"Lover's Waltz" - Louis Spell

Feature Records was created by Jay Denton "J.D." Miller in the late 1940s to market the music of south Louisiana.  Local groups around Acadia Parish approached Miller to record songs in his new studio in Crowley.  Native of Indian Bayou, the Spell family eventually moved to Crowley where Louis formed the French Serenaders.  Sometimes referred to as "One-Eyed Spell", he had been blinded by an accident early in life. According to his daughter Margie,

At a house party, he got stuck with a bobby pin in his eye.1  

Moi j'connais, chère 'tite fille,

La plus belle, chère 'tite fille, que mon j'aimais,

C'est pour ça moi j'te vu,

Pour restez à la maison, mais, avec moi.

Mon aller au si loin,

Pour me voir les 'tite fille dans la Louisiane,

C’est le belle qui m’aimes autant,

C’est pour ça mon je tes mander de viens tant donc.

Daily World
Apr 23, 1954

The French Serenaders played around Acadia Parish from 1949 to about 1953. He recorded for J.D. Miller at his studio in Crowley where his group waxed the "Lover's Waltz" (#1040) around 1952.  The ensemble featured Phillip Abshire on guitar, Tan Benoit on fiddle, and Elton Harrington on guitar.  According to Louis' son, Paul,

My mom could speak French, but my daddy couldn't.  He could sing in French, but couldn't speak it.1  

French Serenaders
Elton Harrington, Tan Benoit
Louis Spell, Mabel Spell, poss. Phillip Abshire

Having played on the same stages as Aldus Roger in the mid-50s, Aldus recorded a similar song in 1958 known as the "Midway Waltz".  Edval Joseph "E.J." Abshire, native of Lyon's Point community, was a good family friend.  Affectionately known as "Nom" Abshire, he and his cousin Phillip Abshire were known to sing in the band together.   Elton Harrington lived in Crowley and soon after filled in for groups such as Claby Richard's "Rayne Friendly Playboys" and Sidney Leblanc's "Louisiana Playboys".  Record producer Lee Lavergne remembered his short career.

They had a KSIG Barn Dance and they would have local guys. They had a French band there by the name of Louis Spell (who recorded for Feature), accordion, guitar and drums. You would gather around the radio and listen that. That was fantastic!2  

I know, dear little girl,

The most beautiful girl, dear little girl, that I loved,

It's that I see you,

Staying at home, well, with me.

I'm going so far,

To see the little girl in Louisiana,

It's the beautiful girl that loves me so much,

That's why I'm begging you to come back so much.

1. Discussions with Margie and Paul T
2. South To Louisiana by John Broven
3. Lyrics by Herman M

Release Info:

The Fifty Cent Song | F-1040-A

Lover's Waltz | F-1040-B

Find:

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