Serge Gainsbourg

It was also the favorite of Serge himself, along with 'Depression au-dessus du jardin', that he wrote for Catherine Deneuve.

 

If I'm not mistaken, his earliest material has entered the public domain, and as a consequence these early tracks have come out on numerous dubious labels in recent years.

 

Thanks. I seem to remember reading or hearing that about Manon, now that you remind me!

 

Yes, I've seen the first few albums on some very cheap CD sets recently.

 

Melodie Nelson is, of course, the one you have to get. The sound of the instruments....oh my god! Melty.
The nazi rock one is pretty hilarious too. And musically brilliant........like all of them, really.
The live reggae one with Sly and Robbie is stunning, as mentioned above somewhere, but the studio one ("Mauvaises Nouvelles...") is also fabulous! A Sly and Robbie hidden gem.
For a career-spanning triple CD, there is the "de gainsbourg à gainsbarre" collection, which is superb.
Also, don't forget the Jane Birkin albums, which are basically Serge Gainsbourg albums with Jane singing.

 

"De Gainsbourg à Gainsbarre" is a double CD, and very good it is, too...

 

Oops. My mistake!

 

There is s collection called 'De Serge Gainsbourg a Gainsbarre' (also, with his first name included in the title). That exists as a double and a triple cd set. I'm still fond of the 'De Gainsbourg a Gainsbarre' 9 cd box set. Having been released in '89, it's the only cd box the man himself has seen the release of. I remember an interview where he said various ex-lovers passed through his mind as he listened to the whole thing.

 

Have you read "A Fistful Of Gitanes" by Sylvie Simmons? Excellent biography.

 

There's a number of 12" singles available at the moment, taken from the «Aux Armes » LP -being passed off by just about every online retailer as "albums". Beware.

Conversely, I picked up a copy of «Du chant à la une » on the dubious Dol label for a pittance, but have no real issues with the sound, even if it is taken from a CD. No embedded CD , however.

The saints preserve us from Serge's Yoko, Jane Birkin.

 

No I haven't. Living in France I don't feel I really need a biography. Does it have some special bearing on this song?

 

Love his film scores. Have been spinning Manon and Cannabis.

 

It is very detailed. And a highly recommended read for everybody who doesn't speak French.

 

I've been playing the original "Aux Arms" album five times yesterday and today. This is such a cool record!!!!!

 

If you've got an expanded version on Philips it's from the Gainsbourg Forever box. If it's on Mercury it's the latest standalone version. If it's the version from the De Gainsbourg À Gainsbarre box it's got the Gomelsky mix of Hold Up and the other mixes of the other songs. If you get the Comic Strip comp you get all the Gomelsky mixes EXCEPT Hold Up. Confused??

 

If you buy this box you can hear the whole Initials BB in mono

 

Yes, I have a first pressing. Sounds superb. I think Robbie Shakespeare said it was the best record he ever played on.

 

It's the latest standalone version on Mercury/Universal (2003)

http://www.discogs.com/Serge-Gainsbourg-Initials-BB/release/2212056

 

There is a clip on YouTube on the creation /construction of "Initials BB"
Very interesting stuff.
He was good, and he knew it.

 

Not to leave any member of the family out of the discussion:


A musical salute, after a fashion, to daddy:

 

I searched online for an early French release of Melody Nelson but didn't want to fork up the dough.

Went to my local record shop today to buy a recent reissue on the Light In The Attic label.

They had a copy as well as a used 1st press Canadian release in VG+ condition.

Bought the used copy and left the shop very happy...I just hope it sounds good.

 

How can you recognize a first press... wasn't it something with the 'BIEM' wording, or...?

 

I think the 2011 Integrale has all four Gomelsky mixes.

 

The copy that I bought is a Canadian 1st press (Philips red label).

BIEM and SACEM is on the French release - not sure which wording represents an actual 1st press.

 

I see... thanks anyway!