Customer Reviews

Carnegie Hall 1956-1957

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

 

 

The EMI / Capitol CD release of PIAF au Carnegie Hall has thrilled and frustrated me since I acquired it a few years ago. Better planning of the tracks included in this important musical document would have made for a much more enjoyable listening experience.

In 1977, Peters International Records, a division of EMI, released a two disc vinyl LP titled "Edith Piaf at Carnegie Hall". The set contained the complete January 13, 1957 concert, 22 tracks. The two CD release, Piaf Au Carnegie Hall, contains her previously unreleased January 4, 1956 Carnegie Hall recital (21 tracks) and 16 of the 22 tracks that made up January 13, 1957 Carnegie Hall recital. The 1957 recital, which comprise tracks 3-18 of disc two of the CD release, are missing the following six tracks that appeared on the 1977 vinyl LP:

1. Les Feuilles Mortes (Autumn Leaves)
2. Mariage
3. Le petit homme (One Little Man)
4. Je n'en connais pas la fin (A Merry Go Round)
5. L'accordeoniste
6. Monsieur Saint Pierre

While each of these songs is represented in the 1956 concert on the CD, as are many of the songs in the 1957 concert, there are severe problems, which could have been avoided with better planning. Firstly, the missing 1957 tracks of the six songs are, in most cases, arguably the superior performances, as are many of the 1957 songs when compared side by side against the versions in the 1956 previously unreleased tracks. But track one on the first disc, Je n'en connais pas la fin (A Merry Go Round), is a brief instrumental version, played as an introduction to Piaf's entrance. It is puzzling that EMI decided to omit Piaf's vocal of this song from the 1957 recital, which was one of the highlights of the vinyl release.

Aside from the performances, far more frustrating is the fact that several of the 1956 tracks are technically inferior to the 1957 tracks of the songs that were omitted from the CD. In particular, the 1956 version of the song Le Pettit Homme (One Little Man) suffers from a severe tape flutter that not only makes Piaf sound like she were submerged in water for most of the second half of the track, for me, this imperfection ruined the entire CD, as her extremely touching (if somewhat melodramatic) performance of that song was one of my favorite moments on the vinyl release. Not only did EMI make a major blunder by releasing the CD with an imperfect track of the song while omitting the technically perfect (and artistically superior) 1957 version entirely, there is no mention or apology in the liner notes that addresses the poor recording quality of this and several of the other 1956 tracks. This leads me to believe that their technicians did not even listen carefully to the tracks as they remastered them.

I am hoping that EMI will discover their goof here, and at least release the complete 1957 Carnegie Hall concert in the future. While I am grateful to have the previously unreleased 1956 concert, I am appalled that EMI managed to mangle the 1957 tracks. Piaf is considered one of the 20th Century's greatest musical artists, and she deserves more careful treatment than she is afforded here.

This an excellent collection of Piaf's best soungs, but the quality of the recordings was lacking. Some of the songs have a such a vibration to the tone that it muddles the sound. But I don't regret the purchase, just wish it was better in quality. I was under the impression that it had been remastered.

This CD is breathtaking. I purchased 3 different CD from Edith Piaf . I love them all , but this one is specially wonderful, live concert, although i do not understand French but when she gives some sweet introduction before each sung in English you feel connected. It is a powerful performance, I truly feel I am in this concert hall and become deeply absorb in the moments and forget everything else around me.

Have to agree with one of the other reviewers here about the sound quality. Some of the tracks do have so much tape flutter that Piaf does indeed sound like she's singing underwater. The technical means to correct this do exist nowadays. Also, even though the cds are labeled as stereo, as far as I can tell there is only one stereo track in the set and that is the instrumental introduction to the 1956 concert. (I wonder if the whole was recorded in stereo and lost or not used because of the poor condition of the tapes?) A little equalization of the tracks would have greatly improved the sound as well. In fact, with the right mastering, the basic sound would be pretty good, and on some of the selections from early in Piaf's career, the sound is better than the original studio recordings on 78's. There is also a huge tape dropout on l'homme a la moto in the 57 set. This could have been greatly improved but it sounds like they just dumped the tapes to CD without much care or thought. Even so, the sets (although repetitive in terms of material) provide a nice selection of some of Piaf's biggest hits, and if you are a fan you will probably want to have these CDs in spite of the flaws. Have not heard the vinyl LP referred to, but agree that it would have been nice to have the full versions of both concerts. I gave it a 4 mostly because of the careless mastering, restoration, not because of the performances.

Edith at Carnagie Hall is outstanding. I hardly understand a word of French, but just love her voice, and appreciate her even more since the movie La Vien Rose. Bought the CD set new for a very good price.

Ms. Piaf has a beautifully percise yet rough voice.
I enjoy hearing her music even if I don't understand French.
This CD does have several songs song in English

I love the fact you can find anything on Amazon. This was a gift I purchased for my mother. She loves Edith Piaf. It came quickly, I gave it to her for Christmas. She loves the CD. I would have spent a lot of time going to different stores to find this CD, it is not top of the charts. Thank you Amazon.

The email responses were great and timely along the way from immediate order. Mail delivery was good and my Mom said the CD was pretty good!

Do not care for most of her songs--not as good as what i thought it would be.