André Hodeir - "L'écume des jours" OST, 45 rpm Vinyl Single, France, 1968 (Philips)

André Hodeir is a fascinating figure in French Jazz.  Think of him as sort of a more adventuresome Gil Evans.  Musician, composer, arranger, and author.  He wrote numerous books on Jazz aesthetics that were published by Grove Books in the 1960s.  Hodeir is also a challenging artist to find record wise.  Even in Paris I had trouble locating his works, but now, with the internet, it's a tad easier, but not a whole lot of recordings are readily available.   One of the hard finds for me, is this record, the soundtrack to Charles Belmont's French film "L'écume des jours."  It's based on a fantastic Boris Vian novel ("Foam of the Daze" which I published through my press TamTam Books).   

Header uses jazz as a foundation, but he also had an interest in Musique Concréte practices as well.  "L'écume des jours" in parts, is almost electronic in that he processes the children's vocals into a hypnotic and haunting sound.   There is nothing on this French EP that is predictable. Incredibly melodic in parts, but also obsessed with the sound process as well.  Hodeir was a genius and very worth while to locate his recordings.  I think I have most of his work in my collection, as well as a huge Boris Vian presence in my sound and book library.  

Various - Jean-Pierre Melville - "Le Circle Noir" CD, Compilation, 2008 (Universal Music)

As far as I know, this is the only compilation of soundtrack music to Jean-Pierre Melville's cinema.  I can't think of anything more pleasurable than being in a theater in front of a Melville image/narration.    The word "perfection" comes to mind.  Not only for the mind but the physical pleasure of being glued to one's seat and watching the world of French gangsters do what they do best: drink, rob, and existential dialogue.  

"Le Cercle Noir" is a CD that came out in 2008 that pretty much covers all of Melville's film work.  We have the great theme by Jo Boyer doing "Bob Le Flambeur" as well as the haunted score for Le Samouraï."  For a CD, the packaging is great with a wonderful essay both in French and in English.  Not the easiest CD to find, but very much worth the hunt.  I think I got mine in Paris, which is odd because usually, I have a hard time locating French New Wave soundtracks in that city, even though the CD is made in France.  Japan tends to be the capital of French New Wave albums/CDs. 

ist Hide Credits

		Bob Le Flambeur (1956)
1	–Jo Boyer	Thème De Bob Composed By, Trumpet – Jo BoyerPerformer – L'Orchestre D'Eddie Barclay*	2:32
		Deux Hommes Dans Manhattan (1959)
2	–Christian Chevallier	Deux Hommes Dans Manhattan (Générique)	1:51
3	–Christian Chevallier	Déambulation Nocturne	2:07
4	–Christian Chevallier	Filature	2:00
5	–Christian Chevallier	Street In Manhattan Lyrics By – Jo WarfieldVocals – Glenda Leigh	3:52
		Léon Morin, Prêtre (1961)
6	–Martial Solal	Léon Morin Composed By – Martial SolalHarmonica – Albert Raisner	1:54
		Le Doulos (1962)
7	–Paul Misraki	Le Doulos (Générique)	3:22
8	–Paul Misraki	Jazz Rapide	3:17
9	–Paul Misraki	Final	2:16
		L'Aîné Des Ferchaux (1963)
10	–Georges Delerue	Les Appalaches Composed By – Georges Delerue	4:36
		Le Samouraï (1967)
11	–François De Roubaix	Le Samouraï Orchestrated By, Directed By – Eric Demarsan	2:03
12	–François De Roubaix	Fatalité / La Blessure Orchestrated By, Directed By – Eric Demarsan	3:09
		L'Armée Des Ombres (1969)
13	–Eric Demarsan	Thème De Gerbier	3:13
14	–Eric Demarsan	Le 20 Octobre 1942	1:38
15	–Eric Demarsan	Mathilde / Les Barraquements	3:05
		Le Cercle Rouge (1970)
16	–Eric Demarsan	Le Cercle Rouge	1:50
17	–Eric Demarsan	Quand Les Hommes Ont Rendez-vous	1:08
18	–Eric Demarsan	Final Inédit	4:03
		Un Flic (1972)
19	–Michel Colombier	Un Monsieur Distingué	3:20
20	–Michel Colombier	Un Casse	2:57
21	–Michel Colombier	C'est Ainsi Que Les Choses Arrivent Lyrics By – Charles AznavourVocals – Isabelle Aubret	3:58
		Musique Inédite Pour Le Cercle Rouge (1970)
22	–Michel Legrand	Chassés-Croisés	2:43
23	–Michel Legrand	Visions	2:49
24	–Michel Legrand	Engrenages (Final)	2:21

Various - Jean-Luc Godard "Histoire(s) de Musique" CD, Compilation, 2007 (Universal Music)

I have a habit of picking up any collection of music that was used in Jean-Luc Godard's films.  There are lots of collections or compilations out there and it's impossible for me to choose the best one.  All are great!   So, reader, you have to take that in, that I'm just a super-fan with no critical judgment whatsoever on the subject matter of Godard's various soundtracks.  There is a Japanese CD compilation that is excellent and I wrote about it here:  http://toshberman.blogspot.com/2017/04/va-bandes-originales-des-films-de-jean.html

I bought "Histoire(s) de Musique" in Tokyo about ten years ago.  For some odd reason, it's not difficult to find French New Wave soundtracks on CD in Japan.  This collection put together by Universal Music is excellent.  The one unique cut that the other's don't have is the song "Mao Mao" sung by Claude Channes and from the film "La Chinoise."   This album covers all the Godard films from À bout de souffle ("Breathless") to Sauve Qui Peut (La Vie).  So the time frame is from 1959 to 1980.  The classic Godard years and the music are excellent.  Martial Solal, Michel Legrand, the great Georges Delerue score for "Contempt" as well as Paul Misraki, Antoine Duhamel and Gabriel Yared. All wonderful soundtrack composers doing their best iconic work. 

Also the CD has great text with nice photographs.  Do get it!

Various ‎– "Mister Melody - Les Interprètes De Serge Gainsbourg" 4 CD Box Set, 2006 (Mercury)

Amazing box set of Serge Gainsbourg's music, but performed by other artists besides the mighty and great Serge.   Hours of Serge music throughout his career.  A lot of the recordings on this collection he actually partakes in their production or arrangement.  So, his presence is very much felt throughout every song here.  The famous and iconic recordings with Birkin, Bardot and France Gall is here, but also artists like Les Frères Jacques, Michèle Arnaud, Juliette Gréco, Philippe Clay, and even Petula Clark.   There are no bad tracks here and very much essential listening and ownership. If I have to choose a favorite it is probably Nico's "Strip-Tease."  Very well thought out with song selection and excellent packaging.  

I have to presume the songs here are what brought money to the Gainsbourg pocket.  As a hired songwriter, he brought the tunes to these artists, but all of them have the Serge wit and bite.  He didn't compromise or cheapen his work when he wrote these songs for other artists.  I sense respect between singer and songwriter here.  Love this package of goodies. 

Barney Wilen/Alain Goraguer - "Jazz & Cinema Vol. 1" CD, Remastered, France, 2000 (Gitanes Jazz Productions/Jazz in Paris)

It's no top secret that the Paris culture loves American Jazz.  Similar to American pop culture being in tuned to the British Invasion of the early 1960s.   Gitanes, the tobacco company that probably killed Serge Gainsbourg and many others, had the good taste to sponsor a series of classic French Jazz sessions, that are way out of print, yet, essential to the jazzier and French cultural maven.  I think I have the complete series.  The majority of the recordings are from the post-war years in Paris, from 1946 to 1959.  A lot of it is American and French musicians who made recordings for the French market.  A lot of American musicians, especially Black Americans, made a good living in Paris during those years.   Thanks to people like by beloved Boris Vian.

"Jazz & Cinema" comes to five separate CDs.  Their first volume is devoted to the soundtracks of "J'Irai Cracher Sur Vos Tombes" by Alain Goraguer (based on a Boris Vian/Vernon Sullivan novel) and Un Témoin Dans La Ville by Barney Wilen.  Both from 1959.   Both are great scores by these magnificent talented musicians.   Goraguer is of special interest to me, due that he had worked with Vian, Serge Gainsbourg, and made a pioneering electronic score for La Planète Sauvage.  The CD series is not expensive, and all come with great liner notes and images of the original release.  Their outer CD covers look like a tourist trap attraction but believe me, the sound is great and the talent/recordings are all magnificent.