A huge tribute to a giant force in French music at midcentury – bandleader, arranger, and producer Eddie Barclay – a man who recorded plenty of records on his own, then went on to launch the Barclay label to showcase a generation worth of fresh French talent! The first two CDs provide ... (Jazz, French)read moreCD
Brigitte Bardot's best known on these shores as an actress, but during the 60s she cut some really fantastic work on the scene in Paris – including a fair bit of groovers that were done with help from the legendary Serge Gainsbourg! Bardot provided a fantastic new voice in the world of pop ... read moreCD
Benjamin Biolay —
Grand Prix ... CD Universal (France), 2020. New Copy ...
$22.99
Rock-solid work from the mighty Benjamin Biolay – one of the few contemporary French talents who moves us as much as his counterparts from the 60s scene – and an artist who's maybe now got a legacy that's even larger than some of his earlier heroes! The album's got a sound that's as ... read moreCD
A moving tribute to the late, great Serge Gainsbourg – served up in a mix of film and songs from his famous partner Jane Birkin! The set features a DVD directed by Jane – a 40 minute documentary filled with private images of Serge, laid out in a very loving tribute – and it's ... read moreCD
A fantastic live set from Serge Gainsbourg – and a record that stands as a concert accompaniment to his famous albums Aux Armes Et Cetera and Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Etoiles – both done in a reggae mode with work from Sly & Robbie! The famous Jamaican duo are part of the group here ... read moreCD
One of Serge Gainsbourg's biggest international albums – and kind of an 80s update of his earlier erotic sound! There's something of a clubby vibe to the record – and most of the album was recorded in the US, with a fair bit of synthesizer and guitar, in kind of a colder post-new wave ... read moreCD
Sweet and lovely pop from Francoise Hardy – one of the best early albums she recorded in France, and a sparkling batch of all-original tracks that show that Hardy was as much of a songwriter as she was a singer – something that most of her contemporaries couldn't claim! Francoise has ... read moreCD
A very groovy record from the legendary Francoise Hardy – a set that's not only got the lovely lady out front on vocals and acoustic guitar, but one that also features totally great arrangements from Brit maestro Johnny Harris – who gives most of the record a slightly different vibe ... read moreCD
Really lovely sounds from the young Francoise Hardy – easily one of the coolest, most confident female singers in France at the time! Hardy is neither the emotive style of postwar passionate singers, nor the too-cool style of the left bank – and instead, she's got this way of mixing ... read moreCD
A real step forward for the amazing Francoise Hardy – a singer who was already great at the start, but who reaches out a bit more globally here – as she works with Brit arranger Charles Blackwell, in a mode that's got a bit of groovy 60s London in the mix! The tracks include many ... read moreCD
A seminal debut from the young Francoise Hardy, and a record that set the tone for a whole generation of French music to come! The album's a remarkable achievement – especially considering that Francoise was 18 at the time – filled with original tunes that have a really fresh ... read moreCD
Rare English language recordings from the sublime Francoise Hardy – music that's every bit as wonderful as her famous French recordings – and even more compelling to our Anglo-styled ears! The vocals are wonderful – sung with this sense of darkness that's almost got an echo of ... read moreCD
American soul, recorded in France – some of the first work of the 60s by singer Nancy Holloway, who'd made a key relocation to Paris at the time! Much of this work is a cross between pop and soul – with strong influences from the New York Brill Building scene of the time, but also some ... (Soul, French)read moreCD
Lovely English-language work from Nana Mouskouri – a set recorded with some really great arrangements from Bobby Scott, who seems to help Nana pack even more feeling than usual in her work! Scott's arrangements have some elements of jazz, but are usually more complicated overall – ... (Vocalists, French)read moreCD
Beautifully groovy work from mid 60s France – all by a singer who's every bit as great as France Gall, Francoise Hardy, or other French greats of the time – but not nearly as well known! This cool collection should correct that fact, as it finally gives worldwide exposure to this ... read moreCD
A beautiful album of French bossa nova tracks – sung by vocalist Henri Salvador, and backed with some light jazzy guitar and piano, very much in the style of backings you'd hear on a classic album by Joao Gilberto. Salvador's voice is wonderful – with that warm, honest quality you'd ... read moreCD
The groovy French pop of Serge Gainsbourg gets the remix treatment! After years of being sampled by hip hoppers, referenced by post-rockers, and claimed as an influence by a wide range of singers and instrumentalists – Serge Gainsbourg's finally breaking into the mainstream of modern music ... read moreCD