14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is the ultimate Edith Piaf collection to own., April 3, 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: 30th Anniversaire - Coffret 10 CD [Import] (Audio CD)
I first started reading about Edith Piaf in the 60's, and started buying a few of her records. Even though the sound wasn't the greatest on the available recordings, I could somehow discern that Piaf was a unique force of nature. In the 80's I bought a couple of Piaf CD's. The singing was great. The sound was lacking. Finally on this ten CD collection I found what I was looking for. The collection is a chronological following of nearly everything Piaf recorded; so some songs appear quite a few times. But here's the great news! On the recordings taken from the late 50's and early 60's, the sound quality is outstanding; and Piaf is still in great voice nearly 'til the end. At last I've found what I've been looking for all these years. I know this set is expensive. But I urge you to get it. There is nothing else that comes near it in quantity and quality.
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
****1/2 for selection, **-**** for sound, 0 for package, July 7, 2000
This review is from: 30th Anniversaire - Coffret 10 CD [Import] (Audio CD)
First, the positive: the selection of titles is very good, indeed it enjoys the listener with a lot of nice but largely unknown songs (Yet some musical sins of her earlier years or a 27-minute audit of a cocteau play may only enjoy real fans).
The negative: although (as another reviewer stated) the sound quality of the later years is good (not great), the sound quality of the earlier years (which includes not only "La vie en rose" but also a lot of other nice songs) is really disappointing for today's standards.
I think it is a shame how EMI France cares about one of its most important artists: This "anniversary" collection has neither been remastered (why?), nor has anybody cared about the package design of the single CD's (You won't believe it until you buy and see it). This would hardly be appropriate for a low price collection. Maybe Rhino or another more professional label should edit a real "anniversary edition" at the next anniversary.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
To weep about Love, is to sing about Life., August 3, 2003
This review is from: 30th Anniversaire - Coffret 10 CD [Import] (Audio CD)
Probably one of the greatest, most celebrated, and most tragic of the French popular "chanson" singers. Edith Piaf was celebrated for having come, indisputably, from "the people."
We all have listened to her songs, and some people who haven't, will come across her when least expected. I happened to come across her, and was immediately hooked. I wasn't a fan of chanson singers, and not a big fan of the older 50's music. But after listening to Piaf, I can gladly say that I have gone back, and searched endlessly to find more great singers like Piaf.
This is what's special about her, she grabs you, and takes you on a journey of self examination, pain, and enjoyment. Her voice shivers with emotion, while shattering the accepted truth and then remodeling it. It is that voice, torn from her innermost being as if every song might be the last.
This 30th Anniversary Anthology set is journey I recommend anyone to take. If you are a fan of Piaf, or if you haven't really heard anything from her, buy this set now. I cannot stress this enough. I've heard some people say that this set isn't that great, and its her later stuff that is special. While I agree that her later recordings are special, I find this set to be even more special.
Some of these songs are early recordings, that changed later in her career. Most people will point out the more famous ones, or the ones sung in English. If you already know of Piaf, then you'll know what songs to look for. If you've never heard of her, this is a good introduction, and will more than likely make you buy her other albums.
There is 10 cds full of music far greater than anything that you hear in today's music. 10 cds filled with truth, emotion, all of the human emotions. There is one song that sticks out, and isn't a popular one. The song is called "Les trois cloches," on the first cd. I can honestly say that listening to this song made me weep. Say what you want, but any singer that can make you weep is truly special.
After a posthumous career spanning 30 years, she remains as powerfully present as ever. She was a legend in her lifetime, and will be so for eternity.
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