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 # : GARBAGE41
Subtitle: Monsieur Fantaisie - 16 Gallic groovy tunes on various 45s
La fantaisie parfaite... does the perfect fantasy really exist? Here are 16 French and Belgian artists with uncommon 60s tunes. Really, is this just a fantasy? Or were these well known artists cooler than you could imagine or remember?
(Palette EPPB7281 from 1967)
Released on 01-01-1967 by Gilles Oliviers and Dominique Ney. This couple were from Belgium and released at least three 45s in the late 60s. It�s like a dialogue sung by both singers. Only one band ever tried (successfully) to play this song on their live set and that was the (also Belgian) band called Dutronic. It�s all the same for me (= Ca m�est egal)
2. le pr�dicateur - jo alan
(Opal JAL01 from 196.)
Jo Alan or Jorge Aliane.This B-side of �Le demon du midi� is also a typical late 60s Belgian soul/popsike tune and it�s all about the end of the world and the final judgment. Who�s gonna win? Lucifer? Who�s gonna pay? More about Jo Alan on vol 24 and vol 26.
3. speedy n� 1 - andre brasseur
(RCA-Victor 49-864 from 1972)
Recorded live at the Locomotiv�Club and released in 1972. All instruments were played by Brasseur and his One Man Band (he called his His Multisound Organ). There�s a lot more to read about him on vol 2, vol 49, vol 52 and certainly on vol 31.
4. j'entends un symphonie - liliane st-pierre
(Disques Fleche CF03 from 1968)
It�s the fabulous Reg Guest Orchestra backing up the Belgian singer who was a Claude Fran�ois prot�g�e. Indeed, this is a French translation of �I hear a symphony�. And it works alright! The flip is not so interesting �Le brouillard est tomb� sur la ville�. She is still performing and in the early 90s she represented Belgium for the Eurovision song contest.
5. relax baby - les cousins
(Palette 2PAL22003 from 1962)
On vol 20 you could listen to their own English version. This French version comes from an EP which also contains �Le Robot� (or �The Robot� as it was called on several compilations of guitar instrumentals), �Je reviendrai my love� and �Hey hey�, a cover of a Will Tura recording. The Cousins (or the Continental Cousins as Tim Warren called them) still are the best known 60s guitar band from Belgium.
6. viens tous les soirs - nino ferrer
(Riviera 121325
Some kind of a sitar invites you to this middle eastern flavoured chanson by one of the greatest of the French sixties, Nino Ferrer. It�s a song about Mustapha in 1961 (it means �Come every night�). It�s B-side is �L�amour, la mort, les enterrements� or �Love, death, burials�.
7. cher monsieur fantaisie - herbert leonard
(Mercury 154 627 MCF from 196.)
A great undiscovered psychedelic pop song from the late 60s. Herbert Leonard has recorded more cool 45s including French translations of �Somebody to love� and �The letter�. This b-side is one of his best efforts.
8. un �l�phant me regarde - antoine
(Vogue V45-1363 from 1967)
Not the best known Antoine 45 �Un �l�phant me regarde� (= �An elephant is watching me�) has always been one of my favourites. It�s so brilliant that I also included his Italian version on vol 55.
9. scotch cha cha - henri salvador
(Barclay 62111 from 196.)
I bought this 45 for �Babylone 21-29�, his superb version of the Norman Maine classic. But this funny cha-cha b-side is more than just a sizzling hot cha cha tune. The story behind this recording is so funny if you can understand French.
10. cl�opatre - henri salvador
(Rigolo RI18727 from 196.)
French version of �Little Egypt�, the Leiber-Stoller classic which I loved since the first time I heard it (that was the Downliners Sect version). And isn�t the sleeve fantastic? More Salvador entries on vol 24, vol 37, vol 47 and most of all on vol 58.
11. le mini-minimum - kiki
(Palette EPPB7304 from 1968)
This youngster has recorded 3 or 4 EP�s. This one includes a French translation of �The bare necessities� from the Disney movie �The jungle book�. More info on this young French lad can be found on vol 4.
12. est-ce que tu m'aimes - nancy holloway
(Decca 70951 from 196
(a-side = dix bons raisons) This b-side of �Dix bons raisons� is a French translation of The Contours� �Do you love me�. I think it was recorded around 1964. Nancy Holloway recorded a lot of 45s, but most are too cheesy, even for me.
13. la nuit est l� - eddy richards & the musketeers
(Ferlayn 1020 from 196.)
Almost nothing is known about this guy. It starts as a Ventures-like instrumental, but then it turns out to be a great beat song from around 1964. Two breaks in the song make it even more enjoyable. He�s got a funny French accent, though.
14. pa sou �a - jho archer
(CBS 3853 from 196.)
Is this Creole? Sounds a little bit French, but I can�t understand anything. It�s a weird version of �Ca ne me dit rien�; the a-side is �La premi�re � savoir�, a French version of �Among the first to know�. Wild uptempo tune by this completely unknown guy.
15. fi�re de toi - audrey
(Salvador 434-852BE
Hey, cool off now. A slow tune by a sweet darling called Audrey. Released on Henri Salvador�s own label. Audrey is �proud of you� and everybody must know it. The other three songs are ballads as well.
16. la guerre - antoine
(Vogue EPL8401 from 1965)
Now another EP with 4 own compositions by the king of French beatnik culture: Antoine. This anti-war protest song is one of his first recordings. The other songs on this EP are fine as well. Not so easy to find this one, though.
