Louisiana Man.
Customer Rating:
Summary: ANOTHER DOUG KERSHAW FAN
Comment: I have to agree with what Mr. Horek said about Keshaw playing the violin as though it were a part of his body. I was introduced to the only fiddle player I know by an old Country variety show that also introduced me to Donna Fargo. I bought Kershaw's earlier records, including Devil's Elbow, Louisana Man, Mama Kershaw's Boy, Doug Kershaw and Douglas James Kershaw. This CD has some of the pieces I always enjoyed, especially Jambalaya and Mama's got the Know How. It does not have Devil's Elbow, though, or another favorite of mine, Best Years of My Life. Still, it is nice to hear the better quality of the CD than my old, scratchy records. I might add my roommate and I were very fortunate to be at the Pima County Fair (in Tucson, AZ) the year he performed live. Oh, what an experience to see such an energetic, energized and talented musician in person!!
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