Histoire de Melody Nelson [IMPORT] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

Serge Gainsbourg

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 22, 2001)
• Original Release Date: 1971
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import, Original recording remastered
• Label: Mercury Import
• ASIN: B000051YEG
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #33,502 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  #23 in	Music > World Music > Rock
  #72 in	Music > Pop > Euro Pop > French Pop

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

2009 U.S. pressing of this classic album from the controversial French singer/songwriter, originally released in 1971. Sex has always sold, but presented with a landmark musical backdrop, the combination is rare as finding the elusive "G Spot". Quite often, attempts fall flaccid, missing the titillating mark by a mile. But French icon and national treasure Serge Gainsbourg is no stranger to sexual proclivities, and with Histoire De Melody Nelson, he shared an erotic tale as seductive today as the day it was released. With help from actress, amour, and inspiration Jane Birkin, arranger/conductor and co-conspirator Jean-Claude Vannier, not to mention a tight hand picked crew of top shelf UK session musicians, Nelson is often cited as Gainsbourg's master work, an essential album for the discerning music lover. Seven tracks. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

69 of 72 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Je T'aime, Gainsbourg., September 21, 2003

By	D. Stewart "duglas" (Glasgow, Scotland United Kingdom) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I don't speak or understand the French language, I stopped drinking alcohol 20 years ago and don't approve of smoking BUT Serge Gainsbourg (almost as famous for his boozing and smoking as his music) is one of my great heroes. I love his music so much I got a tattoo of his face on my arm ...and for me Histoire de Melody Nelson is his finest 28 minutes. It's mystical, sexy, seductive, dirty and even a bit vulgar. A concept album about doomed love for an English teenage girl, played by his greatest muse and partner Jane Birkin on the record and the glorious record cover. Birkin stands teasing in just blue jeans clutching a cuddly monkey to her [chest]. Jane told me that she placed this monkey in Gainsbourg's coffin with him when he died. The beautiful iconic cover would be worth the price of admission alone but the music is even more mesmerising. During the 60s and still in in 1971 when this album was originally released most people were content to make variations on a theme created by The Beatles, Bob Dylan and Brian Wilson... but what Serge offered, his brand of pop, had a completely different and individual voice. The gophic bookend tracks of the album Melody and Cargo Culte sound extraordinarily modern even today. There is great tenderness and melancholy in Ballade de Melody Nelson and Ah! Melody. Witness the sound of Jane Birkin laughing hysterically over the grooviest of 70s psych-grooves on En Melody. Birkin was actually being tickled by her brother Andrew while Serge had a tape running on record under her bed. Don't be put off by the short running time, length doesn't matter, it's what you do with it that counts.
Histoire de Melody Nelson is ultra cool, ultra sexy and ultra modern music.
Je T'aime, Gainsbourg.

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Zenith of French Popular Music, September 4, 2003

By	nowhereman (America) - See all my reviews

Gainsbourg was an artist who experimented with all styles of music. Through his career, he put together a great number of fantastic singles. But this album is his great masterpiece.

There aren't any megahits. The most well known tracks: 'Ballade de Melody Nelson' and 'Ah, Melody' are first rate songs, but it's absolutely criminal to separate them from the rest of the album.

Clocking in at just under 30 minutes, "Histoire de Melody Nelson" flows as one poignant tale of Melody Nelson. The music itself was far ahead of it's time; listen to these songs and then listen to Air and Beck. While the great orchestrations and melodies should be enough to sate the appetite of many non-francophone listeners, it is truly the lyrics that lift this album to timeless stature. Gainsborg was a poet to French song the way Dylan is to American song. This album is his finest hour, not to be missed by anyone interested in greatness in popular music.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Coolest Album Ever Made!! Son fantastique!!, July 14, 2004

By	Aaron (Chicago, Illinois USA) - See all my reviews

Add my praise to the many comments here. This has GOT to be the coolest album ever recorded. It was so ahead of its time its not even funny. Gainsbourg is a superb artist, anything you can find of his is worth listening to, but Melody Nelson is his masterpiece. Its by turns funky, haunting, leering, dirty and beautiful beyond description. The coolness factor on this one is sky high. J'taime ce des disques, son merveilleux!!!