"Dans La Platin" - Happy, Doc and the Boys

After the wartime sojourn with Leo Soileau and Harry Choates in Lake Charles, Leroy "Happy Fats" Leblanc had been invited to tour with top singing cowboy star Tex Ritter, playing Mississippi, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, and even Hollywood. When he returned home, jobs were hard to find, until he teamed up with Doc Guidry for broadcasting and recording. He recalls:

It got kinda tough playing dances and playing the guitar.  Doc Guidry was a very good violin player, very good fiddle player, I thought he would add a little to it so I got Doc.1

Tu fais pitié, mignonne, de quoi t'as fait, chérie,

Un partir, catin mais, au si loin, jolie,

Tu viens pas, mais, dans le platin, mais, pour asteur.

(Tu) m'fais de la peine, chérie, il y a pas longtemps, jolie,

Tu m'a laissé, catin, tu fais pitié, jolie, 

De partir, mais, au si loin avec un autre.

Toi vieille femme, chérie mais, t'en vas pas, chère mignonne, 

M'a laissé, catin, pour z-un autre, chérie,

Tu m'a laissé pour t'en aller dedans le platin.

Fais de la peine, chérie, de quoi pleurer, mignonne,

(Tu) m'a laissé, chérie, moi tout seul, catin,

Pour t'en aller avec un autre, mais, malheureuse.

Johnny Redlich

In 1947, Happy would record the tune as simply "Dans La Platin" (#1005) on J.D. Miller's Feature records at Miller's brand new studio in Crowley, Louisiana.  While some today use the word "platin" to refer to a low lying area, at the turn of the century, Cajuns referred to a "platin" as a small circular pond, of which there were thousands on the prairies.3  It was similar to either a "marrais" or "meche". 

The melody evolved from the popular Dennis McGee song "Ma Chere Bebe Creole" recorded in 1929.   Joe Falcon would later record it as "La Nuit De Samedi".  It featured Johnny Redlich on vocals, brother of Hanks and "Dago" Redlich, the latter better known for having originally owned the Viking and Chamo label in the 1960s.  Bradley "Sleepy" Stutes, who had joined Happy's group years earlier, can be heard on steel guitar.  Quite possibly it's not Doc Guidry on fiddle for this song but Johnny's brother Hank Redlich on fiddle.  While many know Hank from his guitar playing years, Hank's name is called out during the song for his fiddle solo.   In fact, his family recalls some of his great talented playing:

Hank Redlich

Around 1948, Hank came in 2nd place in a fiddle contest with Harry Choates.  They judges called both of them at least six different times.  They couldn't decide who was the winner.2  

It's pitiful, cutie, what you've done, dear,

Leaving, little doll, well, so far away, my pretty,

You're going to go, well, to the lowlands, well, now.

(You) made me feel sorry, dear, over there not long ago, my pretty,

You left me, little doll, feeling pitiful, my pretty,

Leaving, well, far away with another.

You, old woman, dear, well, I'm not going, dear cutie,

Left me, little doll, for another, dear,

You left me to go away to the big lowlands.

Felling sorry, dear, I have cried, cutie,

(You) left me, dear, all alone, little doll,

For you went away with another, well, oh my.

Cheese Reed calls it "'Tit Canard Mulet" on his Arhoolie album. The Balfa Brother do it on Cajun Music from the Southwest Prairies on Rounder, field recordings around 1964 for Ralph Rinzler and Newport.  

1. South to Louisiana: The Music of the Cajun Bayous By John Broven
2. Discussions with Donnie R
3. Cajun Sketches From The Prairies Of Southwest Louisiana by Lauren Post

Release Info:
New Jolie Blond | Fais Do Do F 1005-A
Dans La Platin | Fais Do Do F 1005-B

Find:

Acadian All Star Special - The Pioneering Cajun Recordings Of J.D. Miller (Bear, 2011)