Search - Georges Guétary :: L'essentiel: Best of

A cautious welcome.

John Austin | Kangaroo Ground, Australia | 12/11/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In a series devoted to famous French entertainers, French EMI have released this 47 minute CD featuring Georges Guétary. Born in Egypt of Grecian parents, Lambros Woolou acquired a different name, a different language, and extensive training after moving to France at the age of 18. Here he was discovered by Mistinguett. His subsequent career acquired international status when he appeared in and recorded items for a London show, "Bless the Bride" and then some Hollywood movies such as "An American in Paris". Blessed with the popular good looks of those times, and having a singing voice, with its brassy vowel sounds, that commanded attention, he continued to make records and live appearances back in France for the remainder of his life. If you wish to sample the charm and quality of his singing in English, you'll find only one example here: a duet with Gene Kelly. Everything else is sung in French and everything was recorded between 1946 and 1968. On Track 15 a child singer, one Hélène Guétary - presumably his daughter, joins him. I am not sure how "essential" (the name of the series) all the tracks here are in representing the best of this singer's recorded legacy. I could well do without the vocal arrangement of a Granados Spanish dance, and the version of the Russian folk song "Kalinka". Accordingly, at very short measure and containing some problematic material, this CD gets only a cautious recommendation from me."