Customer Reviews

Anthologie 1960 -1963

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

 

 

The 6 CD Anthologie Series chronicling the career of Johnny Hallyday is a must for fans of Rock from its earliest days for one simple reason... he is the only non-English speaking artist I have ever heard who has a true feeling for American Rock 'n Roll. As music in the U.S.A. evolved, he never failed to try to keep pace. As a Franchophone, I have been lucky and have been listening to his efforts since the latter 1960s. While non-English Rock has never been well received in the U.S.A., one would be hard pressed not to recognize the music of many of his songs if not the French lyrics. Some of the French originals, such as "Les Bras en Croix" or "Retiens La Nuit", are superb no matter what the language. Because he was intent on bringing Rock to the French, he never made the effort he should to bring his talent to America, and does not receive the attention he truly deserves. Any of the 6 Anthologie CDs are worth the price, but as a set they represent a career ranging from rockabilly to blues to ballads, with only small amounts of the French variete which seems to absorb so much of their music of the 60s-80s. And if you want to really hear how French can handle Rock 'n Roll, give a listen to his CD "Lorada".

Cette disque c'est bon a ecouter pour le raison semplement M. Hallyday est en le forme bien avec les chansons amours dans les soixantes Tout le musique est vieaux mais les chansons amours est tres amusament pour les temps.

After the advent of rock'n'roll in the United States in the mid-1950s, there were many artists that attempted, with varying degrees of success, to introduce the genre to European audiences. England had Cliff Richard and, most notably; Tommy Steele. Germany had Freddy Quinn; Spain had the Mexican band Enrique Guzman y los Teen Tops; and France had British-born Vince Taylor and Johnny Hallyday. Unlike Taylor, who obviously always sang in English, Johnny Hallyday adapted the rhythmic, sometimes cacophonic sounds of rock into the French language and became extremely popular due to his exciting style, handsome looks, and powerful stage presence.

This CD covers the earliest years of Hallyday's recording career (1960-1963), when he was presented to French audiences as a rocker-cum-teen idol. These recordings clearly show the influence of the great stars of 1950s American rock'n'roll (most of all, Elvis and Ricky Nelson), yet they also demonstrate Hallyday's penchant for ballads, for the popular dance steps of the day ("Viens danser le twist"), and even for country-influenced tunes like "Tes tendres annees," an adaptation into French of George Jones's country hit "Tender Years." Hallyday was also an accomplished songwriter who scored big hits with self-penned tunes such as the excellent "Souvenirs, souvenirs," widely regarded as a classic of French rock.

Unfortunately, although he did cut some sessions in Nashville in the 1960s, Hallyday remains largely obscure in the United States. In France, however, after a long career full of ups and downs, he is revered as the single most important figure of autochtonous rock'n'roll music. From the early stage as a teen idol covered in this CD, Hallyday graduated to rock icon, and as his appearance in the movie "L'homme du train" clearly demonstrates, he is also an interesting actor. His records are always engaging, made with great gusto, perfect products of the artistry of a classy man who always surrounded himself with magnificent musicians. If you enjoy this first volume of the "Anthologie" series, the rest of them will not disappoint you. They trace the amazing career of a unique rocker, documenting the many alterations that his music underwent as time went by and popular tastes changed. Of course, the only thing that remained unaltered through the years was the consistently high quality of Hallyday's brand of music.

Those 6 cds anthology represent a good reduction of his repertoire through the years.If you dig HALLYDAY,it's worth buying.In his early years,JOHNNY almost recorded the entire catalogue of rock'n'roll songs.In between,he did a few originals and some novelty tunes and ballads.Presents in this collection are SOMETHIN'ELSE(EDDIE COCHRAN),SWEET LITTLE SIXTEEN with the names of the cities changed(CHUCK BERRY)and THE TWIST in french and english versions.The gems for me are SOUVENIRS,SOUVENIRS,RETIENS LA NUIT and LES BRAS EN CROIX,that have all nostalgic value.The worst cover is certainly DA DOO RUN RUN(THE CRYSTALS).All in all,this is not best of the six cds anthology,but as we often say,this was only the beginning of FRANCE's number one rock star.

If you follow the music of Johnny Hallyday from beginning to end, you will find the evolution of the greatest singer that ever lived.

And don't give me that 'But it's in French' nonsense. Since when did the exact meaning of the words ever surpass the quality of the music? So many Americans need to throw off a huge burden of arrogance and isolationism before they are ever going to get to enjoy and profit from the musical wonders this world has to offer.

Johnny is the Eighth Wonder of the World. Open up your ears and let him sing your little heart inside out.