Lina Margy "Rose-Marie Polka" (Marianne Melodie, 2007)
Luis Mariano "Disques Pathe -- Luis Mariano" (EMI-Pathe, 1997)
A Spanish-born Basque singer who emigrated to France during the Spanish Civil War of the 1930s, Luis Mariano became a star in the French music halls, specializing in the deliciously corny, emotive operette style... This is an excellent 2-CD set of his best work on the Pathe label from 1952-1961. It includes various ethnic-themed songs (with Mariano playing the role of a "Latin," and often "Latin American" singer) as well as Gallicized versions of pop hits from abroad -- songs such as "Chantilly Lace," Tom Glazer's "Pussy Cat," and "I Feel Pretty," from West Side Story. There's also plenty of good, old-fashioned mainstream French chanson -- although the 1950's production may sound a little smoother and less antique than the classic stuff from the 1930s and '40s, this is still a deliciously nostalgic set. Corny, but wonderful to listen to, time and time again.
Luis Mariano "Le Prince De L'Operette: 1939 - 1952" (Fremeaux, 2008)
The perfect compliment to the 2-CD set listed above; this leaves off where the other collection begins.
Luis Mariano "L'Operette A La Chanson" (Marianne Melodie, 1997)
Marie-Jose "Etoiles De La Chanson" (Marianne Melodie, 1995)
This 1940s starlet specialized in chanson with a slight Spanish and Latin American twist, thus, these 1939-42 recordings are peppered with castanets and rumba rhythms, and a hint of flamenco at times... It's all very subtle, and all very nice... Recommended!
Marie Jose "Les Plus Belles Chansons D'Amour" (Forlane, 1996)
Marie Jose "En Souvenir De Marie Jose" (Marianne Melodie, 2006)
A 2-CD, 40-song selection of her work...
Marie Jose "Vous Que J'aimais" (Marianne Melodie, 2008)
Two more CDs, and fifty(!) more songs...
Leo Marjane "Seule De Soir" (Musique De France, 1999)
Leo Marjane "1938-1944" (Fremeaux, 2004)
Colette Mars "Jimbo L'Elephant" (Marianne Melodie, 1995)
Emotionally rich postwar chanson, recorded from 1946-49. I really enjoy Mars' voice and the feel of these recordings -- it's true to the 1930's spirit, sort of antique-y and genteel, though the sound quality and production values are smoother than the Depression-era music it emulates, while still not drifting into the stylistic flatness of the '50s, '60s and '70s. Mars also compares favorably to the great Edith Piaf: the range is the same, though Mars doesn't have the occasionally grating tenor of Piaf's vocals, nor the crushing emotional pathos that suffuses Piaf's work... It's the same kind of music, but you can just listen and enjoy, without feeling the weight of the world upon your shoulders. Anyway, it's a wonderful record... track it down if you can!
Raquel Meller "1926-1932" (1996)
Raquel Meller "La Violetera" (Blue Moon, 2004)
Armand Mestral "Jalousie" (Marianne Melodie, 2006)
Armand Mestral "100 Chansons" (Marianne Melodie, 2007)
A 4-CD set...
Mick Micheyl "Mes Premieres Chansons" (Marianne Melodie, 2007)
Mick Micheyl "Les Meilleurs" (FDC, 1998)
Mick Micheyl "Un Gamin De Paris" (Edina Music, 2010)
Georges Milton "Le Joyeux Bouboule" (Forlane, 1995)
Georges Milton "Le Music-Hall Des Annees 30: Georges Milton"
Mireille "Integrale -- Avec Le Concours De Jean Sablon, Pills & Tabet: 1929-1939" (Fremeaux, 1995)
Star of stage and song, Mireille Hartuch had an irresistibly appealing, immensely charming and refreshingly direct vocal presence. With her comedic bent she was a bit like a French version of Gracie Fields, though with a more serious, more glamorous side She wrote or cowrote much of her material, and delivered it with a comedic touch that demonstrated her command of the music. She had many notable collaborators, including movie idol Jean Sablon, who sings several duets on this fine 2-CD set, as well as the music-hall duo, Jacques Pills and Georges Tabet, and pianist Georges Van Parys, and lyricist Jean Nohain... some of the cream of the crop in French pop during the Depression era. Nice stuff; highly recommended.
Mireille "Les Chansons De Mireille" (Pharaoh, 1995)
Yves Montand "Integrale, v.1: 1945-1949 - Et La Fete Continue..." (Fremeaux & Associes, 2000)
Ruggedly, Gallically handsome, actor Yves Montand was actually of Italian ancestry (born Ivo Livi, in 1921). He became nationally famous just as the Second World War engulfed Europe, and his star rose steadily during the war years. The patronage of diva Edith Piaf made a huge difference -- she chose him to open her shows in 1944 and pushed his film career along, so that by the postwar period he was poised to become one of France's leading celebrities. This excellent 2-CD set gathers together some of his earliest work, opening with lively swing-oriented material straight out of the Charles Trenet stylebook, and gradually settled into a more staid -- even corny -- romantic style. The big band/pop vocals arrangements support Montand's immense warmth and charismatic confidence. This is a top-notch collection of some of his best early work, and a great introduction to his career, particularly for those who are looking for some of his livelier material.
Yves Montand "Integrale, v.2: 1949-1953 - Sensational..." (Fremeaux, 2004)
Yves Montand "Integrale, v.3: 1953-1954 - Une Etoile a l'Etoile" (Fremeaux, 2007)
Germaine Montero "Le Meilleur De Germaine Montero" (EMI/Disques Pathe, 1998)
Germaine Montero "Germaine Montero" (EMI-France, 1999)
A generously programmed 2-CD set featuring early-to-late '50s recordings of fairly standard issue chanson. This comes pretty late in the game, and lacks the loose feel and hint of wildness that the stuff in the 1920s, '30s and '40s had -- it's just too smooth and even-keeled, too studio-y. Montero has a pleasant voice, but she takes no risks with it and overall, while this music sounds okay, it's not very moving. Montero apparently was of Spanish descent; she later specialized in recording Spanish folk and popular songs, and did an album based on the works of poet Federico Garcia Lorca. (I'm not sure, but I think this might be the same set as the Le Meilleur collection listed above, just with different cover art...)
Germaine Montero "Songs Of Parisian Nights" (Vanguard Classics, 1997)
Germaine Montero "Folk Songs Of Spain" (Vanguard Classics, 1953)
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