The songs of French singer-songwriter Gilbert Bécaud are the most often-performed pieces in the world. He was also a fantastic performer himself – he was called “Monsieur 100,000 volts” – and he had an extraordinary “feel” for lyrics and melody. This CD brings together rare, previously-unreleased titles that he sang at two of his Parisian concerts, the fi rst dating from 1956 – he was still a newcomer as an artist – and the second from 1962, only six years later, but by then he was internationally famous due to a series of his hits that had been adapted and picked up by other (major) artists worldwide. With an accompanying booklet by writer Laurent Balandras (managing editor of Gilbert Bécaud’s publishing company Les Nouvelles Editions Rideau Rouge, and a fi ne French Chanson specialist), these live recordings wonderfully capture the fi ery spirit and panache of a singer who always enjoyed a tremendous relationship with his audience. Patrick FRÉMEAUX The Live in Paris collection by Michel Brillié allows listeners to hear previously-unreleased recordings (made at concerts and private- or radio-sessions) by the great 20th stars in jazz, rock & roll and song. These “live” takes, and the artists’ rapport with their audiences, gives these performances an additional soul and sensibility in counterpoint to the rigorous demands of studio recordings. Particular care was taken when restoring the sound of these tapes in order to meet CD standards while preserving the original colours of the period. Patrick FRÉMEAUX & Gilles PÉTARD