Best of [Import]

Jane Birkin | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 30, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Polygram Int'l
• ASIN: B000007WZM
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #159,114 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Je Ta'aime Moi Non Plus

2. Ex Fan Des Sixties

3. Ford Mustang

4. Ballade De Johnny Jane

5. La Gadoue

6. Yesterday Yes A Day

7. Di Doo Dah

8. Fuir Le Bonheur De Peur Qu'il Ne Se Sauve

9. Baby Alone In Babylone

10. Les Dessous Chics

11. C'est Con Ces Consequences

12. Quoi

13. These Foolish Things

14. Avec Le Temps

15. Et Quand Bien Meme

16. Baby Lou

17. Les Yeux Fermes

18. Je Suis Venu Te Dire Que Je M En Vais

19. La Javanaise

Editorial Reviews

A superb 19 track compilation by the late '60s French pop chanteuse who's music career skyrocketed in 1969 with 'Je T'Aime...Moi Non Plus', a duet with her lover & mentor at the time, Serge Gainsbourg. The saucy song, her most popular, was banned from airplay. This set is comprised almost entirely of Gainsbourg compositions, with two exceptions, a duet with Brett Anderson of Suede entitled 'Les Yeux Fermes' & 'La Gadoue' with Les Negresses Vertes. Philips. 1996.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars etre pluse gentil, je t'en prie, April 5, 2003

By 

Michael John ORourke - See all my reviews

This review is from: Best of (Audio CD)

Birkin has a limited voice. Gainsbourgh was a troubled man. When they worked together it produced unqualified magic. He was brilliant and she was patient. Thier work is touching and ethereal. Don't expect fireworks...just sit back and appreciate his poetry and her earnest effort to express it.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Best of Jane Birkin, September 19, 2005

By 

Clarence Darrow "Brehon" (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Best of (Audio CD)

Poor production quality and barely 30 minutes of music. Poor value, oversold and overpriced.

5.0 out of 5 stars Almost all the Jane Birkin you'll ever need, December 16, 2011

By 

Paul Allaer (Cincinnati) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Best of (Audio CD)

2011 has been a return of sorts for all things Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin. First there was the excellent French bio-pic "Gainsbourg: Vie Heroic", which made me listen back to Serge's music. Then there was the unexpected announcement that Jane Birkin was going to tour the US (more on that later), which made me relisten to Jane's "Di Doo Dah" album from 1973 and then I ordered this CD.

"The Best of Jane Birkin" (19 tracks; 72 min.) is an outstanding collection of just about everything you'll ever want in your record collection on Jane Birkin. It starts with the seminal 1969 hit "Je T'aime... Moi Non Plus" with Serge Gainsbourg, and then brings the many highlights from Jane's solo career. Just to name a few: "Ex-Fan des Sixties", "Ballade de Johnny-Jane", "Yesterday Yes A Day", "Con C'est Con Ces Consequences", "Je Suis Venu Te Dire Que Je M'en Vais", "La Javanaise", and on and on. The vast majority of these songs were of course written by Serge Gainsbourg. Extremely helpful is that the booklet contains the lyrics to the songs. As is often the case with the songs written by Serge Gainsbourg, much of the lyrics turn on word-play and/or double-entendre and so to be able to follow along (assuming you understand French of course) really improves the enjoyment of this compilation. If there is one must-have song missing on this compilation, it is the 1971 hit with Serge "La Decadence". However, that song is one of the bonus tracks of the recently reissued "Di Doo Dah" album, which is probably Jane's best stand-alone album anyway, and so I'd recommend you buy that album as well.

As to Jane Birkin's recent US tour, I had the good fortune of seeing her at the 9:30 CLub in Washington, DC just last week, and what a performance she and her 4 piece back-up band put on. They played for 2 hours, bringing many of the songs you'll find on this "Best of", and Jane brought them with grace and humor, sharing tons of stories about life with Serge and how these songs came about. An unforgettable evening! Meanwhile, this "Best of" is highly recommended!