This is a two-CD French compilation that cherry picks the catalog of Gary Edwards’ Sound Of New Orleans label. S.O.N.O. has always been very much a blue-collar label. Their roster doesn’t really have any high profile artists, the CDs don’t sport any “arty” covers, and they’ve never had anything that resembles a hit. Often, artists’ sales from the bandstand amount to more than what regular retail sales amount to. However, Edwards managed to release some damn good CDs until Katrina suckerpunched him and his label. (Edwards’ Canal Boulevard studio/office was all but in the shadow of the 17th Street Canal. He literally lost everything. Edwards moved to Houston, but recently returned to New Orleans.)

Because of the concept of this 40-track collection, it has a shotgun approach. There are lots of different artists and different styles of music. There are recognizable names including the Zion Harmonizers, Rockin’ Dopsie, Jr. and Tommy Ridgley, but there are also artists that even in the household of a New Orleans music buff, are totally unknown. There is a conscious effort here to assemble songs strongly associated with New Orleans, i.e. “Go to the Mardi Gras,” “Hey Pocky Way,” “Sick and Tired,” etc. In iTunes terminology, if there was a “New Orleans Party Shuffle” playlist, this CD would fit the bill. Lots of listenable stuff here and a nice tribute to a guy who never got the credit he deserves.