La Valse du Bambocheur
The Swallow recording of the Balfa Brothers' "La Valse du Bambocheur" was significant in that it was this song in particular and others like it that had earlier attracted the attention of Newport Folk Festival fieldworker Ralph Rinzler, leading to an invitation to the Balfa Brothers to perform at the Newport festival. Dewey Balfa first performed there with Gladdy Thibodeaux and Vinesse Lejeune in 1964; the Balfa Brothers performed there as a group in 1965. Around the same time, the same song attracted the attention of Floyd Soileau of Swallow Records. He tended toward a more modern, popular Cajun sound, but he had received many requests for a recording of "Bambocheur." He initially resisted Dewey's request to make records of the Balfa Brothers, but then settled on recording their version of that song. The release sold well, but more importantly, it brought the old-style, traditional sound back into consideration on the local level. This opened the door for Dewey and his brothers to become as important on the local scene as they were becoming on the national folk music scene. The recording itself is a great example of what could be called the festival sound. It is a hard-driving waltz, with a quick beat and soulful vocals, influenced not only by tradition, but also by the fact that the Balfa Brothers were discovering how to provide the energy level required by large festival crowds who were listening more than dancing.