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 # : GARBAGE24
Subtitle: Vampire Gaulois - 16 pièces bizarres en 45 tours
And here's the guys' answer to "Femme Fatale". 14 Gaulois who sing about the past and the future, about parties and girls, cars and space traveling. Err, anybody in need for a tequila? We could also take a pastis on our trip back to Paris 1965...
(Polydor 27076
The best instrumental version of Mickey’s Monkey ever! And this isn’t even the best song on this 45. The best song ever by band leader Jacques Denjean is “La route” itself. I’m not really sure about the year of release, but
2. julie, coup de foudre - jacques hustin
(Pathé 2C016-10.022 from 1969)
A Belgian singer with a super swinger! My first encounter with Jacques was his 45 “La marijuana” which I already put on vol.4 “Jolie Folie”. Despite his great looks most of his songs were cheesy ballads.
3. boing-bong - les chaussettes noires
(Barclay 70469 from 1962)
A novelty ditty which could have been a minor hit in the USA if it weren’t sung in French. This EP is not their best known and that explains why this song failed to reappear on a comp until now.
4. martian hop - les champions
(Bel Air 221 202 from 1963)
Even crazier than the original American version by The Ran-Dells. Except for the nonsense words and sounds it’s an instrumental. If you really want to listen to a French translation of this novelty hit, you should try to find the Henri Salvador version which I have on a 45. Their EP also contains a weird version of “If I had a version”.
5. la jaguar - marcel amont
(Polydor 66 422 from 1965)
A song about the car with a serious big nod to “If I had a hammer”. It’s got the typical early 60s ye-ye go-go swirling beat.
6. comme un chien - richard wery
(Decca 23.728
Another guy with a Belgian link or even Belgian roots. A soft voice, some horns, but still it’s got this distinguished mix of chanson and folk rock. “Like a dog” is one of the very few great songs he recorded in his short career.
7. le pantin - michel laurent
(Twist 26.018
Another seldom seen EP by an artist I’ve never heard of before. “Pantin” is a puppet on a string. Did you know that Sandie Shaw recorded her smash hit “Puppet on a string” in French as well? It’s "Tout petit pantin”.
8. une fille dorée - ely tchenko
(Palette PB25.458 from 1966)
Another fast paced ye-ye tune about a girl in gold. On vol 43 you can listen to the female Italian answer by Caterina Caselli “L’uomo d’oro”. And again this is a completely unknown release on the Belgian label Palette.
9. le vampire - jo alan
(Vogue EPL8490 from 1966)
Halloween, here we come with the (Belgian?) singer Jo Alan. It’s on an EP which contains one of the best French recordings from 1966 “Les bons conseils” which reappeared on several comps. For more info about Jo Alan check vols 26 and 41.
10. dracula cha cha cha - henri salvador
(Barclay 70337 from 1969)
In the 1940s he started his incredible career: he survived all the crooners including Frank Sinatra. Even now in the 21st century he’s still performing at the biggest concert halls all over the world. On vol 47 you can listen to his "Coutufon et foncoutu" also from this EP.
11. beta gamma l'ordinateur - henri salvador
(Rigolo RI 18 750 from 1968)
Is this really 1968? It’s even weirder than every Kraftwerk, Faust or Can song. As if it were sung by a computer (=ordinateur) itself! Kill for this 45 which is his most bizarre ever and he did A LOT OF bizarre recordings.
12. le cosmonaute - jean-claude darnal
(Vogue EPL 8530 from 1967)
A spacey late 60s tune by an unknown singer who might have recorded only one single good tune and it’s this “Le cosmonaute”.
13. messieurs les cosmonautes - jo alan
(Palette PB25.962 from 1969)
An even better space tune is this “Messieurs les cosmonautes”, the b-side of “Qu’est-ce que ne va pas ?“. Its rhythm reminds me also a little bit of “Puppet on a string” .
14. les filles de l'an 2000 - pierre savy
(Vogue VB131
Written in the mid 60s it’s about the girls from the year 2000. I still prefer the girls from the 60s though.
15. les indiens - les players
(CBS DP1693
The best of all: a deranged organ driven psych freakbeat tune by the band that also recorded a super French translation of Louie Louie. They were from the northeastern part of France I’m told. If you like the compilation Wizzzzz, you will love this one!
16. tequila - didier lapeyrere
(Philips B372.557F
This sounds early 60s to me (or maybe even late 50s). Anyway, it’s a fantastic French version of this Champs classic. And it’s got the longest syllable I’ve ever heard: Teeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeequila!!!
