Customer Reviews

30th Anniversaire

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There are many Piaf collections from which to choose, and aside from the big multi-disc set, all of them omit some important songs. This set includes almost all of her best ("Mon Legionnaire" and "Tu es Partout" are not here). EMI also has a single-disc collection with most of the best songs, but it does not include "Les Trois Cloches", which you've got to have. My only real complaint about this set is the booklet, which has no lyrics. Instead, you get a brief biography in French, with a rather shaky English translation. The set includes the English versions of "La Vie en Rose" and "Hymne a l'amour", which pale in comparison to the originals but are interesting nonetheless.

I am going to be the only dissenter here. The choice of songs is excellent, and this is why i bought the CD.

However, I think that several of the selected songs must be early versions which were then fine tuned by E. Piaf over the years. I have listened to other CDs and vinyl record where renditions such as Jezebel, and La Foule where much more forceful and on a higher emotional level.

A good choice for people who have not heard the later versions of the songs, or those prefer to hear the earlier versions,

This two CD set is not merely a magnificent sampling of Edith Piaf's songs; it is a celebration of her career as one of the greatest female singers the world has ever known or ever will know. The songs include many of her beloved songs recorded by Piaf between 1946 and 1963.

These wonderful French classics by Piaf include "La Vie En Rose;" "Les Trois Cloches;" "Hymne À L'amour;" "Jezebel;" "Padam Padam;" "Autumn Leaves" sung in English; "Milord;" "Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien;" and "Les Amants De Paris." There are, of course, many more wonderful songs--all with beautiful musical arrangements--on this two CD set. There are even two unedited songs that show how Piaf worked on a song before it was polished: "Légende" and "Un Dimanche À Londres."

While almost all of the remastering is excellent, a few songs were not done to completion. For example, "Hymne À L'amour" on the first CD is obviously simply recorded from an old 78 rpm record complete with surface noise and scratches; and "L'homme De Berlin" sounds as if someone was holding tissues in front of the microphone in order to create a muffled reproduction of the recording. However, this is a minor disappointment because the rest of the package is so perfect.

The liner notes offer an excellent essay about Piaf's life written in both English and French. There are several photos of Edith Piaf and two of them are colorized for effect. The liner notes also provide songs credits and the year each song was recorded.

Piaf recorded much, much more than these two CDs could ever hope to cover simply because her career spanned so many years; if you like this set I strongly recommend other Piaf CD recordings including her performances at Carnegie Hall in 1956 and 1957. This two CD set is really best viewed as either a thorough introduction to Piaf or as a very good retrospective of her career including most of her greatest songs.

This two CD set is highly recommended for Piaf fans (as if they didn't know that already), fans of French classic vocals and fans of international music. Thank goodness Edith Piaf shared her talents with us while she lived amongst us--fans of the arts are infinitely better off because of Piaf's substantial contributions to the arts.

I don't really disagree with the other reviewers' evaluation of Piaf. She is truly one of the great artists of the 20th Century. I got this set; and then I got the 10 CD 30th Anniversary Collection. This 2 CD set has only a few songs recorded in the late 50's and early 60's when recording technology could do justice to her voice. The 10 CD set has several CD's recorded toward the end of her career. The recorded sound is outstanding; and Piaf was still in great voice nearly 'til the end. I know the 10 CD is expensive; but I prefer it above anything else I have by Piaf.

Edith Piaf was a legend in her lifetime and will remain one forever. Not only is her screeching voice, full of cigarette smoke and whiskies on the rocks unique, but the spirit and energy she put in her songs has still not been equaled by anyone. This box set gives you only the tip of the iceberg that is her brilliant musical career. All of her hits and legendary songs are included. And if you understand French, even better, since the texts will move you to tears (and not just tears of sadness that is...)

I love Edith Piaf. This has almost all of her best songs. I have this CD on at work all the time. Contrary to popular opinion, I personally enjoyed the English version of La Vie En Rose. I highly recommend this disc as a a good starter for those who do not know much about Edith's music.

Songs like Mon Dieu, Milord and Non ,Je Ne Regrette Rien, Hymne A L'Amour will make you fall in love with her. I heard her songs for the first time when I was eleven, and I'm still "in love". If you won't buy this CD, don't buy any chanson at all. Madame Piaf has the most powerfull and beatifull voice I have ever heard,you don't have to speak french to understand her songs, just listen to her sing... I'm giving her 100 stars not five!

After listening to "Milord" in abridged form on a 45rpm, I liked Piaf enough to pick up this set. It gives a good sampling of various stages in her career, and it was actually responsible for making Piaf one of my favorite singers of all time, although it omits everything she made prior to 1946, when there were many good recordings.

Not counting her most famous hits (Milord, La Vie en rose, La Foule, etc.), I personally really enjoy Jezebel, the violent L'Homme a la moto, Les Flons-flons du bal, Emporte-moi, Johnny, tu n'es pas un ange, and Fais comme si. It also includes the last song she ever recorded, "L'Homme de Berlin," which I've always liked despite signs that by the end of her self-destructive life (she died about 6 months after this song was recorded), her voice wasn't what it used to be.

A good intro to Piaf; if you like this stuff, go right to the 10CD set. And her live material is also worth seeking, even if on LP form to get entire concerts.

I purchased the 2 CD set before I knew the 10 CD set existed. Once I found the 10 CD set, I bought it. If I had known about the 10 CD set, I would not have gotten the 2 CD set, simply because obviously the 10 CD set includes a LOT more of her songs, and in addition, it also includes a "dialogue" CD of her talking candidly in an interview. If you are a really big Piaf fan, I recommend spending the extra money for the 10 CDs - it's worth it. If you are not THAT much into her, then the 2 CDs do her justice, as well, which is why I rated this 4 stars. To put it simply, the 2 CD set is a good set, and includes a good variety of songs, but the 10 CD set includes a whole lot more, plus the extra candid stuff.

After listening to "Milord" in abridged form on a 45rpm, I liked Piaf enough to pick up this set. It gives a good sampling of various stages in her career, and it was actually responsible for making Piaf one of my favorite singers of all time, although it omits everything she made prior to 1946, when there were many good recordings.

Not counting her most famous hits (Milord, La Vie en rose, La Foule, etc.), I personally really enjoy Jezebel, the violent L'Homme a la moto, Les Flons-flons du bal, Emporte-moi, Johnny, tu n'es pas un ange, and Fais comme si. It also includes the last song she ever recorded, "L'Homme de Berlin," which I've always liked despite signs that by the end of her self-destructive life (she died about 6 months after this song was recorded), her voice wasn't what it used to be.

A good intro to Piaf; if you like this stuff, go right to the 10CD set. And her live material is also worth seeking, even if on LP form to get entire concerts.