Search - Paul Mauriat :: Paul Mauriat French Pops Best Selection

Maestro! Maestro!

05/09/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Very few orchestra conductors in the pop instrumental world achieve a loyal, fanatic following. Perhaps the only one to have "real fans" in large numbers is Paul Mauriat.This CD makes me realize why. Let me start by saying this: all these are original versions. So if you know these melodies, this is the CD you want to buy.About the music itself:
1. Irrésistiblement, from 1968, originally in the LP "Cent mille chansons", ended the first side (track 6) of that LP and IMO it doesn't seem too appropriate for a begining. It's a very nice melody, though, with a lone soprano accompanying the violins.
2. Tout donné, tout repris, from 1973, album "Good-bye my Love, Good-bye", I prefer Franck Pourcel version of this one. Paul's is purely instrumental, no chorus, and quite nice. It was the last melody in the original album (track 12).
3. Petite femme, from 1974, album "Le premier pas", another last track (12). Great melody, excellent interpretation, very warm and sensuous. Just listen to that sax!
4. Il y a du soleil sur la France, 1972, album "Après toi", third track in the album. A classic, the sound on CD is spectacular. This one is very, very Mauriat, with the spectacular harpsichord and violins -a must in any "Best of" compilation.
5. Si tu t'appelles mélancolie, "From souvenirs to souvenirs" 1974. Track 10. Very beautiful, with a mixed chorus.
6. Les rois mages, "Mamy Blue", 1971, track 10. This one also appeared in the "Best of P.M." collection from 1975, commemorating his 10 years with Philips. Very good version, does anyone remember the big drum marking the step of the camels? :)
7. L'amour, ça fait passer le temps, "L'avventura", 1972, track 6. Again a nice melody, although not a great one. Charleston style.
8. Un jour, un enfant, "Un jour, un enfant", 1969, first track. This is a great album, where all twelve melodies have a 'playful' theme. Taking one of them out of context doesn't do justice to it. Isolated, I prefer Pourcel's version. The whole "UJUE" album is one of the best ever made in instrumental music, though (only this track and the last track "Doctor Caraibes" have a chorus, all female, and that helps to create a closure effect).
9. Si la vie est cadeau, "Summer Has Flown", 1983, track 7. This one only appeared in some versions of this album. It's a nice one but not one of Paul's best. I'm happy to have it, though, for the sake of completeness.
10. Sonia, "Good-bye my Love, Good-bye", 1973, track 8. This is one of those melodies any Paul fan will love. Perfect, better than any version, instrumental or sung. Bravo.
11. Il fait beau, il fait bon, "L'avventure", 1972, track 2. A happy melody, with a masterful combination violins/trumpets. The electric bass plays a very important role in this one.
12. J'ai rencontré l'homme de ma vie, "Nous irons à Verone", 1973, track 2. Another great album that is better heard as a unit. This is a nice melody, but it lacks a bit of context here. The violins in this "blue album" have a muted sound, and the center stage is taken often by the wind instruments.
13. Si on chantait, "Forever and ever", 1973, last track (12). Another that is missing context. Paul's "green album" is a unity, too. Still, this is a great melody, with much emphasis given to the trumpets.
14. Il était une fois... nous deux, "Il était une fois... nous deux", 1976, track 8. A beautiful arrangement, even better than the original version, slightly slower but because of that deeper in feeling. Joe Dassin's song is kinda ironic; Paul's arrangement is almost tragic, in the good sense of the word. Another that should be in any "Best of".
15. Un étranger sur la terre, "L'avventura", 1972, track 5. Another beautiful arrangement, with a soft piano followed by vibrant violins working in crescendo with help of the trumpets to again a soft piano ending. Very Paulish.
16. Long sera l'hiver, "Cent mille chansons", 1968, track 8. Another one from the 1975 "Best of" collection. A jewel, I just have no words to make justice to such a beautiful arrangement. Only this orchestra reaches such heights.
17. Laisse-moi vivre ma vie, "Forever and ever", 1973, track 5. One-two punch. Another awesome melody from Paul, even out of context it's great. The begining and ending are very well known. Even better than the original Frédéric François version, and that's a lot to say.
18. Holidays, "Après toi", 1972, track 5. From one of his best albums, another great arrangement. The piano is delicious, the violins top form, it doesn't get any better than this!
19. Love is blue, "Album N.5", 1965, track 4. This LP was named "Blooming Hits" in the USA. It was in reality Paul's eighth album for Philips, but "Russie de Toujours", "Prestige de Paris" and "Bang Bang" (the one with the helicopter on the cover) were not assigned a number. This is the original Love is Blue version, enough said.
20. Tombe la neige, "Tombe la neige", 1971, track 06. Begins and ends with a harp, uses the harpsichord, piano and violins to create one of the most memorable and popular instrumental pieces ever. Another that appeared in 1975 "Best of" collection. Incredible.
21. Les matins d'hiver, "Forever and ever", 1973, track 02. Again this one is a bit out of context, but makes for a surprisingly good finale. The violins are wonderful. In the original album, the contrast between the strong violins here and the almost subliminal ones in the next melody ("Le peintre des étoiles") created an amazing effect. That is missing here, but the melody stands as a great one.Overall, excellent. I wish they released the albums "Nous irons à Verone" (blue album), "Forever and Ever" (green album) and "Un jour, un enfant" (the child's play album) together: they need you to listen to them as a whole. Meanwhile, I bought this one and it's worth every penny, no, more than that. How I wish Paul continued directing his orchestra! He's sorely missed."

FINDING LOST WONDERFUL SONGS

HORACIO MIGUEL VAZQUEZ | Buenos Aires Argentina | 11/27/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When we are talking about top arrangers and orchestrators in the instrumental pop field, we ever talk about Paul Mauriat. His unique use of rhythm, melodic crossing lines and colour with his instruments, and his distintive strings and brass dialogue sound, which make strongly appealing this selection, which affortunatly includes a lot of "lost songs" instead of the repeatitive common comercially "selections". In this CD, the only obvious theme included is his worldwide hit "Love is Blue", but we can find the beautiful "Long Sera L'hiver/Winter will be long" with an original use of drums in the opening, the romantic Michel Polnareff's "Holyday" with piano leading, the powerful "Irresistiblement" with a soprano voice added to the orchestration, the evocative Salvatore Adamo's" Tombe la Neige / Snow is falling" with an original effect of the harp with close echoes, etc.
In few words, if you like Beautiful Instrumentals you will love this CD by Maestro Mauriat.
HMV"

For PM funs who want to enjoy essence of his arrangement

HORACIO MIGUEL VAZQUEZ | 11/18/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD does not contain his big-hit well-known numbers except two tracks, i.e. "Love Is Blue" and "Tombe La Neige". Nevertheless, I can say that all the tracks included in this CD are definitely Paul's best arrangement numbers in the area of French Pops. If you listen, for example, to "Irresistiblement", "Si On Chantait" and "Les Matins D'hiver", then you will surely be amazed at the "depth" and "beautifulness" of Paul's arrangement magic."