Nice 2CD set that serves as a perfect introduction to the work of this legendary French singer/songwriter – and which includes a whopping 37 tracks in a very handsome package! The titles here are instantly recognizable – both from Brel's own famous versions, and from the English ones that have been done by other artists over the years. Titles include "Ne Me Quitte Pas", "Mathilde", "Jacky", "Mon Enfance", "Au Suivant", "Amsterdam", "Madeline", "Les Biches", "La Valse A Mille Temps", "La Ville S'Endormait", and "Le Moribond". CD

One of Francis Lai's more successful soundtracks, written shortly after his legendary work on Un Homme et Une Femme and Vivre Pour Vivre. The theme of the film is one of Lai's most instantly recognized ones, and it's served up here in a number of different versions with spare haunting keyboards. The rest of the score's a mix of spare moody electric tracks and sweeping orchestral ones with a great rush of emotion. Titles include "Un Homme Qui Me Plait", "Concerto Pour La Fin D'Un Amour", "Las Vegas Circus Ballet", and "Les Filles En Cage". (Soundtracks, French) LP, Vinyl record album

A sparkling postwar musical fantasy of Paris – one made up of a host of famous themes from French pop music of the 20th century, all set to lush string arrangements by a young Michel Legrand! The album's not as upbeat or jazzy as some of Legrand's later soundtrack work, but it's got a wonderful quality all its own – a warmly romantic vision of a Paris that was still putting the pieces back together less than a decade after WWII, presented in a way that glosses sweet sounds over darker corners with a vaguely eerie feel. The record instantly made Legrand an international favorite, and features "The Last Time I Saw Paris", "Paris Canaille", "Autumn Leaves", "A Paris", "La Vie En Rose", "Under Paris Skies", and "April In Paris. (Jazz, French) CD