Jean Raphael "The Dansant Chez" (Mariane Melodie)
Jean Raphael "Mes Chansons De Charme" (Mariane Melodie, 2007)
Fernand Raynaud "J'm'amuse" (Marianne Melodie)
Serge Reggiani "...Chante Boris Vian" (Disques Jacques Canetti, 1965) (LP)
(Produced by Jacques Canetti)
A prolific film star and recording artist, Italian-born Serge Reggiani (1922-2004) was initially cast in minor roles in a handful of prewar and wartime films, though he notably landed a lead part in the controversial 1941 stage revival of fabled director Jean Cocteau's Les Parents Terribles. Like many artists, Reggiani found his career disrupted by the upheavals of the Second World War, and is said to have joined the Resistance during the conflict. Afterwards, he starred in his first major film role, ironically portraying a German collaborator in Marcel Carne's postwar thriller, Les Portes De La Nuit, one of approximately eighty film roles spanning a seven-decade career. He turned to music later in life: many of his first records were of poetry or dramatic readings, and he only fully turned towards popular music in the early 1960s, when he was in his forties. Reggiani's gruff, charismatic persona appealed to a wide audience, including younger fans who saw him as a countercultural, antiheroic character, particularly early in his musical career when he endorsed the radical ideals of the student revolt of 1968. This was his first full album, a collection of songs by Boris Vian, with backing from the orchestras of Louis Bessieres and Jimmy Walter, with brisk, half-spoken, conversational vocals that project a bright, unconventional feel. It's a charming album, though it has a somewhat comedic, raffish feel. Notably, the liner notes are packed with still photographs highlighting key moments from his acting career...
Serge Reggiani "Serge Reggiani (Album No. 2: Bobino)" (Disques Jacques Canetti, 1967) (LP)
(Produced by Jacques Canetti)
This was the first Serge Reggiani I encountered, picked up in a quarter bin with no frame of reference although it immediately charmed me. Though still puckish and theatrical, it's perhaps a bit smoother and more ornate than its '65 predecessor, yet not as sluggish or ossified as many of its late-vintage pop/chanson contemporaries. Backed by a trio of (relatively) younger bandleaders -- Jean-Michel Defaye, Jean-Claude Pelletier, and Jean Jacques Robert -- Reggiani's charismatic persona feels immediate and direct; he really leaps out at you, though admittedly the arrangements can get to be a bit much. Centered around his concert program at the Bobino Theater, this album was issued and reissued in numerous editions and marked Reggiani's breakthrough as a global star. A good place to start if you want to give him a shot.
Serge Reggiani "Serge Reggiani" (Polydor, 1971) (LP)
(Produced by Jacques Bedos & Raymond Bernard)
Another stately though unchallenging set of pop vocal ballads from Serge Reggiani, with arrangements and accompaniment by bandleaders Alain Goraguer and Michel Legrand. Reggiani has a lovely voice, and I get the appeal, though this is a pretty musically static set, with only slight variation on a tune or two. I'm sure it had a very reassuring effect on some French listeners, but in hindsight there's not a lot of innovation. Great cover photo, though!
Serge Reggiani "Serge Reggiani" (Polydor, 1981) (LP)
(Produced by Jacques Bedos)
I dunno... I liked some of his earlier stuff, and I found a clean copy of this late-vintage album in the quarter bin at my local Record Hut, and thought, sure... what the heck. But it's not very good. I mean, sure, Regianni sounds fine for an old duffer... his voice is strong and clear, he sounds quite comfortable emoting and cheesing his way through the material. He's fine, charming even. But the arrangements are so minimal and lifeless; no one was really trying on this one. Oh, well. It's easy on the ears, and devoted fans won't have anything to complain about, but it's not even moderately inventive and probably won't win anyone new over to his team.
Django Reinhardt - see artist profile
Maria Remusat "Mes Chansons Des Annees 50" (Mariane Melodie, 2005)
Jerome Richard "Musette Plaisir" (Mariane Melodie, 2008)
Accordion music...
Michel Rivgauche "Mes Dames Et Mon Tour" (Marianne Melodie)
Claude Robin "Les Anges Noirs: 20 Succes Inoubliades" (Marianne Melodie, 1999)
Corny postwar romantic vocals, from 1947-51. This is pretty tame and overly smooth, still kind of nice, but tilting towards the blander production style of the 1950s/60s chanson scene. Some of the later tunes on here are noteworthy for their appropriation of Latin American themes -- mainly rumbas and boleros -- as refashioned by French composer Francois Llonas. Many of these songs came from film soundtracks; the material's okay, but it didn't really drive me wild.
Paulette Rollin "Volume One: Une Chanson Douce" (Marianne Melodie, 1999)
Pleasant, but lesser work from 1950-51, with sweet, simple arrangements mainly by clarinettist/bandleader Hubert Rostaing, but also a few tracks with backing by Eddie Barclay, Emil Stern or Daniel White. Rollin is not a particularly arresting performer, a bit lackluster overall, but perhaps that's because she was trying to emulate some sort of plainspoken quality from American pop-vocals(?) of the time. Anyway, this is okay, though nothing to write home about, compared to many other French singers of the time. Probably for completists only. Nice to hear a cover of Henri Salvador's "Une Chanson Douce," which is a favorite song.
Paulette Rollin "Volume Two: Mes Chansons Favorites" (Marianne Melodie)
Romane "Impair & Valse" (Fremeaux & Associes, 1999)
A solid set of Django Reinhardt-style gypsy jazz from guitarist Romane Leguidcoq... The repertoire leans towards waltzes, but with a special lilt to it that these French pickers get. Nice stuff from one of the notable players of modern times.
Tino Rossi "Paris, Voici Paris" (ASV-Living Era, 1996)
Tino Rossi "Les Etoiles De Chanson" (Marianne Melodie, 1996)
Tino Rossi "Compositions: 1932-1950" (Fremeaux & Associes, 2003)
Corsican-born crooner Constantino Rossi (1907-1983) had a bright, inviting voice, that dipped into flowery operatic curlicues, but also lent itself to the sparkling charm of 1930s popular song. He may be a bit corny for some, but unforgettable for others. This is a fine 2-CD set, spanning the first two decades of his career, including songs taken from his numerous film appearances, and includes glowing but useful liner notes in English and in French. Other Tino Rossi collections may be more compact and more fun to listen to, but this one is fairly authoritative, and gives a good sense of Rossi's stylistic range.
Tino Rossi "Ecoutez Les Mandolines" (Naxos, 2002)
More of Rossi's delightfully schmaltzy, stagey romantic singing, with touches of opera, the tango and Latin American boleros mixed in with the classic chanson sound. This is another superior, and quite affordable, collection from Naxos... Recommended!
Tino Rossi "100 Titres D'Or Des Annees 50" (Marianne Melodie, 2008)
A 4-CD box set of Rossi's recordings of the 1950s...
Tino Rossi "Volume One: Adios Pampa Mia" (Marianne Melodie)
Tino Rossi "Volume Two: Envoi De Fleurs" (Marianne Melodie)
Tino Rossi "Volume Three: Charmaine" (Marianne Melodie)
Hubert Rostaing/Maurice Meunier "Jazz In Paris: Clarinettes A Saint-Germain Des Pres" (Emarcy, 2001)
Sweet sets by two Benny Goodman devotees, smooth, swank instrumental nightclub jazz from the 1950s or '60s (I'm guessing) These recordings may lack originality but are pleasant nonetheless. Worth checking out, even though there's little that's particularly "French" about it... Rostaing also did a lot of soundtrack recordings, and also worked with Yves Montand.
Gilbert Roussel "Les Archives De L'Accordeon: 25 Enregistrements Incontournables" (Marianne Melodie)
Some more accordion music... Vintage work from an artist who had a long career...
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