Enchante: The Greatest French Stars 1927-1947 (2001)

About this title: Here's an index of mid-20th century popular French music, laid out in recordings made between 1926 and 1947. Gaps in the fabric are perhaps inevitable; the absence of Yvette Guilbert, for example, is regrettable. The earliest examples feature sultry Mistinguett (born Jeanne-Marie Bourgeois) whose date of birth is estimated as early as 1873; her campy boyfriend Maurice Chevalier; and Josephine Baker, an African-American who shed her identity as a vaudeville blackface buffoon to become the hottest stage sensation in all of Europe. Chevalier's open disdain for Baker was apparently fueled by his ... read more

Tracks:

1. Louise [Whiting/Robin]
2. Valentine [Christiné/Valentine]
3. Ca C'Est Paris [Padilla/Pearly/Boye]
4. Au Bond de Tes Yeux [Bayle/De Lima/Oberf]
5. J'Ai Deux Amours [Scotto/Koger/Vama]
6. La Petite Tonkinoise [Christine/Scotto/Vi]
7. Parlez-Moi d'Amour [Lenoir]
8. Mon P'tit Kaki [Van Parys/Boyer/Ber]
9. Vieni, Vieni [Scotto/Koger/Vama]
10. Chanson pour Nina [Scotto/Koger]
11. Plasir d'Amour [Martini/De Florian]
12. Le Chaland Qui Passe [Bardet/Bixio]
13. La Guinguette a Fermé Ses Volets [Montagne/Zwingel]
14. Djangology [Grappelli/Reinhardt]
15. Nuages [Reinhart]
16. Boum! [Trenet/Breton]
17. La Mer [Trenet]
18. Tel Qu'il Est, il Me Plait [Vandair/Charlys/Ale]
19. La Danseuse Est Créôle [Louiguy/Planté]
20. J'Attendrai [Poterat/Olivieri]
21. Vous Qui Passez Sans Me Voir [Tranet/Hess/Misraki]
22. Tu Es Partout [Piaf/Monnot]
23. La Vie en Rose [Piaf/Louisguy]
24. Les Trois Cloches [Herrand/Villard]

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.