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Saturday, January 4, 2014

"Jole Blon" by Gary U.S. Bonds

Song#:  0672
Date:  07/18/1981
Debut:  87
Peak:  65
Weeks:  6
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:   After being away from the pop chart for 15 years, Bonds came back with the #11 Bruce Springsteen-assisted/written "This Little Girl." For this follow-up, Springsteen moved from behind the boards to performing this duet with Bonds. Springsteen originally recorded this tune for his album "The River," but it ended up not making the cut for release. He picked it back up and dusted it off for Bonds, but it wasn't as successful as the initial comeback single.

ReduxReview:  While it is a nice 4/4 rock version (see below), I'm not sure that radio listeners at the time really wanted to heard an accordion-driven single. Done very much in the spirit of a Springsteen song, it holds up well over time and sounds good. But I just don't think it was the right time to release a single in this style. Later in the 80s, John Mellencamp would have success with a couple accordion tunes like "Cherry Bomb" (#6, 1987).

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  This song is an old Cajun traditional waltz that became a popular country tune in the late 40s. Originally sung in Cajun French, it was adapted and covered in English by Cajun fiddle player Harry Choates in 1946. Other musicians (like Springsteen) have created their own versions and lyrics over the years. It was also adopted in 1970 by McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana, as their official fight song.

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