Francoise Hardy - Original Album Series

For anyone who doesn't know Francoise Hardy (1944-) she was the only French artist of the 60s who made any impact in the UK charts. Admittedly, 'Tous Les Garcons Et Les Filles' (1962) only reached number 36, but for a French artist this was unheard of. Her next success on the UK charts, 'All Over The World' (1965) peaked at number 16 and stayed in the charts for 15 weeks.When contextualizing Francoise Hardy, music journalists (they who hold the opinion that nothing significant ever came out of Europe except ABBA & 'Je T'aime Moi Non Plus') find it convenient to write her off as another Ye-Ye singer like France Gall or Jacqueline Taieb. Quaint, camp, fun and about as musically significant as the yearly winner on X-factor. But if one ignores the pop frippery that is 'Tout Les Garcons Et Les Filles' (a song she detests), her work of the period reveals her to be leagues apart from the ye-ye singers. Her sound veered towards the folksy, but she retained a pop sensibility that set her apart from a singer like Joan Baez. Unlike the Ye-Ye singers, she wrote and composed her own songs and, in dress style, presented herself as thoroughly urban and un-manicured.Now, aged 70, Francoise Hardy is still beautiful and, more importantly, still recording.To the music.Ma Jeunesse Fout Le Camp (1967): Classic Francoise, before the orchestrations blew her in new directions. Francoise might wear a daisy on her lips, but these 12 songs conjure up a Paris boulevard of wind swept autumn leaves. I can't speak French but her words feel sad, wistful and longing. This is the voice and look of the dream French girl every male would-be-poet traveller to France desired to meet. Perfect!Comment Te Dire Adieu (1968): This album contains only 2 Francoise originals, the remaining 10 tracks are covers, including 'Suzanne' (Leonard Cohen), 'There But A Fortune' (Phil Ochs) & L'Anamour (Serge Gainsbourg). Her choice of material is beyond reproach, and, though never eclipsing the originals, her readings make each one sound as if they belonged to her. The only clunkers are the sickly 'Lonesome Town', complete with choral singers, and Étonnez-moi Benoît...!' which sounds like bad burlesque. Interestingly, the album was recorded in both London & Paris, her British arrangers include Arthur Greenslade who worked with Dusty Springfield, Diana Ross & Shirley Bassey; John Cameron who founded the group C.C.C.S (Whole Lotta Love) & composed the film score for 'Kes'; and Mike Vickers of Manfred Mann.Soleil (1970): For her tenth album Hardy composed only 3 tracks and is perhaps why the album sounds unsatisfyling uneven. The orchestrations are more intrusive than elsewhere and the album could best be desribed as dramatic pop. Stand-outs include the gorgeous 'Fleur De Lune' and the folksy 'Soleil' which recalls her early years. The album art, a particularly awful collage, features a cut out of Francoise by the side of country road, shedding a single blood red tear. Perhaps, if I could understand French, I might grab the significance.La Question (1971): Most tracks composed in conjunction with the late Brazillian guitarist Tuca (Valeniza Zagni da Silva). Very sparse with subtle orchestrations, Tuca's guitar style is more flamenco than bossa and brings out the very best in Hardy's voice which is breathy, dreamy and utterly sexy. Unsurprisingly, Hardy has decared La Question among her favourite albums, and with 'Ma Jeunesse Fout Le Camp' are the essential listens in this set.Et Si Je M'en Vais Avant Toi (1972): Most tracks penned by Francoise Hardy, hurrah! Sadly, the majority of these tracks are arranged in the country rock style pioneered by Gram Parsons. It's not a tragedy, one might even call it a pleasant hoe-down, but the country stylings do not suit her. How much better 'Bruit De Fonds' would sound without that darn guitar twanging in the back-ground. The stand-out track (it's a gem in the Hardy canon) is titled 'Bowm Bowm Bowm'. Mercifully it escaped the country styling and bears the influence of Nick Drake whom she met in 1970. Now, that would have made for an interesting pairing.A 5 disc set in a flimsy cardboard box, each disc is housed in a card sleeve featuring the original art. No sleeve notes. No song credits. And no bonus tracks. All albums were mastered in 1995 and are in desperate need of a sensitive, and I do mean sensitive, re-mastering.To sum-up, this isn't the best introduction to Francoise Hardy - there's 'Best Ofs' aplenty to wet your lips, but it's a must purchase for those wanting to replace their worn vinyl without going to the added expense of buying each album seperately.Ma Jeunesse Fout Le Camp (1967)1. Ma jeunesse fout le camp2. Viens là3. Mon amour adieu (baby goodbye)4. La fin de l'été5. En vous aimant bien6. Qui peut dire7. Des ronds dans l'eau8. Il n'y a pas d'amour heureux9. Il est trop loin10. Mais il y a des soirs11. Voilà12. C'était charmantComment Te Dire Adieu (1968)1. Comment te dire adieu2. Ou va la chance3. L'anamour4. Suzanne5. Il n'y a pas d'amour heureux6. La mesange7. Parlez-moi de lui8. A quoi ca sert9. Il vaut mieux une petiite maison dans la main qu'un grand chateau dans les nuages10. La rue des coeurs perdus11. Etonnez-moi, Benoît...!12. La mer, les etoiles et le ventSoleil (1970)1. Point2. San salvador3. Fleur de lune4. Effeuille-moi le coeur5. Un petit sourire, un petit mot6. Le crabe7. Mon monde n'est pas vrai8. Tu ressembles a tous ceus qui ont eu du chagrin9. L'ombre10. Soleil Écouter11. Je fais des puzzles12. Dame souris trotteLa Question (1971)1. Viens2. La question3. Même sous la pluie4. Chanson d'o5. Le martien6. Mer7. Oui je dis adieu8. Doigts9. La maison10. Si mi caballero11. Bâti mon nid12. Rêve ÉcouterEt Si Je M'en Vais Avant Toi (1972)1. L'éclairage2. Pardon3. Le berlue4. Bruit de fond5. Le soir6. Cafard7. Où est-il8. Prisons9. Quand mon amour va prendre l'air10. Ma vie intérieure11. Bowm bowm bowm12. Et si je m'en vais avant toi

As the title states this is a set of 5 original albums by Hardy reissued here in CD format each in facsimile cardboard sleeves of the original LP artwork, the set contained in a card slip-folder.The selection seems a little random with the earliest album from 1967, the latest 1972.I was pretty late in discovering Françoise Hardy, only picking on her work in the last decade, so this is a useful selection for me as a casual listener looking for a general survey.All the CD have the same playing times as the LPs; they have been remastered but there`s no extra tracks and the only notes are the ones on the backs of the covers.A good value set all the same.

I have loved the voice of Françoise Hardy from the time I first heard her sing. These CD's are really good value and showcase her talent not only as a singer but as a songwriter too.

Francoise Hardy has a lovely light voice and this collection includes some of her best tracks. Recording quality is a little rough in places but probably more to do with the equipment at the time of the original sessions. Well worth having a listen. Try Fleur de Lune or Comment Te Dire Adieu for a taste.

Five classic albums from the best French female vocalist of the sixties this box set comprises of albums from 1967 onwards so none of the major early hits. But since as far as I am concerned she has never made a bad album this is great value for money.

Wow what a great addition to any collection...all in perfect condition

A well received present.

A really good buy...all five cd's are replicas of the original LP's. Would have preferred all on one cd. But this is just quibbling...a good buy, the sound quality is great...it is always in my car.