This page is part of a larger guide, reviewing various French chanson and musette recordings, focussing mainly on older, classic material, but also branching out to include some newer performers working in the same styles. Suggestions, recommendations and corrections are always welcome...
This page covers the letter "C"
Reda Caire "Le Seducteur" (Forlane, 1992)
Reda Caire "Succes Et Raretes - Enregistrements Originaux: 1933-1946" (Chansophone, 1998)
Reda Caire "Un Soir A Havana" (Musique De France, 1999)
Reda Caire "1934-1962" (Fremeaux, 2004)
Maurice Chevalier "Louise" (ASV, 1997)
Maurice Chevalier "Cocktail Hour" (Allegro, 2000)
The good-natured Chevalier is perhaps best known to American audiences for his timelessly lecherous "Gigi" -- this 2-CD set of English-language recordings will help reinforce whatever pleasurable stereotypes come from that association. The man had a knack for infusing his songs with a figurative wink and a leer... no matter what language he sang in. These are later recordings, but no less enjoyable for their lack of Gallic "authenticity"... As with the other Allegro Cocktail collections, this barebones 2-CD set lamentably has no liner notes, but has the advantage of providing a lot of cute music for a very modest price.
Maurice Chevalier "Ma Pomme: Chansons: 1935-1946" (Naxos, 2000)
This set of comedic oldies was, I'll admit, a bit too rarified for simple little old me. Chevalier gallops through one brisk, musichall-ish tune after another; I'm sure the wordplay is a gas for those fluent in French, but for those of us who aren't as adept, the musical end may fall flat. Nice archival material, but not as fun to listen to as some of the more melodic chanson of the same era. Includes a Frenchified version of a Brazilian samba standard, "Mama Eu Queiro," which was first made famous by the great Carmen Miranda... This version, while not as dazzling as hers, is still a nice slice of cross-pollinating world culture...
Maurice Chevalier "Etoiles De La Chanson" (Disky, 2000)
Maurice Chevalier "Volume One: 1919-1930" (Fremeaux, 2003)
Maurice Chevalier "Volume Two: 1930-1949" (Fremeaux, 2003)
Maurice Chevalier "Le Plus Belles Chansons" (Coppelia, 2003)
Andre Claveau "Andre Claveau" (EMI/Disques Pathe, 1998)
A 2-CD set of this mellow, milquetoast-y Gallic crooner... Claveau had a mild, yet declarative delivery -- suave yet masculine, and very easy on the ears. The arrangements tend to be subdued and undistinctive, though this collection is nice to listen to, in a relaxing, mellow mode.
Andre Claveau "Etoiles De La Chanson" (Melodie, 2002)
Andre Claveau "Etoiles De La Chanson" (Disky, 2002)
This is the exact same playlist as the Melodie set listed above... 22 prime recordings from Claveau's heyday.
Andre Claveau "Cerisier Rose Et Pommier Blanc " (Universal, 1998)
Andre Claveau "Domino" (Rym Musique, 2008)
Joseph Columbo/Various Artists "Compositions: 1924-1942" (Fremeaux & Associates, 1993)
An outstanding archival collection of musette accordionist Joseph Columbo, featuring recordings by Columbo and his family, as well as other stars of the genre, such as Guy Viseur and Guerino. An immigrant of Italian background, Columbo wrote many of the most enduring tunes of this style, including "Germaine" and "Passion", both included here. It's lovely stuff, though best taken in small doses. There's a bit of gypsy guitar thrown in, as well as some clarinet work that gives a Little Rascals tone to some of the songs. Recommended!
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