Now it's time to give these weird sounds the credit they deserved.
It's amazing; just LOOK WHAT I HAVE FOUND in thrift stores, second hand markets and sometimes even IN THE TRASH CAN.
Thanks to CD I was able to save these unusual tunes on 45 rpm 7" records. It's obvious that these 45s have been played a lot, so surface noice is almost obligatory. No hi-tek cd quality, but just back to the times where no one had ever heard of digital recording studios.
All the songs on these compilations are from the original 45 rpm records released prior to 1980 when CD took over the world of warm vinyl sounds. I've tried to exclude any song that's been compiled before, but as I don't own each and every compilation album ever made, there might be some songs that you already own on another compilation album. Look, listen and enjoy...
LABEL: In The Trash Can Records
CAT # : GARBAGE04
Subtitle: Jolie Folie - 16 trucs de folie extravagante
This volume contains 16 artists singing in French, from France, Belgium, Switzerland, Canada, Spain and 1 I don't know. All sixties stuff from beat & y�y� to soul and more exotic sounds. For more French sounds check out vol 23, vol 24 and vol 37. And if you like Spanish, German,... listen to vol 28... Is this "Ils sont fous ces gaulois vol 4"?
(Supreme S.150 from 1970)
Let's start with a Swiss guy who recorded this fantastic soul beat tune for a Swiss label called Mabel. It was a different sleeve as well. There was only one guy I know that could tell me something about this Swiss beat guy. Organ, guitars, bass, drums and the crazy vocals of Jos�. The flip is "Il n'y a pas d'amour" and is a typical love ballad.
2. la marijuana - jacques hustin
(Path� C006-10.718)
Jacques was a Belgian guy, I think from Li�ge whose recordings were made for the French market and he broke many a girl's heart. This song is not a warning against marijuana. "And still your dad doesn't smoke marijuana". And this was the single's A-side! The B-side is a ballad called "Un jour sans toi". Just go for the Marijuana side!
3. carr� blanc - jacques albin
(Vogue VB.113 from 1969)
Like the two previous recordings this song was also written by the artist himself. Carr� Blanc is a typical late 60s beat tune with horns, but it's still extremely groovy to dance to! And like the first two it's also backed by a ballad "Ne t'en vas pas" (=Don't go).
4. c'ex - philippe nicaud
(Riviera 121 399 L)
Ooooh yeah: SEX and that's the only word you're going to hear. Wild percussion, frantic bass lines, groovy organ sounds and more. If you like the compilation "Wizzz" you're gonna fall in love with this tune. On the flip you'll find "Qu'est-ce qu'il dit?" (=What does he say?) with vocals by Viviane Blassel and Bob Martin who have an erotic laden conversation. Great 45 with a super cool sleeve.
5. sans chemise et sans pantalons - fonseca & ses anges noirs (Ronnex R.1313 from 196.)
Fonseca came from the Cape Verde Islands and landed in Paris in the late 50s. He discovered the cha cha cha and combined it with his native rhythms: the result is unbelievable. You're gonna get hot (the song means "You're gonna dance tonight without shirt and without your pants"). I've never heard a more sexy cha cha cha song. He recorded several singles and an album and then disappeared. The flipside is on vol 36.
6. tu peux cogner mais tu peux pas rentrer - clifton chenier (Barclay 62.246 from 1976)
Maybe the best known zydeco artist who mixed French patois, English and Creole. This is a translation of "Keep-a-knockin' but you can't come in". The accordionist died in 1987 aged 62, but was already sick for a long time (which costed him his right foot). This song was coupled with a fine version of "Choo choo ch'boogie"; both songs were also issued on the Blue Star album "Frenchin' the boogie".
7. il n'y aurait pas tout �a - gerard madiata
(Tcheza T51 from 196.)
Super French pop and I've never ever heard it before on the zillion of French parties I went to. The girls at the backing vocals are the point final that makes this song so fantastic and swinging. Only few seem to know that he was a Belgian guy or at least lived in Belgium and turned stages upside down in the early sixties. Most of his songs (unlike this "jerk") were latin influenced, mostly rhumba like the b-side "Taxi keba".
8. tu peux te moquer - richard w�ry
(Decca 23.526 )
And again a Belgian singer from around Brussels. "You're joking", but still I love you; that's the story behind this lovely French song. "J'ai mis les bouts" is the other side and maybe it wil reappear on a future volume because it's a great song as well, but not as charming as this one.
9. l'agent secret - kiki
(Palette EPPB 7286 from 1967)
Again an unknown gem nobody seems to know. Kiki, a boy of 10 or 11 who jerks like the best French y�y� singers of those days. 'L'agent secret" is like the French answer to Nancy Sinatra's "The last of the secret agents". This ain't no kids stuff! Because he's so unknown and remained undiscovered for all those years, it's also possible he was Belgian. "Ta-shi-blou" is recommended as well while the other two songs on this EP are slows. I was even surprised to see an anti-racism song "Mon ami Mustapha" (My friend Mustapha). A year earlier he recorded his first EP and I'm still looking for that one. Kiki, wherever you are, show yourself!
10. faut pas faire �a - les players
(CBS DP 1693)
If you are a 60s punk lover, you certainly know "It just ain't right" by London & The Bridges, a 1966 release on Date. This is as you might have guessed, the French version. And what version! It easily equals the American original. Les Players have recorded several 45s in the mid and late 60s (including a terrific French Louie Louie). I think this single was released in 1967. Don't forget to check out the flip "Les Indiens" because it's even better (is that possible???). See vol 24.
11. hey hey - los cuervos
(Philips 319942 BF)
??? A Spanish band on a French compilation? The intro is in Spanish, but then the band starts freaking out in French. This must be around 1967 and I really would like to know more about this band. I'm sure this song must have been a dancefloor filler on mod parties in Barcelona and Gijon.
12. la cloche - michel paje
(Vogue EPL 8501 from 1966)
"The clock" is the only song on this 4-track EP that can entertain a party crowd. Too bad Michel Paje didn't record more songs like this. He is not interesting, but this song sure is.
13. perdu - les classels
(Disc AZ SG30)
"Les trois cloches" is the a-side of this 45, but it's the b-side I'm attracted to. Fantastic late 60s French psych which should have been on the best 2001 compilation "Wizzz", at least if you like French pop. "Perdu" (="Lost") is drenched in a pool of fuzz, echoed vocals, loads of dementia
14. j'�tais son copain - les million-airs
(London FC.744 from 1965)
And here finally a Canadian band. Les Million-Aires recorded four 45s and one album in 1964 and 1965. "J'�tais son copain" (="I used to be her boyfriend") was their last. This is amongst the finest you can find in Quebec sixties beat punk. "Sois fid�le", the b-side, is a love ballad about being faithfull.
15. comme un tigre - el toro & les cyclones
(Vogue V.45-900)
If my memory serves me well, this was recorded in 1962 and the band included Jacques Dutronc on leadguitar. This is a French version of "Tiger". The flip side also contains a cover, "Skinny Lizzy"
16. c'est fini, bien fini - larry greco
(Le Voix De Son Maitre 7EFG790)
"C'est fini, bien fini", a song I often play at the end of a show (="It's over, all over"). This EP contains at least one other great song: "Tu l'as voulue" which might be used for a future volume of this series. It was released by the French division of His Master's Voice.
