Billy John and the Continentals are most famous for a couple 45s on Floyd Soileau’s Jin label in Ville Platte, “The Alligator”/”All Over Again” (Jin 203) and “Slap It To Me”/”Shooting Squirrels” (Jin 214). (Thanks to Boursin for this info – see his comment below correcting my original post regarding “Po Boy”.)
Billy John was Billy John Babineaux, and I believe he passed away in 2002. I’m not sure who was in the Continentals, but Kirby Boudreaux is a possibility.
They also released two 45s on Roland “Rocky” Robin’s N-Joy label in a more conventional r&b style. The first is this fine cover of Jessie Hill’s “Ooh Pooh Pah Doo” with the ballad “Does Someone Care (for Me)” on the flip.
The second N-Joy release has two more Billy Babineaux originals, the rockin’ “Lover Boy Blue” and the horn-driven r&b “Put the Hurt on You”.
Their Jin releases were actually “The Alligator”/”All Over Again” (Jin 203) and “Slap It To Me”/”Shooting Squirrels” (Jin 214). “Po Boy” is not a song at all but the artist who recorded the ’70s funk track “I Wanna Dance”, which was used as the B side on a recent vinyl reissue of the “Slap It To Me” 45 aimed at funk collectors… “Slap It To Me” is a killer organ instro with that swampy Louisiana feel, well worth investigating even by garage fans!
OOH POO PAH-DOO: BILLY BABINEAUX-DRUMS, BOBBY BABINEAUX-GUITAR, RICHARD ABSHIRE-BASS, MIKE THIBODEAUX-ORGAN,
BILLY RAXDALE-ALTO SAX, LIONEL ROBIN-TENOR SAX, MIKE HARRELSON-BARITONE SAX, AARON ROBIN-
TRUMPET.
LOVER BOY BLUE: BILLY BABINEAUX-DRUMS, BOBBY BABINEAUX-GUITAR, GENE CHOATE-BASS, MIKE THIBODEAUX-ORGAN,
BILLY RAXDALE-ALTO SAX, LIONEL ROBIN-TENOR SAX, RICK ROBERTS-BARITONE SAX, AARON ROBIN-
TRUMPET.
MANAGER: KIRBY BOUDREAUX
DO YOU HAVE ANY PHOTOS OF BILLY JOHN? I WAS WORKING AT THE PAT THEATRE AND WOUD LET BILLY AND HIS DATE IN FOR FREE. ALSO MY WIFE AND I WOULD DANCE TO HS MUSIC. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR HELP ON THIS
In my first post I neglected to mention that the lead vocals were done by Billy Babineaux and harmony vocals by Bobby Babineaux. I know these and the above facts because from Nov., 1964 to Feb., 1967, I played bass in the band.
Robert Plant recently performed a cover of one of their songs – Can’t Buy My Love – on his Band of Joy Album released in 2010.
Thanks for putting these songs on the internet. I haven’t heard them since I was very young.
Bryan (son of Bobby Babineaux)
Bryan if you have more pics of the band we would love if we could get them.Please email me if you have any, Thanks
Julie, sorry I don’t know if I ever responded to your post. Please contact me and I will send photos of the the band from the early 60s. Thanks! Bryan –
Can you message me on Facebook under Julie Raxsdale?
Julie. Did you ever connect with Bryan? He is my ex-husbamd and I’m sure I have some photos of Uncle Billy and my sweet FIL Bobby. I may even be able to get ahold of some of the band. If you still need, look for me on FB. Lori Soileau Babineaux
My father in law is Bill Raxsdale. We have been talking about these times a lot before we found this website.Thanks to whomever posted these records and the picture;)
Billy was inducted int the Louisiana Music hall of Fame around 2000. One of the 45’s he made sold recently on e bay for $400.00 for one copy of Slap it to me/ Shooting Squirrels. Some company in Germany is making copy’s and selling them for $13.00 per 45 copy. Still don’t understand it. Billy was an outstanding Performer, Drummer and vocalist.
Hey Bryan I obviously didn’t respond to you 2 years ago. Life happens😊 I completely forgot about emailing you. I will try to find you on Facebook,if you have one. If I don’t find you I am the only Julie Raxsdale. So maybe you can find me.
Billy and Bobby Babineaux are two of the best people I’ve ever had the privilege of spending time with. Their family ties and friendship changed and inspired my life forever. Thank You both Billy and Bobby for being the wonderful examples of what great people are.
Thank You, Derk Maturin
Life truly is stranger than fiction. I am Bobby Babineaux, Billy’s brother. Just recieved a call from a good friend, Kirby Boudreaux. He was our manager for some years. The call he recieved was from FOX Sports Channel. They want to use a recording we did many years ago called “Going back to Philly” for the Philadelphia Phillies Baseball team on the WORLD SERIES game on TV. Not sure how many times they will use if. I wish my brother was alive to enjoy this. He truly was the driving force for everything we did.