A really haunting bit of early electronics by Jean Michel Jarre – the soundtrack for the film Les Granges Brulees from the early 70s! The work here has a very different sound than Jarre's later music – not nearly so neat and tidy, with lots of rough edges, and shorter tunes that have a really kind of spooky, other-wordly feel. And yet despite these qualities, there's also a good degree of melody to the set – as the shorter tracks bubble forth with some great themes that sound even more enchanting in the analogue electronic mode. Titles include "L'Helicoptere", "La Chanson Des Granges Brulees", "Le Pays De Rose", "Theme De L'Argent", "Rose", "Les Granges Brulees", and "La Verite". CD

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". 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". (French, Soundtracks) CD

French composer Michel Magne is perhaps best remembered for his soundtrack work of the 60s – but this well-done collection digs farther back, and brings together not only some earlier film score work from the postwar years, but also some extra cool instrumental projects too! Magne's always got a special sort of twist in his music – and he was maybe one of the first French arrangers to incorporate newer ideas in pop and rock to his music, at a level that opened the door for later artists like Jean Claude Vannier or Michel Colombier – and like contemporary Alan Goraguer, he's also got some strong backing in jazz as well! Those many streams of styles really come into play here – in a big 3CD package that features 88 tracks in all – including the soundtracks to the films Le Repos Du Guerrier, Le Pain Vivant, Detournement De Mineures, Le Pique Assiette, and Un Singe En Hiver – plus work from a Musique Pour Films album, the records Musique Tachist, Paris, and A L'Alhambra – and even a rare collaboration with author Francoise Sagan! CD

That's Miles Davis and Jeanne Moreau on the cover – and image is a perfect summation of what makes this period in film music so unique! The set brings together music from the French new wave of the late 50s and early 60s – a time when revolutionary directors were putting fresh new images on screen, and also turning to lots of new ideas for their music, too – using jazz musicians like Miles to create some of their soundtracks, and also moving past some of the more overblown orchestral styles that had dominated most of the world of film scores during the postwar years. Much of the work used by these directors was in a style that was closer to the people, and more fitting for the sorts of themes in the films – and this 3CD collection features a wonderful array of different modes from the period. Many films are included here with a few selections from their famous soundtracks – and the 3CD package includes work from Tires Sur Le Pianiste (Shoot The Piano Player) by Georges Delerue, A Bout De Souffle (Breathless) by Marial Solal, L'Eau A La Bouche by Serge Gainsbourg, A Double Tour by Paul Misraki, Les Liaisons Dangereuxes by Art Blakey with Barney Wilen, La Tete Contre Les Murs by Maurice Jarre, Le Bel Age by Georges Delerue, Les Bonnes Femmes by Paul Misraki, Jules Et Jim by Georges Delerue, Lola by Michel Legrand, Les 400 Coups (400 Blows) by Jean Constantin, Une Femme Est Une Femme by Michel Legrand, Zazi Dans Le Metro by Fiorenzo Carpi, Ascenseur Pour L'Echafaud by Miles Davis, and Cleo De 5 A 7 by Michel Legrand. CD

A fantastic soundtrack that's maybe even more legendary than the unusual animated film for which it was created – a funky French classic that stands strong in the best tradition of work by Serge Gainsbourg, Jean-Claude Vannier, and Michel Colombier! No surprise, Alain Goraguer is part of the same generation, and did some great early jazzy backings for Serge – but here, his style is much funkier, with lots of sweet keyboard lines, wah wah guitar, and soaring larger orchestrations that really put the whole thing together – clearly one of Alain's best musical moments – and filled with great tunes that include "Le Bracelet", "Deshominisation", "Mort De Draag", "La Femme", "Mira Et Ten", and "Ten Et Medor". Plus, this great reissue is mixed from the original tapes – and features 10 more bonus tracks – all appearing here for the first time ever! 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! 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! CD

CD reissue of the full soundtrack to the film version of Guys & Dolls – one that not only contains all of the vocal performances from the movie, but also adds in additional songs from the play that weren't in the film – as well as three unedited studio outtakes as well! Due to contractual issues at the time of release, there was never a proper LP that featured the music – a damn shame, given that Frank Sinatra turns in some of his best on screen vocal performances ever in the movie – alongside a great cast that includes Vivian Blaine, Stubby Kaye, Jean Simmons, and even Marlon Brando – making a rare appearance here as a singer! Titles form the film include the sublime "Adelaide", plus "Guys & Dolls", "Fugue For Tinhorns", "Luck Be A Lady", "Sit Down You're Rocking The Boat", "If I Were A Bell", "I'll Know", "Pet Me Poppa", "Sue Me", and "The Oldest Established Permanent Crap Game". Bonus tracks include "A Bushel & A Peck", "My Time Of Day", "I've Never Been In Love Before", and "Marry The Man Today" from the Broadway version – plus "I Know", "If I Were A Bell", and "A Woman In Love" in unedited versions. CD

Maybe one of the coolest collection of soundtrack work we've ever heard, and maybe one of the most obscure as well – given that the tracks here were all done for Belgian films of the 60s and 70s, and include some rare work from composers you might know from bigger name European movies! There's a very jazzy vibe to many of these numbers – and the set echoes some of the great jazz and funk collections on the same label – with a similarly well-chosen batch of cuts that are balanced out beautifully, and presented in the kind of package with notes that let you know that these guys really know what they're doing! The whole thing's great, and very groovy – and titles include "Les Trucs Du Miroir" by Kryzstof Komeda, "Nach Shift" by Alain Pierre, "Boloero Pour Denise" by Jean Mari Bigman, "Poursuite Sur Les Dunes D'Ostende" by Francois De Roubaix, "Jonny's Theme" by Rocco Granata, "Theme 19" by Pieter Verlinden, "De Discotheek" by Bert Paige, "Courage Fuyons" by Vladimir Cosma, "Dancing" by Martial Solal, and "Tu M'Tapes Sur Les Nerfs. (Funky Compilations, Soundtracks) CD

The music of the French New Wave – brought out beautifully in an overstuffed 3CD set! The late 50s shift in French cinema is arguably one of the most important film moments in the 20th century – and although the movies are best remembered for their directors, stars, and striking images – most of the films also had some pretty amazing music as well! In fact, we've always felt that the music was integral to the Nouvelle Vague – from famous jazz scores, to lovely lyrical passages, to bold orchestral arrangements that also ended up having a huge impact on wider European music as well. This package is the first we've ever seen to really dig deep into the New Wave – and it brings together 80 tracks from dozens of films – a really wide variety of music, provided by artists who include Michel Legrand, Georges Delerue, Paul Misraki, Pierre Jansen, Miles Davis, Maurice Jarre, Jean Constantin, Martial Solal, Michel Magne, Antoine Duhamel, Alain Romans, and others – from movies that include 400 Blows, Jules & Jim, Hiroshima Mon Amour, Les Bonnes Femmes, Une Femme Est Une Femme, Breathless, Weekend, Lola, Cleo De 5 A 7, Le Bonheur, Alphaville, and many others! Some films are represented by a few tracks, others by famous themes – and the package also features a booklet with notes in French and English too. CD

2 of the greatest soundtracks ever from Francois De Roubaix – both recorded in that magical year of 1967! First up on the set is Les Adventuriers – a mindblowingly wonderful score for a Robert Enrico film, and one that offers a unique blend of jazzy rhythms, western themes, and more – all tied together by an extremely haunting theme! Some tunes have spaghetti western-esque acoustic guitar and whistling, while others have a more Frenchy isolated piano, played with a slightly watery feel – and some others take on a much more driving, almost Francis Lai-like approach. De Roubaix score for Jean Pierre Melville's classic Le Samourai follows in a much darker mode – as moody and solitary as the film's main character, but graced with some warmer touches on piano, flute, and even a bit of organ – none of which are especially jazzy, but which color in the music with extremely evocative tones. Titles include "Laetitia Par Alain Delon", "Journal De Bord", "Enterrement Sous-Marin", "Acrobaties Aeriennes", "Hotel Sandwich", "Martey's", "Valerie", "Le Samourai", and "Le Destin De Costello". CD

A great combination of two French soundtracks – Flic Ou Voyage and Le Guignolo – both written by Philippe Sarde for films directed by Georges Lautner and starring Jean-Paul Belmondo, and both featuring jazz-based groups led by Nat Peck. Players on the set include Hubert Laws, Chet Baker, Ron Carter, Maurice Vander, and Toots Thielmans – and the tracks on both sets is a mix of sombre scoring and freer jazz numbers. Tracks include "Stan", "Ou Voyou", "Variation Voyou", "Pour Chet", "Pour Toots", "Venise", "Pour Jean Paul", and "Bibou Blues". CD