Product Description

Jacques Brel's witty, incisive lyrics and penetrating compositions practically defined French music for several decades, and this 34-track compilation of his earliest recordings (1953-'56) is an important addition to his canon. These brooding and emotionally intense songs presage introspective singer/songwriters like Joni Mitchell, but were recorded in the de rigueur early-'50s semi-orchestral style, making for a rich juxtaposition of content and form.

Track Listing

1. La Haine
2. Grand Jacques (C'est Trop Facile)
3. Il Pleut (Les Carreaux)
4. Le Diable Ca Va
5. Il Peut Pleuvoir
6. Il Nous Faut Regarder
7. Le Fou Du Roi
8. C'est Comme Ca
9. Sur La Place
10. S'il Te Faut
11. Qu'avons Nous Fait Bonnes Gens
12. Les Pieds Dans Le Ruisseau
13. La Bastille
14. Quand On N'a Que L'Amour
15. Priere Paienne
16. Saint Pierre
17. Les Bles
18. Dites Si C'etait Vrai
19. A Deux
20. Les Gens
21. La Haine (1)
22. Le Diable Ca Va
23. Qu'avons Nous Fait Bonnes Gens
24. L'Ange Dechu
25. Les Pieds Dans Le Ruisseau (1)
26. La Bastille (1)
27. C'est Qu'il Nous Faut (C'est Qu'il Vous Faut)
28. L'Accordeon De La Vie
29. Je Suis L'Ombre Des Chansons
30. S'il Te Faut
31. Le Fou Du Roi
32. La Foire
33. Le Troubadour
34. C'est Comme Ca (1)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #96252 in Music
• Released on: 2007-07-23
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Customer Reviews

Early Brel
This is a single CD with 34 tracks, though eight of them are repeats. I'll explain. All of the recordings date from the mid 1950's, early in Brel's career. Some of the tracks are from studio recordings, and sound as they would have done when first released on vinyl. These songs are mostly accompanied by small, jazz-like ensembles. Then there is a group of songs recorded for radio, in which Brel accompanies himself with guitar only. Eight of the songs occur in both groups and, although the accompaniments are different, there is little difference in the way the songs are sung. Many of these songs did not go on to be big Brel hits, so were new and interesting to me. It was also interesting to hear Brel, near the beginning of his career, singing in a style that is very light, lacking in the dramatic and heavier orchestrations that we are more used to. One could almost be listening to a youthful Georges Brassens (Brel's affinity with the hunchbacks and criminals in 'Le Fou Du Roi' is an echo of Brassens 'La Mauvaise Reputation'), although the seeds of the dark intensity of the later Brel are clearly present.

If you are already a Brel devotee, then you will want this album for the above reasons. However, if you are new to Brel, and want just one sample of his work, then this is not the one I would recommend. Better to go for something later like 'Ne Me Quitte Pas' or a compilation such as 'Infiniment'.