Middle-Eastern '60s teenpop! Wild backup singers and a groovy guitar/flute solo add a distinctive, exotic touch to this lovers-from-different-cultures song. Still, it's Gene Pitney's incredible, dramatic singing that pushes this over into the "so weird it's wonderful" arena.
available on CD - 25 All-Time Greatest Hits (Varese Vintage)
Excellent early jazz song from Serge with a very sparse arrangement and a lively rhythm. Further proof that the man could do anything he wanted.
from Gainsbourg Confidentiel (Polygram) available on CD - Du Jazz Dans le Ravin (Polygram)
04 May 01 ·delicado: yeah, I was completely blown away when I first heard the 'du jazz...' compilation! Astounding stuff, and you're right - he tried everything and was almost always successful... 18 Jun 01 ·tempted: Have you heard "Nazi Rock"? 18 Jun 01 ·delicado: ok, emphasis on the 'almost' I guess. I actually have friends who enjoy 'rock around the bunker', but it's not really my cup of tea. 09 Apr 02 ·tempted: The saddest thing about Gainsbourg's restless life is that he got most popular in France on the most awkward musical road he ever followed. That was the half-arse reggae music he made. But still he's a hero of mine.
A super cool french vocal with an excellent organ sound running through it. Serge's jazzier output (showcased on the excellent 'du jazz dans le ravin' CD compilation) really blew me away when I first heard it, and this track is probably my favorite from this period.
from No. 4 available on CD - Du jazz dans le ravin (Philips)
24 Jul 01 ·tinks: i absolutely love this song, especially how serge just sounds so very...FRENCH! the way he draws out the word "twisteur" cracks me up every single time i hear it.
An excellent cut, with wailing big band brass and cool vibes. The song is quite familiar - musically it is an early draft of the standard 'Black coffee', sounding similar, but slightly sped-up. The percussion is also excellent - lots of bongos. Overall, the sound recalls some of Mancini's best 50s work, but somehow sounds even more vital and brilliant to me. Milt's work on the vibes also seems to have influenced Angelo Badalamenti (his David Lynch soundtrack work, anyway), and the solo work of Barry Adamson.
from For someone I love, available on CD (Riverside)
Blossom manages to play the piano while filing her fingernails into sharp claws on this track. She assures her departing Romeo that he is going to get his come-uppance in the love department and justice will provide her with a "front row seat" to enjoy watching him squirm!
This wonderful album was originally recorded for the Hires Root Beer Company (!) while she was singing on their commercials, and was available for 50 cents and two bottle caps. Now, a copy can cost you around $150-$200. Luckily, the fine people at Disk Union in Japan have gotten a hold of a mint copy of the original LP and released it to Cd.
