Sidney Brown- "Sha Ba Ba"

                                         

Eddie Shuler founded Goldband Records in 1945 originally to record his own group. But by 1948, he began releasing Cajun music on his Folk Star label, intending it to be a "folk" type of label. Eddie had found that jukebox operators would only buy so many copies of one label; so having two labels would spread out the profit.

One of the first releases on Folk Star were recordings of Iry LeJeune. Based on the success of Iry's recordings, Eddie started recording more Cajun artists. After Iry's death, Eddie needed another artist to record Cajun music in his place. One of those artists in the mid fifties was Sidney Brown.

By 1948, Sidney Brown had moved to Lake Charles and formed the Traveler Playboys. He was working in town at a woodworking job, eventually using the skill to repair and make accordions. Sidney and his band also had a thirty minute program on KPLC radio at this time.

Sidney's first recording Folk Star was "Sha-ba-ba (Dear Baby)". The record is one of many with misspelled tittles, the correct spelling is "chere bebe".

Ouais, catin, 'garde donc mais ça t'as fait,

Ouais, 't'après me quitter, mais ouais pour t'en aller.

Ouais, t'en aller rejoindre un autre que moi.

Ouais, vilaine manière, tu connais tu vas du regret.

Ouais jolie catin, rappelle toi les promesses, chère,

Et tu m'as fait, mais ouais y a pas longtemps.

Ouais, (z)aujourd'hui, c'est te voir après me quitter,

Ouais, chère bébé, moi je connais t'auras du regret.

On this song, Sidney sings about a lover leaving, knowing she will regret it as she walks away. This first record's success led to Eddie moving Sidney from his Folk Star label to Goldband. Sidney and his band would record many sides on Goldband from the mid fifties to 1960.

Originally issued on 78 rpm, this release is thought to be a later issue on 45 rpm. On both versions it is noticeable that Eddie assumed songwriting credits for the song. Also noticeable is the record was pressed by Starday's publishing company, Starrite.

Concerning the publishing, Eddie recalls:

"And, at that point in time, I’d met Don Pierce in Nashville, him and Daily had formed Starday and moved it to Nashville. Don Pierce had come off the West Coast. Don was helping me out, supplying me with a little extra finances, so with him I formed this publishing company."

Sadly by 1960, Sidney's hand was bothering him, leaving him unable to play as he once did. He focused on repairing and building accordions during this time. But his first recording on Folk Star would be one of his biggest selling records.

                                                                               

Resources:

http://wired-for-sound.blogspot.com/2011_11_24_archive.html

Early Cajun Music Blog

Ron Yule-Cajun Dancehall Heyday

http://www.bopping.org/starday-custom-series-1953-1960-an-introduction-how-did-a-flourishing-small-label-to-operate-on-custom-releases/

Session info:

SIDNEY BROWN

AND FRENCH ACCORDIAN 

Acdn, Nelson Young (v/fdl), Wallace Ogea, Eddie Chapman (g)

Goldband Studio, Lake Charles LA; 1955

-A Sha-ba-ba (Dear baby)-1 Folk-Star GF1132