Product Description

'Sans Fusils Ni Souliers A Paris' is a live recording by singer/songwriter Martha Wainwright. Featuring fifteen tracks taken from three performances at New York's Dixon Palace Theatre in 2009, the album is Wainwright's tribute to French singer Edith Piaf with whom she has been captivated with sinceshe was eight years old. The album features unique renditions of songs that were made famous by Piaf and sees Wainwright performing entirely in French.

Track Listing

1. La Foule
2. Adieu Mon Coeur
3. Une Enfant
4. L'Accordeoniste
5. Le Brun Et Le Blond
6. Les Grognards
7. C'est Toujours La Meme Histoire
8. Hudsonia
9. C'est A Hambourg
10. Non La Vie N'est Pas Triste
11. Soudain Une Vallee
12. Marie Trottoir
13. Le Metro De Paris
14. Le Chant D'Amour
15. Les Blouses Blanches

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #718 in Music
• Released on: 2009-11-09
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Customer Reviews

Shoot The Guitar Player !
Rufus does Garland : Martha does Piaf.
Seems like there might be a bit of a
symmetrical sibling pattern emerging.

Tit for tat even ?!

Listen up you two....if there is any rivalry
(unconscious or otherwise) going on here
then forget it. You're both marvelous!

Following hard on the heels of her brother's live
Milwaukee album comes 'Sans Fusils, Ni Souliers, A Paris',
Ms Wainwright's live New York tribute to the songs
of Edith Piaf.
I emphasise "tribute'' as her performance in no way attempts
to emulate the voice but rather to capture the energy and
the visceral passion of her muse.

In the main the recording is a triumph.

There is one dark shadow, however, hovering over the project.
It is the guitar playing of musical director Doug Wieselman.

Things start marvelously well with 'La Foule'.
Ms Wainwright's incandescent presence and the superb ensemble
playing breathe wonderful new life into this great song.

'Adieu Mon Coeur' and 'Une Enfant' are, likewise, given vivid,
dramatic and convincing performances by all concerned.

With 'L'Accordeoniste' things begin to go rapidly downhill.
Wieselman's guitar casts a discordant, cacophonous veil over
an iconic composition. It is an unforgivable racket.

'C'Est Toujours La Meme Histoire' is given a truly magical
vocal treatment but once again the ugly guitar interventions
threaten to overwhelm an otherwise remarkable performance.

Garth Hudson's accordion interlude 'Hudsonia' is a hoot!

Thank goodness too for pianist Thomas Bartlett, a sensitive
and erudite accompanist who understands the spirit and
essence of this beguiling music.
The string trio and brass players also deliver exemplary support.

'Non, La Vie N'Est Pas Triste' finds Wieselman clomping around
again like a bull in a china shop, leaving an excremental trail
over an otherwise thrilling arrangement.
Ms Wainwright sings like a bruised angel.

AND WHAT ON EARTH IS HE TRYING TO DO IN 'LE METRO DE PARIS' ?!

We can only dream what might have been possible had the guitar
part been entrusted to the likes of Marc Ribot.

Don't get me wrong. This is a wonderful album in very many ways.
Ms Wainwright delivers inspired new insights into Piaf's repertoire.
Her legacy and memory is well served by this loving tribute.

Forgive the Wieselman rant if you are able but it really does take
an effort of will to to listen beyond the very real damage he inflicts
on this beautiful music and fully appreciate the riches within.

Highly recommended none-the-less.

Martha Does Edith Proud
I downloaded this on Monday in preparation for last night's exhilarating concert at the Barbican, and even on the thin speakers on my PC, from the very first track it was abundantly clear this entire project was a triumph. Wainwright inhabits each song completely, without ever descending into pastiche. She obviously has a heartfelt affinity with the songs of the period, and yet is also able to draw on modern influences at times. Everything about this album is beautifully judged and will no doubt have a completely new generation taking Piaf's songs to heart. I cannot wait to see/hear what Martha will do next. Buy Sans Fusils, Ni Souliers, and I promise, you won't regret a thing.

Love it.
I have been a Piaf fan since I was 12, and a Martha fan since I saw her live with her dad when she was 18.
Excellent album, superbly judged vocal treatment of Piaf's songs.
I note that "non,je regrette rien" is missing, but then that was the woman's swansong.

Martha continues to delight.