"Hippitiyo" - Hackberry Ramblers

The Hackberry Ramblers had been playing music since 1933 and by 1936, they were the darlings of Bluebird Record producer Eli Oberstein.  But by 1939, the Hackberry Ramblers were having a hard time staying together. Luderin Darbone had quit playing and the recording industry ignored Cajun music.   After the war, Cajun music was hot again, and Luderin decided to get the group back together.  

Deluxe had already worked with Bill Quinn of Houston when he needed the outfit to help press his Harry Choate recording "Jole Blon".  With this arrangement, Deluxe had entered into the Cajun music market.  

Eh, Hip et Taïaut, chere,

Qu'a volé mon traîneau, chere,

Quand il a vu j’étais devenu chaud, chere,

Il a ramené mon traîneau.

Eh, Hip et Taïaut, chere,

Qu'a volé mon chapeau, chere,

Quand il a vu j’étais devenu chaud, chere,

Il a ramené mon chapeau, negre.

Eh, Hip et Taïaut, chere,

Qu'a volé mon chapeau, chere,

Quand il a vu j’étais devenu chaud, negre,

Il a ramené mon chapeau, chere.

Eh, Hip et Taïaut, chere,

Qu'a volé mon chapeau, chere,

Quand il a vu j’étais devenu chaud, chere,

Il a ramené mon chapeau, negre.

It would be Joseph Leibowitz of DeLuxe records who would discover the group.  Darbone recalls his encounter with DeLuxe:

Right after Harry Choates recorded Jole Blon, I wrote to a company out of Houston. It wasn't the same company that he had recorded for, but there was another company there. We sent them some records that we had cut here at one of the music stores in Lake Charles. Then they wrote back and said they didn't think we're going to record that type music. In the meantime, this fellow that was with the DeLuxe, he must have had connections, but he got some way, he got in touch with the same company. They referred our band to him. 1

Part of their recording set list had Luderin Darbone on fiddle, Edwin Duhon on bass, Grover Heard on lead guitar, Lennis Sonnier on acoustic guitar, Neil Roberts on trumpet, Westley "Chink" Widcamp on bass, Gary Major on sax, and Lefty Boggs on drums.

Hey, Hip and Taïaut, dear,

Who stole my sled, dear,

When they saw I was mad, dear,

They returned my sled.

Hey, Hip and Taïaut, dear,

Who stole my hat, dear,

When they saw I was mad, dear,

They returned my hat, dear.

Hey, Hip and Taïaut, dear,

Who stole my hat, dear,

When they saw I was mad, my man,

They returned my hat, dear.

Hey, Hip and Taïaut, dear,

Who stole my hat, dear,

When they saw I was mad, dear,

They returned my hat, my man.

Lennis Sonnier rejoined the group and they left for New Orleans in 1947.  He sang an old classic Cajun tune "Hippityo" (#5035), a cover of the Cleoma Breaux recording "Ils La Volet Mon Trancas".  

1. http://arhoolie.org/hackberry-ramblers/

Release Info:
D 344 Te Petite | DeLuxe 5035 A
D 349 Hippitiyo | DeLuxe 5035 B

Find:

Louisiana Cajun Music Volume 8: The Hackberry Ramblers - Early Recordings 1935-1948 (Old Timey, 1988)