Dans Mon Café

Back soon..

2009-02-20T12:08:00.001-08:00

:-)

Christine Pilzer

2007-12-26T12:39:00.000-08:00

Born in Nice, France c.1942. She is the big sister of another yéyé girl, Violaine. She only released two EP's in the sixties before becoming a fashion designer under the name Christine Van den Haute.

A yéyé freakbeat classic, 'L'Horloge du grand-père' is an adaptation of the English folk-song ('Grand-dad's clock').

Christine Pilzer - L'horloge De Grand-Père

In 2001 Christine's song "Champs Elysées" was featured on the compilation album 'Wizzz!' and to promote the record Christine did a few concerts with French group Les Terribles. She also appeared with them on French tv.
Video: Christine Pilzer et Les Terribles (looking goood!)

More info: YYG Website, Ready Steady Girls

Suzanne Gabriello

2007-12-12T05:16:00.000-08:00

It's been over a year since I posted 'Z' Avez Pas Lu Kafka' so I guess it's time for another for a song by the late Suzanne Gabriello. This was a parody of colleague Nino Ferrer's song 'Oh ! Hé ! Hein ! Bon !'

Suzanne Gabriello - Votez Hein Bon!

Video: Suzanne Gabriello singing 'Votez Hein Bon' live, accompanied by the Raymond Levefere orchestra.

Christmas a go go!

2007-12-12T05:14:00.000-08:00

CHRISTMASAGOGO

Is back!

Go get your groovy vintage Christmas tunes!

Claire Dixon

2007-11-15T15:20:00.000-08:00

I don't know much about this true yéyé girl Claire Dixon.
But I sure am crazy about this song with its dramatic sound.
Her song 'Je n'ai besoin que de tendresse' is featured on the compilation Swinging Mademoiselles Vol .2.

Claire Dixon - Fleurs, vent (listen/download)

More Ann Christine

2007-11-15T04:40:00.000-08:00

How could I forget to post this song? So groovy and maybe even better than 'Playboy'!

Ann Christine - Odota en (I won't wait) (1964) (listen/download)

Danielle Denin

2007-11-14T08:11:00.000-08:00

Not much is known about Danielle Denin, besides that most of her songs were The Beatles covers.
Here she covers one of my favourite Beatles songs; Michelle.
In her version it's sung in French only, and it's a guy called Michel, but that doesn't make the songs less good.. rather far from it!

Danielle Denin - Michel

Plus: A rare video of her singing the song!

Elsa Leroy

2007-11-14T06:50:00.000-08:00

Elsa Leroy was "Miss Mademoiselle Age Tendre" 1965. The French teen magazine used to choose a new Miss every year. And most of the time, the winner tried to become a pop singer. In 1966 she had a small role in Jean-Luc Godards film "Masculine Feminine" as "Miss 19". She has the typical Yé-yé girl story: Met her husband and dissapeared leaving us 1 excellent EP of pure yéyé goodness.

The guitar riff in "Comment Fais-tu" reminds me a lot of The Who's 'My Generation', which seems to be the most typical song for inspiration of yeye songs in the mid-60s. I haven't seen this song posted on other blogs, so I hope you will enjoy it! "Comment Fais-tu", along with her 3 other ones, are featured on Sixties Girls 5 available on Magic Records.

Elsa Leroy - Comment fais-tu (listen/download)

Source: The YYG website

Ann Christine

2007-11-02T11:00:00.000-07:00

Ann-Christine Nyström (b. 26 July 1944 in Helsinki) is a Finnish singer who performed on the Eurovision contest in 1966 in Luxemborg with the great popsong Playboy. She was placed at 12th out of 18 participations. It was the same year when Ulla Pia participated with 'Stop, mens legen er god'. Ann Christine made about 24 singles and 3 ep's in the period between 1962 and 1969.

Here is Playboy in the Finnish and English version.
Ann Christine - Playboy (Finnish)
Ann Christine - Playboy (English)

He's a maker of fashion, he's a faker of passion

2007-09-29T02:40:00.000-07:00

If I was going to write a biography about naughty Princess Stephanie and her many scandals it would take up all my blogspace. Ok, almost then. Anyway, props goes to Mordi where I first discovered this nearly forgotten 80's europop song. Why, I don't know why 'cause the popcess sold 5 million lp's of Ouragan with an English version on the B-side. Which lyrics are funny as hell.

Stéphanie de Monaco - Comme un Ouragan (1986)
Stéphanie de Monaco - Irresistible (English version) (1986)

Video: Comme un Ouragan
Video: Irresistible

Ulla Pia

2007-09-10T04:48:00.000-07:00

Ok, that was a short comeback. I've just been very busy with a new study, new job, new apartment.. Can you forgive me? :-)
Now I believe I'm settled, and can't wait to share new tunes and records I found with you.

Ulla Pia Nielsen was born on February 17, 1945 in Copenhagen. She debuted at a very young age, playing jazz and schlager with great Danish orchestraleaders. In 1966 she won the Danish Eurovision with the song 'Stop Mens Legen Er God' (Stop, while the going is good). She was placed 14 in the final Eurovision but the song is still remembered today. In 1979, after a period of sickness, she withdraw from the buisness, to take care of her daughter. In 1980 she was given an honor goldrecord from her recordcompany, EMI.
In 1995 she released an autobiography.

The picture above is in a poor quality, but I scanned it from my crappy scanner. Can someone sharpen the image? Please? :-)

Ulla Pia - Stop Mens Legen er god
Ulla Pia - Tu no (Italian version of Stop mens..)
Ulla Pia - Flower power tøj

Video of her perfoming the song at 1966 Eurovision.. check the sweet dancing couple

Pink Martini

2007-07-09T09:09:00.000-07:00

I'm still translating, scanning pictures and ripping, so bear over with me.

This song is from 1997 and the band apparently sold 1.3 million of their debutalbum (according to their wiki), but I never heard of them until recently.

Invite your friends over for some tea and cookies with this song rotation on your stereo . You really get in that Paris Café mood, and aren't we all suckers for that :-)

Pink Martini - Sympathique

Twiggy: Small girl, little voice..

2007-04-22T12:52:00.000-07:00

Okay, so she didn't have the strongest voice, but she had a great presence. It's Twiggy-supermodel-doll, with 'Beautiful Dreams', the first song she made which she can't remember recording. The second one 'I need your hand in mine', is my personal favorite... I don't care much for her 'hit' 'When I think of you', but these two are just sweet sweeet....

Twiggy - Beautiful Dreams (1967)

Twiggy - I need your hand in mine (1967)

Yugo Girlpop: Sanjalice

2007-04-20T13:10:00.000-07:00

Back again, this time with a a real treat for obscure girlgroup lovers.
Sanjalice (Dreamers) were one of, probably not many, girl bands in 60's Yugoslavia. They had a relatively short career, and as I know of, released 3 EP's. The girls were: Ljiljana Mandic, Slobodanka Miscevic, Ljiljana Jeftic and Snezana Veselinovic. They played their own instruments.
Slobodanka Miscevic (guitar) was the best student in her class and Ljiljana Jeftic (bass) was only 15 years old.
They mostly recorded coverversions of Italian and English language hits including Those were the days (Mary Hopkins), a fantastic cover of Happy together (Turtles) and the 1965 San Remo song Io che non vivo senza te (You don't have to say you love me, the Dusty Springfield classic). Their Puppet On A String is sung in Serbo-Croat (that's what it was called in the Yugoslavia era).
Other popular Yugo girlgroups: Lutke and Sigele

Sanjalice - Marioneta/Lutka na koncu (Puppet on a string)
Sanjalice - Srecni zajedno (Happy Together)
Sanjalice - Bez Reci (Without words)

Extra: Yugoslavian article about Sanjalice. You are more than welcome to translate some interesting facts!

Vanessa Paradis

2007-04-11T14:48:00.000-07:00

Vanessa Paradis' 2000 album 'Bliss' is so underrated and unknown. Still, I consider it one of the best albums of 2000. After 7 loooong years, she will finally release her new album in the summer of 2007. Warm up, and listen to these two beautiful songs by the woman with the most beautiful name in the world - and understand why she is Mrs. Depp going on 9th year.

Vanessa Paradis - Que fait la vie
Vanessa Paradis - Pourtant

Extra: Video for 'Pourtant'

Kathy

2007-04-10T14:34:00.000-07:00

In the early seventies many tried to follow and 'copy' the success Gainsbourg had with 'Je t'aime.. moi non plus'. Breathy, sensual songs - in French.
Kathy Lowe was a US female folk singer travelling in France during the early seventies. This pop record is from 1973. She returned home in 1974.

Kathy - La moto
Kathy - Je T'aime

Thanks Soulmarcosa

... remember to visit the great new blog Así se fundo Carnaby Street which has a yé-yé special this month.

Les Gam's covers a go go

2007-04-08T14:40:00.000-07:00

More from Graziella, Annie, Michele and Suzy aka French 60's girlgroup Les Gam's!

Les Gam's - Toi l'ami (The Beatles - All my loving)

Les Gam's - Wo ist unsere liebe (The Supremes - Where did your love go)

B.B.

2007-04-08T12:07:00.000-07:00

Long time no see at the Café

Brigitte Bardot - Ne me Laisse pas L'aimer (ohshare)

Daniela

2007-04-08T08:54:00.000-07:00

Danielas real name was Danica Milatovic. She was born in Munich, Germany on December 13th, 1949. Her parents had come from Yugoslavia some years before. In 1960 she recorded her first 45. Between 1965 and 1973 there were 12 more 45s and two LPs with German songs. Her biggest hit was "Im Jahre 2002" ("In the Year 2002").
Daniela released two EPs in Yugoslavia singing in Serbian. She made one with the band Plamenih Pet (The Flaming Five) around 1967. This low-fi EP has competent covers of I Got You Babe and These Boots Are Made for Walking sung in English.
The real gems are on the b-side, Dan Je Divan Dan (on web translators the title comes up as "Presently Had Wondrous Light"!), written by G. Aber and V. Olear, and Ja Nekog Želim ("I Someone Desires"), written by V. Olear and Daniela herself.

I was going to post a couple of songs by her, but Garagehangover has 6 songs up by the Yugo-doll. It's kinda cute how she can't sing in English and mumbles the words out. Go go check for yourself!

Uschi Glas

2007-03-07T07:14:00.000-08:00

I have been going Uschi-crazy since Spiked Candy posted Wenn dein Herz brennt with her. So thanks to Jan, I'm happy to have got even more fantastic tracks by her, which seemed impossible to find! Apparently she's a really unpopular 'German hausfrau with ultraconservative views' in her homecountry, but do we care? No, no, U-schi-so-schön!

Uschi Glas - Mein Wochenende

Uschi Glas - Chucky

Michele Mercier

2007-03-07T03:04:00.000-08:00

Another request, this time by Kris: The beautiful actress Michele Mercier singing 'La fille qui fait chic ti tchic' (1969) by.... Serge Gainsbourg (surprice!)

Michéle Mercier - La fille qui fait chic ti tchic

Mireille Darc

2007-03-01T12:22:00.000-08:00

Someone requested these songs a few weeks ago:

French Actress Mireille Darc made a few EPs, but was most successful as an actress. She had the leading part in Jean-Luc Godards Week End. She kind of reminds me of Vivi Bach.

Here is her, -in my opinion- best songs: A sweet duet with France Gall and Helicoptere, written by Serge Gainsbourg.

Très Bien.

Mireille Darc & France Gall - Ne cherche pas à plaire

Mireille Darc - Helicoptere

Mireille Darc at Youtube

Stone

2007-02-26T11:03:00.000-08:00

Argh, I was so close to win a copy of Clothilde's saperlipopette EP, but someone overbid my 100 dollars (!).. what a lucky rich bastard that won :)

Annie Gautrat (b. 31/7/47, Paris) took the pseudo Stone when she was elected as Miss Beatnick in 1966.
Stone was then very fond of Rhythm & Blues, The Beatles, The Who and of course The Rolling Stones. She even got her nickname from her friends of Discothèque Bus Palladium which called her 'small stone' because her resemblance to Brian Jones of Rolling Stones (check out the hair!)
She released five EPs, and Fille un garçon' is from the second one; in English it means "Boy or girl"; It's about the youngsters with long hair. Then she got married to Eric Charden (who wrote songs for her), and they became the most successful and the most cheesy duo in French varietes. They split in 1977, but came back many times.
Stone has made soo many great songs, so I'll recommend you to buy her stuff (feat. on several yeye compilations)

Stone is on tour in 2007! Check the tourlist for dates.

Stone - Fille un garcon (Beach Boys - Sloop John B)?

Stone - Baby Stone

Stone - Patati et patata (Plouf!)

Stone - Garde ton sang froid (The Troggs - I can't control myself)

Stone - Seul (The Beatles - Norwegian Wood)

Extra:
Video: Stone - Patati et Patata
Interview from 2003 on Bide-et-musique (In French)
- Click here for an English translation (babelfish)

Source: YYG, BEM

Jocelyne at The Fun House

2007-02-22T04:19:00.000-08:00

Pssst, Yé-yé addicts... Mike from Funhouse just posted the whole Jocelyne - Twistin' the Rock with 32 great gems by the late Miss Jocelyne. Read more about her at YYG.

Alicia Granados

2007-02-06T05:48:00.000-08:00

Alicia Granados was only 12 years old in 1966, when she won first prize in the 8th song-festival of Benidorm (in Alicante, Spain) with the ballad "Nocturno". She was the youngest Spanish singer ever to win.

Following her success, she released two EP's with 4 songs each, pure yéyé goodies.

She began to study music and dramatic art, and had a role in the 1967 movie "La Banda de las Pecas".

In 1971 she became the frontsinger in the band "Nubes Grises" (Grey Clouds) They had some minor hits, but never gained a national breakthrough.

In 1973 she left the music industry for good. It is not confirmed, but rumors has it, that she is working with medicine.

Alicia Granados - Profesor
Alicia Granados - El Juguete Extraordinario
Alicia Granados - ABC Ye Yé

Thanks and credit goes to Mel of the great spanish yeye blog meltorm

More Les Flechettes

2007-01-31T07:27:00.000-08:00

Superfemme 60's yéyé... LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!

Les Flechettes - Les gens

Even more Flechettes

Buy record

Giorgio Moroder

2007-01-26T12:54:00.000-08:00

Godfather of Italian disco, Giorgio Moroder's own (crazy) version of the theme from the famous 'Muppet Show'. It is included on the Italian various artists CD "Arriva La Bomba - The Easiest Italian Party of the Year" It has also been released in France under the name 'Stop Studio Group' and reissued in Jan 1977 as a German single under the name 'Stammer the Hammer'.

Annoying or just genial? You decide.

Giorgio Moroder: Mah-na mah-na (1968)

Katarzyna

2007-01-24T13:08:00.000-08:00

Poland can pop? Sure! Just listen to this little gem from 1967. Katarzyna Sobczyk (born 1945) was Polands 60's girl and queen of pop.

Yes another repost, because it's so good.

Katarzyna Sobczyk - Trzynastego

The rare Jacqueline Taieb record on ebay *sigh* I can only dream ;)

Remember to welcome the new blog at freche früchtchen - tell I sent you ;)

The Savage Rose

2007-01-23T08:23:00.000-08:00

A post from last year, but since my visitors has increased, I would like to repost and expose the fantastic music to new visitors as well.

allmusic.com says:
One of the most well-known rock groups from Continental Europe, Denmark's Savage Rose recorded a wealth of intriguing and eclectic progressive rock in the late '60s and '70s. In their early work, one hears faint echoes of the Airplane, Doors, Pink Floyd, and other psychedelic heavyweights combined with classical jazz and Danish-Euro folk elements. Their arrangements rely heavily on an incandescent, watery organ that sounds like nothing so much as psychedelic aquarium music. The most striking aspect of the band's sound, however, was the vocals of lead singer Annisette. Her childish wispy and sensual phrasing can suddenly break into jarring, almost histrionic wailing, like a Janis Joplin with Yoko Ono-isms, and eerily foreshadows Kate Bush's style.
Stars in their native land, Savage Rose also achieved a bit of underground success abroad, and several of their albums were released in North America. Between 1968 and 1978, the group released nine albums, moving from vaguely psychedelic rock and heavily gospel.

"...Hundreds of thousands have experienced the magic of this band, who have walked barefoot across the planet, among the lowliest, voicing their hope, longing, dreams, pain and struggle........."David Fricke(Senior editor "Rolling Stone") on The Savage Rose (2000)

The Savage Rose - A Girl I Knew
The Savage Rose - Long Before I Was Born

More Hedika

2007-01-17T03:54:00.000-08:00

Another rare song from the lovely Hungarian Hédika!

Hédika - L'amour c'est tout ou rien

Anyone have this book? Is it filled with yummy rare pics and articles?

Trude Herr

2007-01-15T10:21:00.000-08:00

Trude 'Tutti' Herr (b. 4 May 1927, Cologne, d. 16 March 1991, in Provence) was a German actress, singer, and theatre director.

A loooong biography about her here (in German, urgh;)
I would love to know more about her, so any contribute are more than welcome.

As me and Spikedcandy talked about, it's really hard to find quality German pophits that isn't cheesy schlager. Here is the best 1.56 m Deutsch dolls ever, full of humour and self-irony. I do hope you will enjoy these fantastic pophits by her.
Buy her best of cd
Germans Under Cover blog

Trude Herr - Ich will keine Schokolade

Her breakthrough single from 1959.
She want's a man, not chocolate (but of course we don't believe her)

'Ich will keine Schokolade' is a repost, by a request. QQF was kind to translate the lyrics.

Trude Herr - Weil Ich so sexy bin

I love how she pronouche 'sexy'!

From 1961.

Petula Clark

2007-01-12T04:00:00.000-08:00

Petula Clark, (born November 15, 1932), is an English singer, actress and composer, best known for her upbeat popular international hits of the 1960s. Remember "Downtoown, things will be great when you're dooowntooown"? Sure you do. Yep that's her. She lived in France for some years, before she got her global breakthrough. I'm really not into her English stuff, but the French - wowzie it's great!

Petula wrote this song as a James Bond theme, apparently disappointed that she wasn't given the chance to do such a theme. It's no secret that I love James Bond music, but this song just isn't for Bond - it's too uptempo and fun - but still love it though! (I have no idea what the male puke sounds is about, maybe it's suppose to sound like a fight?)
Update: Thanks to Le Chpoum, we now have the English translation of the song. Go to the comments and try to follow the lyrics while playing the song. I did that, and I like it even more now!

Petula Clark - L'agent secret

Credit and more info: Wikipedia

Yma Sumac

2007-01-12T03:39:00.000-08:00

Peruvian exotica diva, Yma Sumac, was a phenomenon in the music world during the early 1950's. With an amazing vocal range of four octaves, this attractive, mysterious woman with a voluptuous figure catapulted onto the American music scene with a 10" album "Voice Of Xtabay" that topped the US charts in 1950. Everything surrounding Yma Sumac had an air of mystery about it, she was said to have been born in a tiny village in the Peruvian high Andes and was a descendant of the Inca Kings and her exotic repertoire was said to be based on Inca legends.

Yma Súmac - Gopher Mambo

Buy Cd

Nicole Paquin

2007-01-10T10:29:00.000-08:00

Nicole Paquin (real name Nicole Desbiolles) was born in Paris in 1940. She was launched as the first French female rock'n'roller, when she began performing in 1958. This girl did all in a few years: comedian, actress, dancer, painter, writer, singer and journalist. In 1961 she had a small role in Jean-Luc Godard's 'Une femme est une femme'.
That year, she also recorded two 45t ep's for Polydor.
Her successes were "Comme in clou" (adapted from Elvis Presley -Stuck on you) and "Mon mari c'est Frankenstein" (adapted from Phil Spector). She gave up rock'n'roll in 1962 considering the difficulty being a girl in rock'n'roll industry.
After that, she got her own headline section for "Salut les copains" in the weekly magazine CinéMonde and in the monthly magazine Age Tendre.
She briefly reappeared in 1966 with the group Les Minets.

Nicole Paquin - Comme un clou

For more Nicole, check Schlocker

NB! If you are a visitor of this site, please join my new Last.fm group!

Credit: RetroJeunesse

George De Giafferi - Sado Maso

2007-01-08T06:20:00.000-08:00

With a Jean-Yanne mouth and sideburns, George De Giafferi sings this hilarious song, making fun of sadism and masochism. The song opens with the Giaferri screaming "Oooow! That's GOOD!" then leads to exchanges like: Man: It's time for you to get whipped! Woman: Oh great, I love that! Man: Now burn my chest! Woman: With what my love? Man: Use your cigarette! Woman: It's smells like grilled pork! If someone have a full translation, please tell me!
I would love to have this one on vinyl! Have a good laugh with this cult classic and remember to watch the video before you download the mp3.
Credit: Scopitones

George De Giafferi - Sado Maso (mp3)
George De Giafferi - Sado Maso (video)

Hédika

2007-01-05T13:43:00.000-08:00

Real name: Sylvia Hedika Penzes b. Budapest, Hungary, 1946.
Her parents worked the music-hall circuit. In 1961, aged 15 she won the "Miss Juke Box Paris" competition, organized by Eddie Barclay. That year she cut two EPs for Festival. The tracks were all rock numbers including covers of songs popularised by Elvis and Chubby Checker. Her voice is quite raw and shrill, with a lot of youthful energy. All eight tracks appear on 'Twistin' the Rock Volume 4' (shared with Nicole Paquin). After spending the 60s performing in clubs, Hédika retired from the music scene in 1971.

I just love Hédikas energy. What a cutie. You can find her song 'Hey Pony' on Ultra Chicks vol. 3

Hédika - Il ne veut plus être un dragueur (Shoppin' Around)

Buy cd/Listen to clips

Source: YYG

Annie Phillippe

2007-01-04T09:49:00.000-08:00

Born 17/12/1946, Menilmontant, France.
Philippe was discovered when she was around the age of 17; it has variously been reported that at the time she was a disc jockey in a Paris nightclub called Twenty-One discotheque or that she was working in a record shop by day and as an exotic dancer at night. At any rate, she began releasing discs in 1964 under the direction of Paul Mauriat, arranger for Charles Aznavour, and famed in the U.S. a few years later for his huge easy-listening instrumental hit "Love Is Blue." Mauriat also co-wrote a couple of Philippe's discs, which went all over the map as far as '60s pop went.

Annie Phillippe - C'est la mode

Annie Philippe - J'ai tant de peine

Annie Philippe - Ticket De Quai
Annie Phillippe - Le mannequin

left picture: Annie Phillipe with Claude François (Fléche label owner)

Ticket De Quai musicvideo

French article on Annie Philippe (pdf)

Credit: All Music

Arlette Zola

2007-01-03T12:00:00.000-08:00

Swinging Swiss mademoiselle Arlette Zola was born Arlette Jaquet in the city of Fribourg on April 29, 1949. Her mother and stepfather ran the Restaurant de la Grand-Fontaine there. Still a child, she already sang for the guests, accompanying herself on the guitar. The driving force behind her career was her stepfather, René Quazzola, from whose surname Arlette’s stage name is derived. He financed Arlette Zola’s first record and built up contacts with the music industry. Soon, Arlette Zola adorned the front pages of teenie magazines, appeared in many TV programs and gave live performances at home and abroad. Her 1967 guest appearances in Brazil and in Bulgaria, where she won an international song contest, deserve special mention. She also aroused interest in Germany and made a considerable number of recordings there. But there were no more major hits. As of 1970 Arlette Zola gradually withdrew from show business. Arlette resurfaced in 1982 as Switzerland's entrant in the Eurovision Song Contest singing 'Amour on t'aime' which finished 3rd. Today, Arlette Zola lives in Fribourg, works in a restaurant, owns a fashion boutique, and as I can see from a concert calender on her website, she still performs to this day.

Arlette Zola - Mathématique élémentaire
Arlette Zola - 2 garçons pour une fille

Arlette Zola - Je ne suis plus une enfant

Source/Credit: Swiss Disco
Her official website

Happy birthday

2007-01-03T03:25:00.000-08:00

Today it's Dans Mon Cafe's 1 year birthday.

Please tell me what you would like me to post more of in 2007! Yeye-boys? New French music? 60's club music? Trans-world? Like the long biographies? Don't care about them? Leave a comment!

The girl on the left is Vanessa Paradis.

France Gall

2006-12-20T05:41:00.000-08:00

I guess these probably have been posted before, but I thought it was time for some tunes from the Princess!

France Gall - Ne Sois Pas Si Bete (French)
France Gall - Kilimandscharo (German)

The Pussycats

2006-12-18T03:51:00.000-08:00

If you're into girlgroups, you will love The Pussycats! These are the only songs I have by them, would love to hear more..

Sheila Burgel from the great great cha cha charming magazine writes:

The Pussycats were another obvious Shangri Las imitation. They shared arranger Artie Butler and covered "Dressed in Black." The Pussycats also released the seductive "I Want Your Love" on Columbia Records in 1965.
While Artie Butler attempted to revive "Dressed in Black" with the Pussycats, Shadow Morton took the Nu Luvs under his wing and also gave them the same song to record. At least Shadow was somewhat able to fool the public when it was decided to change the name from "Dressed in Black" to "So Soft, So Warm."

They are featured on several LP compilations, as Girls In The Garage 3 and Where the girls are 5.

Pussycats - Dressed in black

Pussycats - I want your love

Sophie

2006-12-17T14:55:00.000-08:00

Sophie (real name Arlette Hecket, born 9 October, 1944) was a girlfriend of one of the members of the group Les Champions, Sophie and sang with them in December 1962 in Olympia under the name Jenny Hahn (I don't know whats up with the many names either). Olympia director Bruno Coquatrix was impressed, and presented her to Johnny Stark. She signed a contract with Decca and released her first disc Quand un air vous possède / Tout ça pour le locomotion followed by a participation in the film Cherchez l'idole. In 1967 she changed her career to a radio DJ and on Télé Assembles-Carlo (tv channel) as a producer. But in 1975 she returned for a period to participate as Monaco's entry in the Eurovision Song Contest, finishing 13th with 'Une chanson c'est une lettre'.

'L'integrale', a CD compilation of 25 tracks was issued by Magic Records in 1999.

Sophie - Tout Ça Pour Le Locomotion (Blame It On The Bossa-Nova)
Sophie - Je Ne Fais Pas D'histoires (It's Not Unusual)
Sophie - Tente Ta Chance (Wishin' and Hopin')

Credit: Retrojeunesse, YYGW

Rosy Armen

2006-12-17T04:22:00.000-08:00

Rosy Armen, was born in Paris, May 1st, (seems like she keeps the year of birth a secret!). When she was four, she became a part of the school orchestra. Her talent was discovered and she became a soloist in several local chorus.
Although her parents felt it was a dubious future, Rosy soon became very successful and had an international career.

She still record and performs to this day.

Ohshare:
Rosy Armen - Tu Croiras (Stand By Me)
Rosy Armen - Quand le soleil était là

Mydatabus:
Rosy Armen - Quand le soleil était là
Rosy Armen - Tu Croiras (Stand By Me)

Danish Delights: Gitte

2006-12-15T07:53:00.001-08:00

Happy birthday yesterday Jane Birkin (60) .. and Happy Birthday to me today (2*) ;)

Gitte Hænning Johansson was born 1946 in Denmark. She started in show business at a very early age, 6 while touring and recording together with her father Otto. In the 60´s Gitte recorded many songs in both Danish, Swedish and German and she became an international star both as singer and actor.

Reposts songs .. + a few new...I know R and Yeyeohyeah will be very happy!

Gitte - Jeg snakker med mig selv (I'm talking to myself) (My favourite)
Gitte - I've told every little star
Gitte - Ønsk mig tillykke (Cliff Richard -Congratulations)
Gitte - Flirt
Gitte - Tag med ud Å fisk (Let's go fishing)
Gitte - Drøm en lille drøm om mig (Mama Cass - Dream a little dream of me)

Les Gam's

2006-12-11T10:58:00.000-08:00

So, I moved to Beta Blogger. That's why my blog looks a little weird. But, now I can organize the posts into labels/categories, which will be easier for you, instead of looking through old archives. It will take a few days to label all the posts, but I guess it will be worth it! Btw, I got a few complaints about my filehost, Ohshare. Anyone else having problems?

Graziella, Annie, Michele and Suzy = Les GAM's!
Used to be Gilbert Bécaud chorus-singers. With Annie Markan in front, they began recording in September 1962 at Vogue Records, before signing a contract to Lee Hallyday at Mercury Records. In the beginning of 1963, they got their first hit 'Il a le truc', a cover of The Exciters' 'He Has The Power'. On June 22, 1963, they took part in the "Night of the Nation" event, with Claude François on the stage, gathering nearly 150 000 young people. They recorded five EP's before their split in 1964.

Les Gam's - Il a le truc
Les Gam's - Attention! Accident
Les Gam's - Rien n'est trop beau

Gelou

2006-12-06T13:19:00.000-08:00

Crazy twistgirl Gélou (Real name Genevieve Cognet), was born in Lille in 1938.
She studied at the Conversatoire of Dramatic art of Lille and got her first prize in the comedyrole of "Poil de Carotte". In 1954, she moved to Paris and began singing.
During the summer 1962, Gélou toured at the beaches of the Riviera with Johnny Hallyday.

Gelou - Ils croient à leur danse
Gelou - C'est toi qui m'a apris l'amour

Sophia goes zoo be zoo

2006-12-06T12:48:00.000-08:00

A English version of Gillian Hills 'Zou bisou bisou' with.... Sophia Loren!

Sophia Loren - Zoo Be Zoo Be Zoo

More Karo

2006-12-02T13:50:00.000-08:00

Hi again, and thanks for all your lovely comments! Remember that you can always mail me or send songs to dansmoncafe8@yahoo.com

Here is another brilliant song with the lovely Caroline Valle aka Karo.

Karo - Sur ta moto

Danish Delights (9): More Vivi

2006-11-29T05:57:00.000-08:00

As promised to regular visitor Kate, here's more songs by 'The Danish Brigitte Bardot', 60's girl Vivi Bach. Next Danish Delight will be Gitte.

Here's the original post with even more Vivi songs. Go Go Go!

Vivi Bach - Alle Männer sind Räuber
Vivi Bach - Mi scusi, mi scusi, Signore
Vivi Bach - Playboy
Vivi Bach - Let's Shake

Buy the 'Best Of' CD here

Cover up (2): These Boots Are Made For Walkin'

2006-11-27T08:51:00.000-08:00

Jany L

2006-11-26T06:31:00.000-08:00

I don't have any information about Jany L, except that she made 2 ep's in late 60's, and this one is from 1969. She sounded a lot like Brigitte Bardot - just listen to this psych song with cute chinese piano and drums.

Jany L. - Le Restaurant Chinois

Karo

2006-11-25T07:05:00.000-08:00

Karo (real name Caroline Vallée), was born in 1946 in Sherbrooke Québec, Canada. She started out in Le Trio BAK with (as I understands) yeye girl Renee Martel. They had some minor hits as "Les marionnettes", and "Un jeune homme bien" (those seems impossible to find.. anyone?). In 1966-1967 she recorded of the resumptions of songs for 'Match', a company which specialized in the sale of 45 turns at reduced prices. Later she won first price at a radio concours Decouvertes ("discoveries" of CFTM). Thereafter, she recorded her own composition "Une Garcon en mini-jupe" which gained an immediate success. Karo settled in Montreal and started to occur in cabarets. In 1968 her compositions "Sur ma moto"and "Les Bibittes" came out and the singer participated in the well known Musicorama tour in Quebec.. She is a professor in languages today and has her own school.

An anthology was released in 1999 on Disques Mérite.

Karo - Un garçon en mini-jupe
Karo - Ti-fils à papa
Karo - Les Bibettes

more than 1500 visitors at Christmas a go go yesterday!

Serge Gainsbourg & Jane Birkin - 69 annee erotique

2006-11-24T05:21:00.000-08:00

I adore this song, actually I like it better than Je t'aime .. moi non plus! So I uploaded the vid to my Youtube: A cute Jane Birkin lying on the piano smiling to a chain-smoking Serge.

Elke Sommer

2006-11-23T12:16:00.000-08:00

b. 1940 in Berlin. German pin-up girl, actress, artist, entertainer, and singer! You have might seen her in the Pink Panther movie A Shot In The Dark with my favourite actor Peter Sellers. She speaks seven different languages. She believes in ghosts.

Elke Sommer - Alors Qu'hier Encore

Extra: as requested by popseek, here is James Clarke - Blow up a gogo!

Should there be more instrumental 60's club music on the blog?

Christmas A Go Go!

2006-11-20T12:43:00.000-08:00

Remember when the candy tasted a little sweeter, the Christmas tree was a bit greener, and the snow whiter? This is our collection of the funniest, sweetest, and best of the classic and newer Christmas songs, that will get you in the right spirit and get you the best compilation ever! Think cheesy, 60's, french, rare, funky, soul, and much more!

Bloggers allstar - Mordi from Blowupdoll - Christine from SpikedCandy - Bruno from Schlocker - Guuzbourg from Filles Sourires - Roy from Germans Under Cover - and me !

WWW.CHRISTMASAGOGO.BLOGSPOT.COM

Les Flechettes

2006-11-19T14:24:00.000-08:00

The group was created by Claude François at the end of the 60's (around 1968). They were named Les Fléchettes after the record label "Disques Flèche" that Claude François just started. The group (around 1969 according of the liner-notes of one of their singles) consisted of:
Martine Lejeune : 20 years old, exsecretary, blonde, 1,60m. Francine Chabot : 18 years old, exstudent, brunette, 1,65m.
Catherine Bonnevay : 17 years old, exstudent, blonde, 1,63m.
Dominique Bonnevay : 19 years old, exsecretary, brunette, 1,59m.
Dominique and Catherine were sisters and the other girls were cousins so it was a bit of a family affair!
They were backing-singers for Claude François on stage and on his records but they also recorded their own.

Thanks again to Bruno for the translation!

Les Flechettes - Je Vends Du Reve
Les Flechettes - Une Fille Est Toujours Belle (cover of Turtles 'Elenore')

Popart

2006-11-08T11:07:00.000-08:00

Can't find any information or ~~picture~~ about the artist and song - but enjoy this brilliant french pop song approximately from around 1967 :-) and oh, any Warhol fans here?

Thanks to the wonderful Spikedcandy, we can now see the cover of Miss Tienou! Click to enlarge.

Tienou et les Wind-Dings - Pop Art

Dani

2006-11-07T10:55:00.000-08:00

From ye-ye girls & Wikipedia:
Real name: Daniele Groule
Boyish and wild Dani, was born on October 1, 1945 in Castres, Tarn, France. Dani was meant to have been France's Eurovision Song Contest 1974 entry, but the President Georges Pompidou died in the week of the competition, so she never entered Eurovision properly. In cinema she has played in the last Antoine Doinel-Adventure Love on the Run a short-time-affair of Antoine, Christine's friend Liliane. In the late 70's she had drug problems (she wrote a book about that), then she came back to music with the help of Etienne Daho. In 1993 she recorded a great (and almost unknown) album with the Stranglers : 'N Comme Never Again'. She's now running a big flowers business 'Au nom de la Rose' in France.

Check these groovy Dani-songs. Want more?

Dani - Dring Dring
Dani - Sans Astérisque

Delphine

2006-11-04T02:35:00.000-08:00

Delphine was a Belgian yéyé girl. Her real name was Delphine Bury and she lived in the area of Charleroi. She made killer tracks. Need to know more?

Delphine - La Fermeture Èclair (We the people - In the past)
Delphine - Les prisons de sa majesté

These are unfortunately the only songs I have by her. Help!

Honor Blackman covers Gainsbourg

2006-11-01T04:38:00.000-08:00

Honor Blackman was not only one of the most stylish and gorgeous British actresses, famous for her characters in the Bond movie Goldfinger (Pussy Galore) or in the serial The Avengers (1st season), but she was also a singer who made one, pretty rare, LP in 1964, entitled Everything Ive got, that was recieved well.
Honor Blackman wasn't the biggest singer but defintly one of the coolest... Plus, it's Honor Blackman.

Listen to this adaptation of La Javanaise by Serge Gainsbourg and enjoy!

Honor Blackman - Men will decieve you

Francine Lainé

2006-10-31T09:05:00.000-08:00

Don't know much about this girl, this seems to be the only lp released by her. Francine Lainé who was more known as a dubbing actress for animated tvseries and movies (she's Maggie in the French version of Fraggle Rock!), recorded these 2 tracks to promote a now forgotten erotic book named "Lolitissimo" (1970) by a guy named René Varrin.
Furthermore the two tracks were arranged by popmaster André Popp, the man behind Delirium Hi-Fi, Claudine Longets 'Love is Blue', Marie Laforet and many more.
Oh yes, you are going to love this.

More André Popp related-stuff soon. And oh, a Gitte LP and a cupcake to those who can find other tracks with her!

Francine Lainé - Lolitissimo
Francine Lainé - Moi Sensuelle?

René Varrin - Lolitissimo (book)

Credit:
Pop'n'Cherries
Whoops

Eine französische Prinzessin: France Gall

2006-10-27T07:46:00.000-07:00

Parisian Pop Princess France Gall would regularly record in Germany from 1966 to 1972, in particular with the composer and orchestrator Werner Müller. She had a successful German career with songs by Horst Buchholz and Giorgio Moroder. For all her German success, many Germans would believe for a long time that Gall was one of their own.

Here are some of my favorites...

France Gall - Hippie Hippie (feat. on the Radioblog)
France Gall - Die schönste Musik die es gibt (Music To Watch Girls By)
France Gall - Ein Bisschen Goethe, Ein Bisschen Bonaparte
France Gall - I like Mozart

Plus: Her German version of Poupée de cire, poupée de son here

Les Beatlettes

2006-10-25T05:19:00.000-07:00

The group was formed in February 1964 by Denise Payette who told a friend that she would find girls to form an all female equivalent of The Beatles. The other members were: Claudette Faubert, Hélène Duguay, Mimi Jourdan and Claire Fugère who were all experienced musicians. Their first show was the 17 August 64. Unlike most girl groups of the period, these girls played their own musical instruments. Tragically, on the way to their last show in Canada before heading off to Paris for a major gig at The Olympia, a car crash claimed the lives of two of the girls in the band.

Les Beatlettes - C'est Grâce À Toi (cover of The Surpremes - You Can't Hurry Love)
Les Beatlettes - Reste Encore

Géraldine

2006-10-23T10:46:00.000-07:00

Born in 1947, Géraldine, after being member of The Djinns, got out a first solo 4 title EP in 1966 on Polydor. The same year, her song "Which heart will you break" wasn't selected to represent France at the Eurovision. But at the Lugano preselection on January 21, 1967, she got that song representing Switzerland at the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna on April 8. She would get 0 points for a 17th place. But considering the studio version of "Which heart will you break" on the second Polydor EP, it is absolutely magnificent and would totally have deserved to win the contest. So what happened in Vienna that April 8, 1967 ? Mystery... An hypothesis would be a failed live performance. Last but not least, the official orchestra that was accompanying all the artists was rubbish, not at all adapted to pop music. We can tell this by the dreadful orchestral version of a pathetic Serge Gainsbourg song, "Boum Badaboum", interpreted by Minouche Barelli who represented Monaco. Géraldine got out at least a third 4 titles EP in 1968, before we loose all trace of her. We don't know her last name and even if she's still alive. All information is welcome. So we stay with that magic 1967 EP, containing also the song "Springtime snows", whose lyrics were written by the Swiss singer Jean Charles, who would become later a famous radio & TV humorist. Beyond the outdated grace of the melody and the voice, the typical 1967 French pop sound brings a peculiar "Zeitgeist" to the whole, inimitable, with nice heavy drums that conserved a slight metallic 1965 peps.
From the dictionary "Les Dinosaures du Rock".

Geraldine - Un fleir, Un oiseau
Geraldine - Les Chattes
Geraldine - Quel Coeur Vas-Tu Briser

I found a nice Ebay store with a French Freakbeat & Lolita section.
Anyone knows the email to Simon @ Yeye girls website? The email posted on the site, dosn't seem to work..

Pussy Cat

2006-10-17T11:26:00.000-07:00

Real name: Evelyne Courtois
Evelyne's music career started in 1964 with one of the only French all-girl bands, Les Petites Souris (the Little Mice). The band recorded one EP in 1965 before splitting. Adopting her stage name from Tom Jones's song: "What's new Pussy Cat" and teaming up with ex-Pingouins drummer, Gerard Huge, Evelyne recorded a mixture of R&B covers and original songs between 1966 and 1969.

Pussy Cat - Les temps ont change
Pussy Cat - Stop!
Pussy Cat - Mais Pourquoi (You're No Good)

Buy album

More Tiny

2006-10-17T10:37:00.000-07:00

Another song by the lovely Tiny Yong, this time about l'amour.. .
from.. 1963

Tiny Yong - Je ne veux plus t'aimer (I Can't Stay Mad At You)

Mini Mini Girl: Kanai Katsuko

2006-10-11T09:31:00.000-07:00

Posted on @ Splendida

Jenny Rock

2006-10-11T05:41:00.000-07:00

Quebec yé-yé girl Jeannine de Bellefeuille aka Jenny Rock, was born on November 10, 1946 in Saint-Hyacinthe.
She made her career mainly between 1965 and 1969.
In 1959, she interpreted the successes of Elvis Presley with the troop of Jean Grimaldi. She also took part in the musical review "Rock'n'roll Baby Rock'n'roll" with the National Theatre in Montreal. Producer John Ramming of the Sélect company saw her and gave her a contract. In 1963, she had her first success with "Donne-moi ta jeunesse", it was however "Douliou douliou Saint-Tropez" that became her breakthrough. Jenny Rock leaved Sélect in 66' for the company Apex, and had several successes like "Les Sloopy, Viens Danser, Noir C'est Noir". She disappeared from the scene at the end of the sixties.

Jenny Rock - Douliou Douliou St-Tropez
Jenny Rock - Le Sloopy

Jenny Rock - Saint Tropez - 1965

Rika Zarai

2006-10-10T06:45:00.000-07:00

Rika Zaraï, (real name Rika Gussmann) was born on February 19, 1939 in Jerusalem in Palestine.
The Israeli singer recorded in French, Hebrew, Italian, Spanish and German.
She was performing in cabarets and theatres, singing songs translated from French classics like Trenet, Greco, Aznavour or Brassens. This is how, one day, she got spotted by a producer who asked her if she would be interested in performing at the Olympia in Paris.To her, a young budding Israeli singer, who so admired French music, it was truly a dream come true! The producer told her to go and see Bruno Coquatrix on his behalf, and, on that one recommendation, she decides to leave for Paris and for glory, with her child, still a baby, a return ticket, and 100 US$....Read the interesting biography about her life.

Rika Zarai - Une Chanson Pour Mon Amour (feat. on Pop A Paris vol.2)

PS.....I'm looking for these songs, if you have them, pls write!
FR David - Symphonie
Petula Clark - L'agent Secret
Katty Line - Tu Vinci Sempre

More Betina

2006-10-10T04:16:00.000-07:00

More Betina songs and pictures at Mel's splendid blog I Can't Give You Anything But Love...baby.. with a lot of Spanish yé-yé as well! Featured a little dedication to my Betina post.. yay!!

And thanks to Mel here is also Betina's 1964 hit:
Betina - Hay tantos chicos en el mundo

PS.... I'm going to London, from October 18th till the 22nd. On my last visit I had a hard time finding record shops with chanson & yé-yé.... anyone knows one?

Betina

2006-10-08T05:40:00.000-07:00

Again, thanks a million to Alan @ La canción de Prévert
Mª de las Mercedes Massager Tarragó (b. Barcelona, January 6, 1950) studied at the conservatory in Barcelona and appeared in several radio contests, where she got the name of Betina.

A blonde with blue eyes, joyful and sensual, extrovert and of an overwhelming charm, in real life as well as on stage, she was very popular in the mid 60s, singing with grace and style, both French and Italian successes, and especially ballads.

Her first record was released in 1964. Her first hit came with the song 'Hay tantos chicos en el mundo' ('There Are So Many Boys in the World'), which made her well known all over Spain.

In 1972 she married the Cantabric pianist Raúl G. Calderón. She then joined the band Janio Martí, very popular in Catalonia, and has continued singing and travelling round Europe in sea cruises (!).

Betina - Tarde Azul, Noche Gris
Betina - La Lancha
Betina - Y Por Tanto (Et Pourtant)
Betina - La Vida Es Asi
Betina - Creo

New thread at Get Hip! with interesting ebay retro LP finds.. check it out..

German kitsch: The Batmen

2006-10-07T12:54:00.000-07:00

Born and raised in Berlin, frontsinger Dieter Zill spent his youth playing football (soccer). He tried his hand at music, making it as far as supporting Bill Haley, Little Richard and Rolling Stones with his band Didi & His ABC Boys,(he also fronted The Batmen and released an album under the alias Lord Nelson), before deciding in 1969 to change career and started working for German Bravo magazine as a photographer.

The Batmen - Batman

Thanks to Tony the Tyger and Bruno

Ria Bartok

2006-10-06T06:28:00.000-07:00

Real name: Marie-Louise Pleiss
(b. 28/1/43, Einbeck, near Hannover, Germany)

A long biography translated thanks to Alan !:

60's French yé-yé goes beyond F. Hardy, Sheila and S. Vartan. One of these other singers was Ria Bartok. She knew success for two years, then tragedy crossed her way. Such a pity.

She was born in Enben, near Hannover. Her father was an opera singer (not related with composer Bartok, as far as we know). She studied in several european cities, then in the fifties the family established in France and she obtained the title of nurse, but doesn't work in it for much time. In 1963, she signed with the label Ricordi and made her first EP, which included 'Parc'que je revu François', a trepidant version of 'I Saw Linda Yesterday', and her first hit. Then followed a second EP with RCA, and, from the autumn of '63, seven more with Columbia (Emi).

This meant two things: that the records sold well (even if they weren't a big success), and that Columbia had great hopes on the artist, as an alternative to Sylvie Vartan, phisically similar and more energetic.

Jean Paul Guiter, Ria's artistic director, tailored her EP's in the best way of the time: great photo covers and fantastic french versions of Goffin and King ('Chills', 'I'm Into Something Good', 'He's In Town'), Mann and Weil ('Heart'), Leiber and Stoller ('Lucky Lips'), Chris Andrews ('You Can't Blame Him') and other succesful composers. There were also french composers who wrote songs for her. Ria's style developped from American R&B (1963-64) to girl group sound and British pop (1964-65), always with delicious arrangements and with two dancing songs, at least, in every record.

Her best years were 1963 and 1964. Success had eluded her when other artists recorded the same song (this happened two times with Richard Anthony, her label mate). Then in the autumn of '64, 'Et Quelque Chose Me Dit', a version of Herman's Hermits' version of 'I'm Into Something Good', by Goffin and King, went to the hit parade of "Salut Les Copains", and 'Ce Monde' (Cilla Black's 'You Are My World', by Umberto Bindi), released in single by Pathé, a subsidiary label of Emi, was number one in Canada. Then Columbia tried to promote Ria Bartok in the British market, and released 'See If I Care' (an English version of her 'Diggedle Boeing' from '63). It was well received enough for Rita to appear at TV's programme "Thank Your Lucky Stars" (ABC).

There is no happy ending. Columbia was releasing Ria's EPs still in 1965, and all seemed well and promising when she died in a fire which she started accidentally. Although her early death doesn't let us know how would had developped her career, we can enjoy all she made, beacause her complete discography has been beautifully released in CD.

Ria Bartok - Tu peux pas savoir
Ria Bartok - C'est Bien Fait (Yesterday)
Ria Bartok - N'y Touche Pas

Tiny Yong

2006-10-05T09:47:00.000-07:00

From Ye-ye girls:
Real name: Thien Juong Ton Hu Thi
(b. 8 February 1944, Phnom Penh, Cambodia)

Tiny Yong debuted in asian cabaret-restaurant "La table du mandarin" in 1959 (after making her debut in the theatre, then the cinema and then as a singer) with an exotic setlist from 1960 till 1962, before supporting the cause of yé-yé thanks to Henri Salvador. Her choice of songs is greatly influenced by American girl-groups, from The Shirelles to the Chiffons. From 1963 till 1965 she was one of the favorites of the show "Salut les copains'. In 1963 she even achieved a 5th place in the show's chart behind Sylvie Vartan, Sheila, Françoise Hardy and Petula Clark.
Magic Records released an anthology in 1998.

What a cute voice. These are the only songs I've got. I would love to hear more!

Article about her in French from JukeboxMag - Translation anyone?

Tiny Yong - Tais Toi Te Petite Folle
Tiny Yong - Le Sauvage
Tiny Yong - Tu es le roi des menteurs

Tiny Yong - Un Seul Garcon Sur La Terre (feaut. a funny cameo with Henri Salvador and a pretty cold studio)

Eric Perier

2006-10-02T13:01:00.000-07:00

It's impossible to find something about Eric Perier and this very rare French ballad, but it sure is nice!

Update on him from Bruno: (thanks!)
He had a few EP's out circa 63/65 and recorded a cover of 'Stand by me' in Italian 'Preghero' which he used to sing on stage in the sixties with his orchestra during summer outdoors festivals (fetes locales 7days in a row )in all the villages around Nimes and in the south of France. He went on being an orchestra leader during the 70's and 80's even 90's. He must be around 65 now if he's still alive. Anyway his orchestra still exists in Nimes (30000)whether it's been sold to another musician I don't know but if you type' orchestre eric perrier' on Google you'll find infos+ address and places where they played in 2006. Last thing his real name is Mario Pace.

Eric Perier - L'amour s'oublie

Zouzou

2006-09-27T10:19:00.001-07:00

Zouzou (born November 29, 1943 in Blida, Algeria - real name is Danièle Ciarlet) is a model, actress, singer and icon of the 60s and early 70s mostly known for her beauty and for her lead role in Éric Rohmer's Love in the afternoon.

Discovered at age 16 by then young design artist Jean-Paul Goude, she briefly modelled for Yves Saint Laurent, and, as a tireless night-clubber, is better known, in the mid-60s, under the nickname "Zouzou la twisteuse". Shortly after that, she was romantically involved with Rolling Stones member Brian Jones, whom she followed around the world. She was also a good friend of John Lennon and George Harrison and was photographed by Richard Avedon and Helmut Newton, got to meet Bob Dylan, Andy Warhol and most of all, Jack Nicholson who was, along with Marianne Faithfull, very... faithful friends. She also recorded two EPs as a singer at the end of the 60s, and a duet with Dani, another French 60s icon. After a few roles in underground and experimental French films (under the direction of Philippe Garrel or Yves Lagrange), she got a cinematographic breakthrough in 1972 with Eric Rohmer's L'amour l'après-midi, and developed an international career as an actress, a career which unfortunately, and progressively, slowed down because of her addiction to heroin. She spent seven years on the Cariibean Island of Saint Barthélémy so as to shape up, but her return to Paris, in the mid-80s, was followed by two jail incarcerations due to mild drug dealings. In the mid-90s, she was drug free at last, and, to get a fresh start, she sold the newspapers "La rue" and "Le réverbère" (the equivalent of British "The Big Issue") in the Parisian metro. In November 2003, an autobiography entitled "Zouzou jusqu'à l'aube" ("Zouzou until Dawn") was released, where she told with an ultimate honesty the extreme ups and downs of her incredible life. A compilation of all her songs was also released, and a documentary, "Zouzou l'héroïne", told in images the fate of probably one of the most beautiful woman of the world, revered as the "female Marlon Brando" when she burst into the Parisian scene, more than 40 years ago.

Zouzou - Tu fais partie du passé
Zouzou -J'avais rêvé
Zouzou - Petit garçon

Buy CD
Official website

Danish Delights (8) - Vivi Bach

2006-09-21T08:49:00.000-07:00

The Danish Brigitte Bardot
Vivi Bach (Vivi Bak) was born September 3rd 1939, in Copenhagen.

She started as a hairstylist but ended it to pursue a modelcareer, with great success.
She was soon known as the first Danish teenager, and recorded some albums for Phillips in 1958-1958, but not with the same impact.
More success had she with some Danish films, though she was not the biggest talent.

In 1960 she got a music contract in Germany, and became a popular tv-host. Bach and Dietmar Schönherr were the hosts of a controversial German television program in the late 60s famous for nearly drowning an entire family is a staged car accident but nevertheless managed to score a chart hit with this bizarre, cheerfully arranged single endorsing radical leftist politics and terrorist tactics. It's a pretty fascinating relic from the era, to say the least.
Since then she became a tv-producer in Germany, but visited Denmark regularly to perform and record Danish records in 1970's.
Today she share homes in Schweiz and on Ibiza with her husband Dietmar Schönherr.

In Denmark she is more known as an icon and a small actress than a singer. It's actually pretty hard to find her Danish records, but if you can't get enough of Vivi's german records, look her up at ebay.de

More photos of Vivi at my new Photo Album!
(I guess being sick, make me incredibly active on the blog)

So, here is a zillion songs. I couldn't choose. They are all so good!
If you are new to Vivi, then check her and husband Dietmar Schönherr's hip "Molotow Cocktail Party" which is featured on the 'In-Kraut Hip Grooves in Germany' cd. I have a couple more songs by her, but tell me what you think of these first!

In German:
Vivi Bach & Dietmar Schönherr - Molotow Cocktail Party
Vivi Bach & Dietmar Schönherr - Mein Schatz ich muß zum Bus
Vivi Bach & Rex Gildo - Singen Swingen

Vivi Bach - Hey Boy, Geh deinen Weg
Vivi Bach - Summ, Summ, Summ
Vivi Bach - Voulez vous, Monsieur

In Danish:
Vivi Bak - Venedig (Venice) (as Vivi Bak)

Cover up: Poupée de cire, poupée de son

2006-09-19T08:47:00.000-07:00

Here is a list of covers. If you have some, please write to me in the comments!
Wikipedia:
Poupée de cire, poupée de son (Wax doll, bran doll) was the winning entry in the Eurovision Song Contest of 1965. It was performed in French by France Gall representing Luxembourg.
The song, composed by Serge Gainsbourg, was the first non-ballad to win the Contest and is generally agreed to be one of the great Contest entries.

The word son in the song title has frequently been misunderstood, especially by English-speakers, as meaning "sound", and this has led to several attempts to explain poupée de son as having to do with a singing-doll toy. There is, however, no evidence that a toy of this kind (une poupée qui chante) has ever been called a "sound doll" in French.

Son in this context is an entirely different word, meaning "bran" (or sawdust, resembling bran), of the kind used to stuff children's flopy dolls. Poupée de son is a long-standing expression in French; it is also used in the expression Syndrome du bébé "poupée de son", "floppy baby syndrome" (infantile hypotonia), and can even refer to someone too drunk to stand up. "Bran doll" as a phrase is not entirely unknown in English either: "no more brains or backbone than a bran doll"

The original: France Gall - Poupée de cire, poupée de son

Coverversions of Poupée de cire, poupée de son in other languages include:

English: Twinkle - A Lonely Singing Doll
Italian: France Gall - Io sì, tu no ("I do, you don't")
German: France Gall - Das War Eine Schöne Party
Japanese: France Gall - Yumemiro Chanson Ningyo ("Dreaming chanson doll")
Portuguese: Karina - Boneca de cera, boneca de som
Spanish: Karina - Muñeca De Cera
Swedish: Gitte Hænning - Det kan väl inte jag rå för ("I really can't help it")
Danish: Gitte Hænning - Lille Dukke ("Little Doll")
Finnish: Ritva Palukka - Vahanukke, laulava nukke

Thanks to Alan!

Los TNT

2006-09-19T06:47:00.000-07:00

It was a game of words between the initials of Tim, Nelly and Tony; the names of the members of this excellent trio.
They were of Italian origin, but were discovered when they performed in Uruguay. In 1960 they made a contract with RCA. Their first LP sold more than 100,000 discs single in Argentina, in addition to being success in Mexico and most of South America.

Los TNT - Tu Loca Juventud
Los TNT - Que Tengas Suerte

Patricia Carli

2006-09-18T01:17:00.000-07:00

Born 12/03/1942, Taranto, Italy.

Patricia was an Italian yé-yé girl, who used to live in Belgium, before moving to France in 1963. Signed to the Bel-Air label, she got a hit with her second EP 'Demain Tu Te Maries'. Her song 'Non ho l'eta' per amarti' was entered in the 1964 Eurovision Song Contest and won the grand prize at the San Remo Festival in the same year. After recording a handful of singles, Patricia, who wrote most of her own material, stopped performing and became a successful writer for other singers (Nicoletta, Dalida, Claude Francois, Annabel Buffet...)

Patricia Carli - Le Lion
Patricia Carli - L'amour En Cage
Patricia Carli - Demain Tu Te Maries

Stella

2006-09-17T11:48:00.000-07:00

Stella Zelcer
(b. 12/1950, Paris)

Stella, born into a Polish Family, was 13 when she recorded her first EP. Between 1963 and 1969, she recorded 9 EPs, 2 singles and an LP (also issued in the US). Her songs were always funny and ironic. Her uncle Chorenslup used to write her lyrics, he was to her what Jacques Lanzman was to Dutronc (Jacques Dutronc, Françoise Hardy's husband, is one of the best sixties' French singers).

Stella - Beatniks d'occasion
Stella - Tu Dis Toujours Oui

NB! Check Alan's new 60s pop blog and Get Hip! Questionnaire post

Jeanette

2006-09-17T08:30:00.000-07:00

Jeanette Dimech (October 10, 1951 - ), who performs under the name Jeanette, is an English-born, American-raised singer who has resided in Spain since the age of 12, and who sings primarily in Spanish.

Her greatest success "Porque te vas" (Because you are leaving) was actually written by José Luis Perales and remained relatively unknown at the start of 1974. Only when the song was used in Carlos Saura's 1976 film "Cria Cuervos" (Raise Crows), and the film went on be honoured at the Cannes film festival (Jury grand prize) and the Berlin Film Festival (jury special prize), did the song become internationally known and a hit. In Austria it reached number 13, in Switzerland number 4, and in Germany it even reached number 1. In Japan, obsessive pop music enthusiasts called her the "whispering Lolita" and her records are usually filed under French Yé-Yé or Sixties Pop.

Although after "Porque te vas" Jeanette never achieved similar international success, she continued singing relatively successfully in Spain (and to a lesser degree France) well into the 1990s.

Read Cha Cha Charming's article about her

Jeanette - Porque te vas
Jeanette - Soy Rebelde

Sad sad cheesy love

2006-09-10T12:09:00.000-07:00

......these songs brings tears to my eyes.......tears of laughter.

Bernadette Carroll - Hero (1965) (picture)
This song makes "Leader Of The Pack" seem like a nursery rhyme.

Cathy Carroll - Jimmy Love (1964)
Cathy Carroll's "Jimmy Love" tells of her boyfriend's death by lightning.

As requested by Bruno: Peggy March - Doktor

Connie Francis knows how to twist!

2006-09-07T05:31:00.000-07:00

This one is hell of a bossa nova number. Her voice is like runny sweet toffee or something just as yummy. It's a very simple record, extremely catchy and Connie sounds very at home singing and talking in half Brazilian and English.

Connie Francis - Bossa Nova Hand Dance

Suzanne Gabriello

2006-09-06T09:58:00.000-07:00

Suzanne Gabriello, a french singer/actress, became famous for her passionate affair with belgique cult chansonier and actor Jacques Brel. After 5 years the pair seperated and Brel composed a song for Gabrielle, which became one of his greatest hits: "Ne me quitte pas?". Suzanne Gabriello died in 1992 of cancer. She was 60 years.

Suzanne Gabriello - Z'avez pas lu Kafka

The female Elvis: Ann-Margret

2006-09-04T12:55:00.000-07:00

Of all Elvis' leading ladies, Ann-Margret will always be Number One. Not because she was the sexiest, or the best actress (although she certainly qualifies on both counts!), or because "Viva Las Vegas" was that great of a film (but for an Elvis film, it's pretty good!), but because the on-screen chemistry between them was NOT ACTING. It's probably why Viva Las Vegas is still one of the best-remembered of both Elvis' and AM's films. Watching the film today, what comes across is two talented stars at the peak of their confidence, enjoying each other's company, and having fun! And that's pretty much what was happening off-screen, too!

Ann-Margret (born April 28, 1941), a Swedish-born actress and singer, was born Ann-Margret Olsson in Valsjöbyn, Jämtland, Sweden. She moved to the United States when she was young and grew up in Wilmette, Illinois. She attended Northwestern University and was discovered singing in a nightclub by George Burns. She was often referred to as a "sex-kitten" and the "female Elvis".

What an incredible sexy voice she has.. what do you think.. shall I post more of Mrs. Elvis?

Ann-Margret - Slowly

Yé-yé boys: Jacques Dutronc (1)

2006-09-03T06:59:00.000-07:00

Jacques Dutronc (born April 28, 1943 in Paris) is a French singer, composer, and actor. On March 30, 1981 he married the singer Françoise Hardy, with whom he had already had a son (Thomas Dutronc, born 1973).

Dutronc's early hits were written in collaboration with journalist Jacques Lanzmann. Songs like "Et moi, et moi, et moi," "Les gens sont fous, les temps sont flous" and "J'ai mis un tigre dans ma guitare" have a tight, dry, even tuneless intensity reminiscent of Bob Dylan circa Bringing It All Back Home, mixed with some of the humorous, deadpan affect of The Kinks. Later songs veer more toward jazz and variété française.

In the early 70s he began his screen career collaborating with such directors as Godard, Zulawski, Lelouch and Pialat. For his unusual portrayal of Vincent Van Gogh in Maurice Pialat's 'Van Gogh' he was awarded Cesar in 1992. He continues his musical career and in 1995 he recorded the new album called 'A part ca'.

Jacques Dutronc - Les gens sont fous, les temps sont flous
Jacques Dutronc - Et moi, et moi, et moi
Jacques Dutronc - J'ai mis un tigre dans ma guitare

Interview with a yé-yé girl; Jacqueline Taïeb

2006-08-23T13:28:00.000-07:00

Interview with a yé-yé girl; Jacqueline Taïeb
Copyrighted by Sofie J, thanks.

This is a mail interview, so I am in lack of abilities. Hope you bear over with that, and I am looking forward to hopefully meet Miss Taïeb in a near future and do a complete interview with her.

Tunesian born Jacqueline composed her first songs aged 12 and recorded her first disc "7 heures du matin" for Impact records when she was 18. Her songs combined Arab, European and American influences. Her sixties ep's are highly prized for their garage sound. With her strong vocals, and talent for pop melodies, Jaqueline's songs are real gems that still sound fresh today.

The Beginning
‘Music caught my soul before I was born’.
It was summer of 1966. Jacqueline was playing her guitar with her friends when a showbiz woman heard her singing ‘7 heures du matin’ (which later became her giant breakthrough). She immediately saw the talent and opportunities in her, and gave Jacqueline her card.
Afterwards Jacqueline went to see her in Paris, and she was introduced to the team she was going to work with.

'I wish I had Paul McCartney, to help me... '
The rest is history. 7 Heures du Matin was a hit, and still has a cult status of a real yé-yé to this this very day.
‘I think the success of this song is the result of a total identification to it. Waking up at 7 AM is a torture for so many people. Jean Bouchetty, who produced all my sixties vinyl & the English musicians who played on them added the final touch of rock rebellion.’

True, the song is about a teenage girl (clearly herself) getting-up in the morning to do her thing, but also dreaming of idol Paul McCartney helping her with her English homework.
- ‘I 'm still a Paul McCartney fan & now I’d love him to help me write my songs!’

The Writer
After that, she took a break from her career and began to write for other musicians. Famous artists such as Yves Montand, Michel Fugain, Fabrienne Thibault and Stone have all sung Taieb’s songs. The list goes on. However, she does not feel any pride.
- ‘I only feel joy. Besides, how could I choose one song over another? They all are my children.’

However, that is not completely true. In 1988, she wrote the international hit ‘Ready to follow you’, sung by Dana Dawson. The single sold more than 500.000 copies, and the album 300.000 in France. Furthermore, the song has been released in more than 30 compilations.
- ‘When I think it over, then yes I am proud of that: ‘Maybe because it was I who discovered her in New York in 1988, while the other artists were already very famous.’

Nowadays
This April, Jacqueline played a live gig in Amsterdam Beat Club. But how is it to play a 40-year old tune? Moreover, discovering to still have so many fans?
‘The Amsterdam gig was great! People are so friendly & crazy in Holland.
I love this mixture. Yes, it did surprise me! Having so many friends all over the world makes my heart sing.’

And what music makes her heart sing?
- ‘So many different artists! Rock, blues, R&B, jazz, funk... Everything from Yves Montand, Stevie Wonder, Elvis, and Edith Piaf to present music like Alicia Keys, Keane and Eminem (!)

Last year she released a new album called ‘Jacqueline is back’, including ten new songs, the famous ‘7 heures du matin’ and a hilarious new version of it with John Lenine.
Jacqueline calls her new album ‘Pop with crazy lyrics’.

The Future
- ‘Right now I’m working for Maréva, ex miss France who released " Ukuyéyé " in June 2006, including " 7 h du mat" & " On roule à 160", 2 songs of mine.’

Following the success at the Beat Club in Amsterdam, she was booked for another gig at the club, on September 23rd.

And not only that, there will be a big surprise for the 40th birthday of " 7 h du mat" in January 2007:
JACQUELINE TAIEB & THE AMSTERDAM GUYS .
An EP with 7 heures du soir, 7 PM, Partir à Amsterdam and Juste un peu d' amour.

Download the music:
Jacqueline Taïeb - 7 Heures Du Matin
Jacqueline Taïeb - 7:AM (English version)

Buy her music
Jacqueline Taïeb - Complete Masterworks of French Mademoiselle
French Mademoiselle
Jacqueline Taïeb Is Back!
Dana Dawson

Links
Jacqueline Taïebs official website
Dana Dawson website
Amsterdam Beat Club

Pitchfork’s Top 200 Songs of the 60’s

2006-08-21T04:26:00.000-07:00

Last week Pitchfork released a list of their opinion on the top 200 songs of the 60's. First place went (well-deserved) to Beach Boys for 'God Only Knows'.
1. The Beach Boys: "God Only Knows"
I'm sure you've read these: "the world's greatest song," "Brian Wilson's masterpiece," "the most beautiful piece of music ever recorded." Yes, the initiation into the Museum of Western Popular Music is always rough, as credible historians rush to summarize our collective experiences in short phrases. But for better or worse, "God Only Knows" is the kind of song that's almost impossible for me to talk about divorced from the way it makes me feel: sad, in love, honestly grateful, but also a little hopeless. Even in mono, it's like being swept up by a wave of compassion but still getting bruised.

The first words Carl Wilson sings, "I may not always love you," are already uncertain, so if you need a tie into the legacy of 1960s youth culture, glance no further than the naïve but strained optimism locked inside this song. Yet, Carl made this uncertainty sound gorgeous. The voices that sail behind his might just as well be a quartet of violas and cellos playing counterpoint that'd already been obsessed over a few times before they got it. "God Only Knows" is so ideally conceptualized and realized, critics can't help but support it. Somehow, even that can't turn it into an art exhibit; its humanity resists the attempt. To me, this song is a goodbye to being a kid, and hoping that love actually is the answer. And almost nobody knows if it is. --Dominique Leone

See the complete list
Download the 200 songs

Claudine Longet - Nothing To Lose

2006-08-20T13:26:00.000-07:00

Here is the hard-to-find song by Claudine Longet from the Blake Edwards film The Party (1968) starring Peter Sellers. Such a hilarous movie!
Claudine Longet - Nothing To Lose
Watch the clip on Youtube

Traces - Je T'aime Moi Non Plus

2006-08-20T12:16:00.000-07:00

A strange cover of Serge Gainsbourg's 'Je T'aime Moi Non Plus' by The Traces, 60's band from Thailand.

The Traces - Je T'aime Moi Non Plus

From Thai Beat A Go-Go Vol. 2

NB! Look forward to my upcoming interview with a well-known yé-yé girl.. in a couple of days!

Beatgirl: Gillian Hills

2006-08-20T12:15:00.000-07:00

I just got a counter up, and wow, I can't believe I have that many visitors. Where are you all hiding? :)

Yes, a bit more yé-yé..

Born 5 June, 1946
(Cairo, Egypt)
Her parents were English. 3 EPs in 1960 on Barclay, including one duo with Eddie Constantine (Aimons Nous), and another one with Eddy Mitchell & Les Chaussettes Noires (C'est bien mieux comme ca). Then she moved to AZ records, trying to sing her own compositions. Failure... She also played second roles in different movies (Blow Up...) (from the yé-yé girls website)

Gillian Hills - Tut, tut, tut, tut
Gillian Hills - Zou bisou bisou

Read a full biography here

Agent 99

2006-08-19T04:11:00.000-07:00

Barbara Feldon (born March 12, 1932 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is an American actress and model.

She was most famous for her character Agent 99 in the television comedy series Get Smart, starring with lead Don Adams. When she was cast for the role, she was previously famous, although anonymously, appearing on a tigerskin rug in an advertisement for Top Brass dandruff cream. For performance in Get Smart she was nominated for an Emmy award for 'Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series' in 1968 and in 1969.
In a smoldering role designed to parody all those James Bond sex kittens, Feldon's character--a spy for the freedom-fighting agency Control--was anything but ornamental.

The coolest (and only?) girlspy-song Barbara Feldon - 99

Vintage commercial from the 50's
Fetish scene with Maxwell Smart & Agent 99

NB! The radioblog has been updated...

More Jiji

2006-08-17T10:09:00.000-07:00

Another great song from Jiji.. Now I only need the songs 'Cinderella' and 'Non, mon ami' from her only EP 'Cinderella'

Jiji - Le Chevalier (1966)

Marisol - Tombola

2006-08-17T09:30:00.000-07:00

Finally found the video for 'Tómbola', by Marisol, Spains cutest lil yé-yé girl!
From the movie Tómbola (1962)

Vanessa and The O's

2006-08-15T12:27:00.000-07:00

I saw Vanessa and The O's live in concert July 24th. Mono Taxi & The Lovers also played. Bob Stanley from Saint Etienne was the DJ. What a wonderful, french night. A lot of Yé-yé music was played as well!
Vanessa & The O's - Stand
Vanessa & The O's - Bagatelle

More pictures and a videoclip @ Get Hip! Forums

Read biography
Vanessa and The O's at Myspace

Ariane

2006-08-15T08:40:00.000-07:00

Ariane - Les Petits Mots D'amour

Ariane - Je ne sais pas pourquoi

Ariane - Ice Cream

Go the Bruno's blog to download 'Les Gemeaux'
Ariane on the Yé-Yé girls website

Danielle Denin

2006-08-09T13:49:00.000-07:00

Great song from an unknown yé-yé girl.. anyone have info on her?

Danielle Denin - Quand tu m'embrasses

Track is on Ultra Chicks vol. 4

Danish Delights (7)

2006-08-08T14:13:00.000-07:00

Jørgen Ingmann - Apache

Someone requested this a long time ago, so here it is!

Jørgen Ingmann, originally a jazz guitarist from Denmark, also produced a cover version of Apache that, billed to Jørgen Ingmann & His Guitar, made it to number 2 on the US pop chart and 4 in Canada in 1961, thereby preventing the Shadows' original from charting there.
A real classic.

Yé-Yé from Jiji

2006-08-08T13:36:00.000-07:00

Jiji - La Fusee (1967)

from Ultra Chicks vol. 5

If someone has info on her, please write.