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As of the fall of 2004, the only significant Jacques Brel title in print in the U.S. was Verve Records' 16-track 1988 compilation Master Serie (although, of course, many imports were available to Americans through mail order). That suggested the time was right to bring out a new collection, and DRG has licensed the 40-track, two-CD 2003 Universal International album Infiniment ("Infinitely") for domestic release. In France, and among Brel aficionados, it is the subject of some controversy because of the inclusion of five previously unreleased songs -- "La Cathédrale (The Cathedral)," "L'Amour Est Mort (Love Is Dead)," "Mai 40 (May 1940)," "Avec Élégance (With Elegance)," and "Sans Exigences (Without Emergencies)." The five were recorded at the sessions for Brel's final album, Brel, in September/October 1977, but not included on it. Eddie Barclayof Barclay Records was once quoted as saying of them, "Jacques didn't want them to come out and so they won't be released." Yet, here they are, with an ambiguous disclaimer by Brel's musical collaborators François Rauber and Gérard Jouannest: "The following titles ('With Elegance,' 'Without Emergencies,' & 'Love Is Dead') are unfinished songs which Jacques Brel and we, ourselves, would like to do over. The reason for which has not been divulged." It may be that they mention only those three of the five tracks because the musical backing for them is particularly sparse, usually only a keyboard instrument or two far in the background. For the average American listener who knows Brel from "If You Go Away," "Seasons in the Sun," and the musical revue Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, however, the effect of the inclusion of the unreleased songs may have more to do with sequencing than content. The new material is right up front on the first disc, just after Brel's version of "La Quête (The Quest)" (aka "The Impossible Dream" from Man of la Mancha), and the effect is to reverse the usual running order of a compilation, beginning with the artist's later material, when his singing is deeper and more mannered, rather than his earlier recordings. Also, it means that an American won't hear a familiar melody until the 12th track of CD one when "Quand On N'A Que L'Amour" (translated here as "When We Have Only Love," but more commonly known as "If We Only Have Love"), one of Brel's biggest hits, begins. After that, as Thelma Blitz's liner notes put it, the rest of CD one and all of CD two "are a crème de la crème 'best of' covering the span of his career." DRG has helpfully provided literal translations of the French lyrics, which non-French-speaking Americans familiar only with the Rod McKuen and Mort Shuman/Eric Blau adaptations will find illuminating, since they demonstrate that those English lyrics range from accurate equivalents of Brel's meaning to fairly broad revisions. Of course, Brel's own interpretations of his songs remain definitive, and in these sonically improved recordings he comes across with all his dramatic, compelling power intact.
© William Ruhlmann /TiVo
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Jacques Brel, MainArtist - JOE DARION, Author - Mitch Leigh, Composer - François Rauber, Producer, Music Director & Conductor, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1968 Barclay
Jacques Brel, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Gérard Jouannest, Interprète Instrumental, AssociatedPerformer - François Rauber, Recording Arranger, Music Director & Conductor, AssociatedPerformer - Marcel Azzola, Interprète Instrumental, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 Barclay
Jacques Brel, Composer, Author, MainArtist - Gérard Jouannest, Composer, Interprète Instrumental, AssociatedPerformer - François Rauber, Recording Arranger, Music Director & Conductor, AssociatedPerformer - Marcel Azzola, Interprète Instrumental, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 Barclay
Jacques Brel, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Gérard Jouannest, Interprète Instrumental, AssociatedPerformer - François Rauber, Recording Arranger, Music Director & Conductor, AssociatedPerformer - Marcel Azzola, Interprète Instrumental, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 Barclay
Jacques Brel, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Gérard Jouannest, Interprète Instrumental, AssociatedPerformer - François Rauber, Composer, Recording Arranger, Music Director & Conductor, AssociatedPerformer - Marcel Azzola, Interprète Instrumental, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 Barclay
Jacques Brel, Composer, Author, MainArtist - Gérard Jouannest, Interprète Instrumental, AssociatedPerformer - François Rauber, Composer, Recording Arranger, Music Director & Conductor, AssociatedPerformer - Marcel Azzola, Interprète Instrumental, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2003 Barclay
Jacques Brel, Composer, Author, MainArtist - Gérard Jouannest, Interprète Instrumental, AssociatedPerformer - François Rauber, Recording Arranger, Music Director & Conductor, AssociatedPerformer - Marcel Azzola, Interprète Instrumental, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1977 Barclay
Jacques Brel, Composer, Author, MainArtist - Gérard Jouannest, Interprète Instrumental, AssociatedPerformer - François Rauber, Recording Arranger, Music Director & Conductor, AssociatedPerformer - Marcel Azzola, Interprète Instrumental, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1977 Barclay
Jacques Brel, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Gérard Jouannest, Interprète Instrumental, AssociatedPerformer - François Rauber, Recording Arranger, Music Director & Conductor, AssociatedPerformer - Marcel Azzola, Interprète Instrumental, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1977 Barclay
Jacques Brel, Composer, Author, MainArtist - Gérard Jouannest, Interprète Instrumental, AssociatedPerformer - François Rauber, Recording Arranger, Music Director & Conductor, AssociatedPerformer - Marcel Azzola, Interprète Instrumental, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1977 Barclay
Jacques Brel, Composer, Author, MainArtist - Gérard Jouannest, Composer, Producer - François Rauber, Producer, Music Director & Conductor, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1968 Barclay
Jacques Brel, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Michel Legrand, Producer - André Popp, Producer - François Rauber, Music Director & Conductor, AssociatedPerformer - François Rauber Et Son Orchestre, Chamber Orchestra, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1960 Barclay
Jacques Brel, Composer, Author, Interprète Vocal, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - André Popp, Producer - François Rauber, Conductor/Piano, Music Director & Conductor, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1962 Barclay
Jacques Brel, Interprète Vocal, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Gérard Jouannest, Producer, ComposerLyricist - François Rauber, Music Director & Conductor, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1967 Barclay
Jacques Brel, Composer, Author, MainArtist - Gérard Jouannest, Composer, Producer - François Rauber, Producer, Music Director & Conductor, AssociatedPerformer - Jean Corti, Composer
℗ 1963 Barclay
Jacques Brel, Author, MainArtist - Gérard Jouannest, Composer, Producer - François Rauber, Producer, Music Director & Conductor, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1966 Barclay
Jacques Brel, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - André Popp, Producer - François Rauber, Producer, Music Director & Conductor, AssociatedPerformer - François Rauber Et Son Orchestre, Chamber Orchestra, AssociatedPerformer - Ernst Rudolf Van Altena, Translator
℗ 1959 Barclay
Jacques Brel, Author, MainArtist - Gérard Jouannest, Composer - François Rauber, Music Director & Conductor, AssociatedPerformer - François Rauber Et Son Orchestre, Chamber Orchestra, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1961 Barclay
Jacques Brel, Composer, Author, Interprète Vocal, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Gérard Jouannest, Composer, Producer - François Rauber, Music Director & Conductor, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1967 Barclay
Jacques Brel, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Gérard Jouannest, Interprète Instrumental, AssociatedPerformer - André Popp, Producer - François Rauber, Producer, Music Director & Conductor, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1972 Barclay
DISC 2
Jacques Brel, Interprète Vocal, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Gérard Jouannest, Producer, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - François Rauber, Music Director & Conductor, AssociatedPerformer - Jean Corti, Producer, Accordion, AssociatedPerformer - Mortimer Shuman, ComposerLyricist - Orchestre De L'Olympia, Chamber Orchestra, AssociatedPerformer - Gerard Jouannest Ensemble, Chamber Orchestra, AssociatedPerformer - Pierre Sim, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Philippe Combelle, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Sylvette Allart, Ondes Martenot, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1964 Barclay
Jacques Brel, Composer, Author, MainArtist - François Rauber, Music Director & Conductor, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1968 Barclay
Jacques Brel, Composer, Author, MainArtist - Gérard Jouannest, Composer - François Rauber, Music Director & Conductor, AssociatedPerformer - Alan Gate, Arranger, Work Arranger
℗ 1962 Barclay
Jacques Brel, Composer, Author, MainArtist - ANDRE GRASSI, Recording Arranger, Music Director & Conductor, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1955 Barclay
Jacques Brel, Composer, Author, MainArtist - ANDRE GRASSI, Recording Arranger, Music Director & Conductor, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1955 Barclay
Jacques Brel, Composer, Author, MainArtist - François Rauber, Music Director & Conductor, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1973 Editions Jacques Brel
Jacques Brel, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Gérard Jouannest, Producer - François Rauber, Producer, Music Director & Conductor, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1966 Barclay
Jacques Brel, Composer, Author, MainArtist - Gérard Jouannest, Producer - François Rauber, Music Director & Conductor, AssociatedPerformer - Jean Corti, Producer
℗ 1964 Barclay
Jacques Brel, Composer, Author, MainArtist - André Popp, Producer - François Rauber, Producer, Music Director & Conductor, AssociatedPerformer - François Rauber Et Son Orchestre, Chamber Orchestra, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1959 Barclay
Jacques Brel, Author, Interprète Vocal, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - André Popp, Producer - François Rauber, Conductor/Piano, Music Director & Conductor, AssociatedPerformer - Jean Corti, Composer
℗ 1962 Barclay
Jacques Brel, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Gérard Jouannest, Producer - François Rauber, Music Director & Conductor, AssociatedPerformer - Jean Corti, Producer
℗ 1964 Barclay
Eric Blau, Translator - Jacques Brel, Author, MainArtist - Gérard Jouannest, Composer, Producer - François Rauber, Music Director & Conductor, AssociatedPerformer - Jean Corti, Producer - Mortimer Shuman, Translator - W Knittel, Translator
℗ 1964 Barclay
Jacques Brel, Author, Interprète Vocal, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Gérard Jouannest, ComposerLyricist - François Rauber, Conductor/Piano, Music Director & Conductor, AssociatedPerformer - François Rauber Et Son Orchestre, Chamber Orchestra, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1961 Barclay
Jacques Brel, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Gérard Jouannest, Composer - François Rauber, Music Director & Conductor, AssociatedPerformer - Jean Corti, Composer
℗ 1962 Barclay
Jacques Brel, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - François Rauber, Music Director & Conductor, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1963 Barclay
Jacques Brel, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - François Rauber, Music Director & Conductor, AssociatedPerformer - Marcel Azzola, Interprète Instrumental, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1968 Barclay
Jacques Brel, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - François Rauber, Music Director & Conductor, AssociatedPerformer - François Rauber Et Son Orchestre, Chamber Orchestra, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1961 Barclay
Eric Blau, Author - Jacques Brel, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Gérard Jouannest, Producer - François Rauber, Music Director & Conductor, AssociatedPerformer - Jean Corti, Producer - Mortimer Shuman, Author
℗ 1964 Barclay
Jacques Brel, Composer, Author, MainArtist - Gérard Jouannest, Producer - François Rauber, Music Director & Conductor, AssociatedPerformer - Jean Corti, Producer
℗ 1964 Barclay
Jacques Brel, Composer, Author, MainArtist - François Rauber, Music Director & Conductor, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1968 Barclay
Album review
As of the fall of 2004, the only significant Jacques Brel title in print in the U.S. was Verve Records' 16-track 1988 compilation Master Serie (although, of course, many imports were available to Americans through mail order). That suggested the time was right to bring out a new collection, and DRG has licensed the 40-track, two-CD 2003 Universal International album Infiniment ("Infinitely") for domestic release. In France, and among Brel aficionados, it is the subject of some controversy because of the inclusion of five previously unreleased songs -- "La Cathédrale (The Cathedral)," "L'Amour Est Mort (Love Is Dead)," "Mai 40 (May 1940)," "Avec Élégance (With Elegance)," and "Sans Exigences (Without Emergencies)." The five were recorded at the sessions for Brel's final album, Brel, in September/October 1977, but not included on it. Eddie Barclayof Barclay Records was once quoted as saying of them, "Jacques didn't want them to come out and so they won't be released." Yet, here they are, with an ambiguous disclaimer by Brel's musical collaborators François Rauber and Gérard Jouannest: "The following titles ('With Elegance,' 'Without Emergencies,' & 'Love Is Dead') are unfinished songs which Jacques Brel and we, ourselves, would like to do over. The reason for which has not been divulged." It may be that they mention only those three of the five tracks because the musical backing for them is particularly sparse, usually only a keyboard instrument or two far in the background. For the average American listener who knows Brel from "If You Go Away," "Seasons in the Sun," and the musical revue Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, however, the effect of the inclusion of the unreleased songs may have more to do with sequencing than content. The new material is right up front on the first disc, just after Brel's version of "La Quête (The Quest)" (aka "The Impossible Dream" from Man of la Mancha), and the effect is to reverse the usual running order of a compilation, beginning with the artist's later material, when his singing is deeper and more mannered, rather than his earlier recordings. Also, it means that an American won't hear a familiar melody until the 12th track of CD one when "Quand On N'A Que L'Amour" (translated here as "When We Have Only Love," but more commonly known as "If We Only Have Love"), one of Brel's biggest hits, begins. After that, as Thelma Blitz's liner notes put it, the rest of CD one and all of CD two "are a crème de la crème 'best of' covering the span of his career." DRG has helpfully provided literal translations of the French lyrics, which non-French-speaking Americans familiar only with the Rod McKuen and Mort Shuman/Eric Blau adaptations will find illuminating, since they demonstrate that those English lyrics range from accurate equivalents of Brel's meaning to fairly broad revisions. Of course, Brel's own interpretations of his songs remain definitive, and in these sonically improved recordings he comes across with all his dramatic, compelling power intact.
© William Ruhlmann /TiVo
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 40 track(s)
- Total length: 02:18:27
- Main artists: Jacques Brel
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Universal Music Division Barclay
- Genre: World Europe French Music
© 2003 Barclay This Compilation ℗ 2003 Barclay
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