The soundtracks to 2 of Jean Luc-Godard's greatest films – back to back on one CD! The score to Pierrot Le Feu features 9 tracks in all – 3 of which are vocal numbers by Anna Karina, who starred in the film, and who delivers the vocals with a decadently deadpan style that fits perfectly with the songs. The score to Week-End offered here is a new recording – done by the Orchestre Sinfonietta Moldava, under the direction of Leonardo Gasparini. There's a total of 16 tracks in all, with images from the films and notes in English and French! Titles include "Jamais Je Ne T'Ai Dit Que Je T'Aimerai Toujours", "Ferdinand", "Pierrot", "Twist Pour Jean-Luc", "Lamento", "L'Internationale", and "Elle Et Lui". (Soundtracks, French) CD

A late 60s soundtrack by Serge Gainsbourg – but a record that's easily as great as any of his studio albums from the same time! The bulk of the album has a spare, punctuated groove that's somewhat funky – quite a bit like Melody Nelson in its sense of space and timing – and its sex-heavy groove that bubbles up nicely from the bottom of bassy backings and mod orchestrations. Serge sings a bit – as does Anna Karina and Jean-Claude Brialy, Gainsbourg's co-stars in the film – and the orchestrations on the record were handled by Michel Colombier, and easily rank as some of his greatest work ever! Titles include both vocal and instrumental versions of "Sous Le Soleil Exactement", "Pas Mal Pas Mal Du Tout", "Boomerang", "Un Jour Comme Un Autre", "Ne Dis Rien", "Roller Girl", "GI Jo", "Pistolet Jo", "Photographes Et Religieuses", "Rien Rien J'Disais Ca Comme Ca", and "Un Poison Violet C'Est CA L'Amour". CD

A mindblowing collection of work from one of our favorite film composers ever – and a package that showcases as much jazz and vocal material as it does his work for cinema! The design is wonderful – a big-styled package with a huge volume of notes and photos – served up with 20 CDs that each focus on a different theme, many of which are presented in full album reissues of material from Michel Legrand's long and storied career – alongside other work that's always been hard to find on CD! CD1 features early jazz records Legrand Jazz and Plays Richard Rodgers. CD2 and CD3 feature vocal material – the albums Michel Legrand Chante, Serenades Du Xxeme Siecle, Les Moulins De Mon Coeur, and Michel Legrand (1981). CD 4 features nouvelle vague/new wave film work. CD5 features work with director Jacques Demy, including some unusual moments. CD6 is a tribute to Steve McQueen – soundtrack work from Thomas Crown Affair, Le Mans, and The Hunter. CD7 features albums with Stan Getz and Bud Shank. CD8 features 22 vocal songs by French performers. CD9 features 19 tracks by international performers. CD10 features rare work for stage musicals, including the long Monte Cristo soundtrack. CD11 features work for animated films – including Il Etait Une Fois L'Espace, Michel's Bird, and Oum Le Dauphin Blanc. CD12 features a tribute to Alain Delon – the soundtracks for Cercle Rouge and La Piscine, plus a vocal track sung by Delon. CD13 features work for director Jean Paul Rappenau – soundtracks for Le Sauvage, Les Maries De L'An II, and La Vie De Chateau. CD14 features full album collaborations with Phil Woods and Sarah Vaughan. CD15 features collaborations with Stephane Grappelli. CD16 features concert performances – the albums Legrand Cinema and Legrand Concert, plus bonus tracks. CD17 features orchestral works from recent years. CD18 and CD19 feature some material from rare or previously unreleased soundtracks. And CD20 features rare and unusual material – including work for Radio Luxembourg, some jazzy bits, and even a commercial for Heineken! (Soundtracks, French) CD

Music by Georges Delerue, Maurice Jaubert, Bernard Herrmann, Antoine Duhamel and Jean Constantin – from films that includes Les 400 Coups, Jules & Jim, La Peau Douce, Tirez Sur Le Pianiste, Fahrenheit 451, L'Enfant Sauvage, Le Dernier Metro, La Nuit Americaine – plus an interview disc with three short radio programs – en Francais of course! (Soundtracks, French) CD

A very cool look at a lost legacy in French music – disco and club grooves from the late 70s and early 80s, most of which never got any play at all on our side of the Atlantic! The tracks here mostly go way beyond the obvious choices of Cerrone and Kongas, and often have a playful approach to the music that has French vocals stepping out with catchy, groovy, and sometimes sexy lyrics – all set to rhythms that shift up nicely, and also move past some of the more standard Euro disco modes that were usually the main export of the period! There's not too much in the way of history in the notes – and we'd love to read more – but the song choices are great, very fresh – and include "Palace Hotel (ext)" by Preface, "Quand Tu Danses" by Micky Milan, "Chante Avec Moi" by Herbert Leonard, "Je Ne Veux Pas Rentrer Chez Moi Seule (single version)" by Agathe & Regrets, "Do You Speak French" by Night School, "Homosexualis Discothecus" by Raymond Alessandrini & Jean Yanne, "Visa Pour Aimer (ext)" by Plaisir, "Get Funk" by Black White & Co, and "Wake Up & Move Funk" by Eddy Rosemond. (Funky Compilations, French) CD