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 "L"
La Palma "1930-1936" (Chansophone, 1996)
Gloria Lasso "Gloria Lasso" (EMI-Pathe, 1998)
Gloria Lasso "Du Moment Qu'On S'Aime: Collection Pathe" (EMI-Pathe, 2004)
Gloria Lasso "Platinum Collection" (EMI-Pathe, 2008)
A 3-CD set...
Odette Laure "Mes Chansons Coquines" (Marianne Melodie, 2006)
Renee Lebas "Etoiles De La Chanson" (Marianne Melodie, 1995)
I imagine Lebas was a secondary figure in wartime chanson, (although, with Piaf around, who wasn't a second-stringer?) Still, these tracks, recorded from 1942-44, have their charm... Leblas seems to have specialized in songs that had a blues and swing influence... She's not the most moving of singers, but the recordings themselves have a certain nostalgic air to them, and with songs such as "La Legende Du Swing" and a Frenchified version of "Ridin' Home," this disc has definite novelty appeal.
Renee Lebas "Renee Lebas" (Box Set) (Universal, 2006)
A 3-CD collection..
Lily Lian "Chansons Des Rues" (Marianne Melodie, 2007)
Robert Lamoureux "Mes Toutes Premieres Chansons: 1949-1952" (Marianne Melodie, 2007)
Robert Lamoureux "La Chasse Au Canard" (Forlane, 2008)
Jean Lumiere "Le Charmeur Des Ondes" (Forlane, 1992)
Delightfully prissy, maudlin love songs, recorded between 1932-39. This is about as twee as early French pop can get, solidly within the "sweet band" tradition of American bandleaders such as Jean Goldkette and Glen Gray, or Britain's Ray Noble Orchestra. Great stuff.
Jean Lumiere "Etoiles De La Chanson" (Disky, 1999)
A nice 22-song collection... Only three tracks overlap with the Le Charmeur Des Ondes collection above... Like that volume, this is exceedingly fey and genteel, but also delicious. The tracks where he sings with just piano accompaniment are quite revealing; when he's got a full orchestra behind him, though, it can feel a little smothering.
French Music Index
French Rock & Pop
