V.A./Jean-Luc Godard - "Bandes Originales 1959-1980" 2 x Vinyl, LP, Compilation, Limited Edition (500 copies) (Wildcat Strikes Disques)

Being a long-time fan of Jean-Luc Godard's cinema, it's interesting how important the music or sound is to all his films.   I don't imagine Godard ever thought about the separation of sound and image, but more with the relationship between the two mediums.  Over the years I have collected both on vinyl and CD numerous soundtrack compilations or the original soundtrack to Godard's works, but this hand-made bootleg, with the images pasted on the record sleeve, is perhaps the best of the lot.  

This compilation on vinyl goes from 1959 (A Bout de Souffle) to 1980 (Sauve qui Peut La Vie), and what one would consider the iconic Godard years.  Due to avoiding the legal issue, this album is the best representation of Godard and sound/music of those years.   The one thing that struck me is the sadness in the music. Composed by various writers such as Martial Solal, Michel Legrand, Georges Delerue, Paul Misraki, Antoine Duhamel, Gabriel Yared, and singing by Chantal Goya (Masculin Feminin) which is superb French Yé-Yé and the ultra-rare (and the excellent) Claude Channes' "Mao Mao." The instrumental passages are very somber when you listen to it without the Godard images.  Not sure if Godard instructed the mood that is in the music for his film, but the above composers all wrote magnificent pieces for the Godard soundtrack. 

The album is not that easy to locate, but one can through by chance your local store, or more likely on the Internet.   If you are a fan of Godard, it's a must that you obtain this specific recording.  Beyond that the music here is gorgeous. 

Chantal Goya - "Masculin Féminin" CD, EP, French, OST, 1966/2006 (Magic Records)

It's funny that I can recall the day when I found a CD version of the OST EP of Jean-Luc Godard's "Masculin Feminin."  I was shopping in Tower Shinjuku Tokyo and was with a friend, and bingo, this came out of nowhere.  I bought a copy for a friend who was taking me around Tokyo that day, and one for myself.   As an artifact, it's priceless, as art, it's not bad.  What makes it great is that it's the soundtrack to Godard's great film.   In essence, one feels that they own something that is from ground zero on the planet French New Wave.  

Originally the "Masculin Feminin" was released as a 7" EP in 1966.   It has six songs on it, which is unusual because most French 7" EP's had only four songs.  Nevertheless, this is a compact pop history that is even hard for me to write about with respect if it's good or not.   The last three songs (on vinyl, side two) are superb and iconic Yé-Yé recordings.  The first three is good, but for me, it's side two that kicks butt.   

On the other hand, compared to artists like France Gall and of course Hardy, she doesn't come close to their greatness.  Still, this being connected to such a perfection that is Godard's work, it's a must for anyone who has the Jean-Luc bug.   Very difficult to find in any format at the moment.  The French label Sam Records has put out a lot of fascinating (CD) reissues from the 1960s, including British artists as well as French, of course.   They do great packaging as well as preserving essential music that may have fallen through the cracks of time. 

Barbara - "Madame" Vinyl, LP, Album, 1970 (Philips)

The first seven songs on "Madame" is a seven-song tableaux or suite with lyrics by Remo Forlani, and music by our star, Barbara.   Forlani was a writer, screenwriter, and an actor who worked with Jean-Luc Godard (Made in the U.S.A.") and worked with Chris Marker and Alain Resnais.   Barbara is an iconic French singer/songwriter whose music and singing is very dramatic, and I think unique.   There is only "one" Barbara."  

"Madame" is orchestrated and arranged by Jean-Claude Vannier, who is a visionary musician/composer who worked with Serge Gainsbourg and Brigitte Fontaine among many others.  His work is on the border of the avant-garde and French pop song.  In a fashion, he's the bridge between Musique Concréte and the Yé-Yé.   So, the album has three unique voices, and it's a remarkable cocktail in an album form.    Barbara is the real deal and is considered to be the new version of a chanson singer.  Perhaps due to her songwriting, as well as being an early AIDS activist in France.   For the English speaking world, another avenue to explore through this French iconic singer/writer. 

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!

V.A. - "Bandes Originales des Films de Jean-Luc Godard" CD, Japan, 1994, (Hortensia)

Over the years there have been many great reissues or original vinyl that are connected to Jean-Luc Godard's film work.  As a Godard fanatic, I want them all!   But if push becomes a shove, and there is a fire in the house, and I have to reach out for that one Godard soundtrack collection, it would be Bandes Originales des Films de Jean-Luc Godard."

The reason is because it's an excellent package, the cover becomes a poster, but beyond the visual, the music on this CD is fantastic.   It covers "A Bout de Souffle" (Breathless), "Pierrot Le Fou, " "Alphaville," and the great soundtrack to "Le Mepris" (Contempt).  Very much a perfect compilation of the early Godard soundtracks, all on one disc.  Of course, the original soundtrack albums can be fitted on a 10" ep, when originally released - but to get all of it here is a fantastic buy.  The Japanese know how to put a music collection together.   The composers/performers are Martial Solal, Anna Karina (Godard's then-wife, and a brilliant actress), Antoine Duhamel, Paul Misraki, and the legendary Georges Delerue.  Find and buy!

Georges Delerue / Piero Piccioni - "Le Mépris, The Complete Original Soundtrack" 2 x Vinyl, LP, 2014 (Doxy)

The Georges Delerue score for "Contempt" (Le Mépris) is perfect. A haunting theme that expresses the down mood of the Jean-Luc Godard film.  I have so many versions of this particular soundtrack - mostly all on CD, except for this vinyl set.  The unusual aspect of this package is that it has the obscure and Italian soundtrack to the film by Piero Piccioni.  How did that happen?  That, I don't know.   I think the nature of the cinema movie world at the time of the 1960s were complicated, and for whatever reason, the Italian distributor decided on the Piccioni score for its Italian release. 

I prefer the Delerue music, just because it has been a consistent reminder of this cinematic masterpiece as well as being a great piece of music, with or without the images attached to the work.  The Piccioni score is a good listening experience, but nowhere near the genius French take on the soundtrack.  

Doxy is an excellent and a very mysterious label.  It's a borderline bootleg record company that seems to make use of the copyright laws in Europe.  Saying that I find the recordings themselves pretty great, and their packaging, although often vague, is superb.  The vagueness comes to solid information, for instance,  where did they get their sound resource?  From the original tapes, or is it from a digital resource?  I don't know.   On the other hand, they either take the original packing of albums or do their own take on whatever the album is.  I have at least a dozen titles from Doxy, and I'm happy with all of their albums in my collection.  Also, they are very much a curated company that they only release albums and artists that are truly great - and, or, very hard to find as an original (official) release.  So they're serving a purpose to the vinyl fan, and "Le Mépris" is a fantastic and fascinating double album.  To get both recordings in one package is pretty amazing. 

À BOUT DE SOUFFLE Musique de Martial Solal (un film de Jean-Luc Godard) Doxy 45 rpm vinyl

Over the years, and especially on CD there has been many re-issues of the soundtrack to à bout de souffle.  Mostly various collections of French New Wave music throughout the late 20th century and 21st century.  But, I have to say the best is from the mysterious label Doxy, who issued this album sometime in 2015.  It's a single disc, but in 45 rpm, and one side is the score by Martial Solal, performed by the great pianist as well as with top-notch French Jazz musicians from 1958.  What makes this specific album unique is that on the other side, it's "Concert pour clarinet et orchestra by Wolfgang Mozart; performed by an orchestra conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham. 

For those who are fans of the film, you know the Mozart recording is played in one scene, where Jean-Paul is in hiding from the police and he's with his love.   Now, as far as I can gather, Doxy is very much a bootleg record company that puts out fantastic out-of-print albums or recordings that somehow lost their copyright - nevertheless, this mysterious label has released incredible albums on vinyl, and always with wonderful packaging. 

So, as I mentioned in the opening paragraph, I would buy this edition of the soundtrack, not only for the Mozart piece, but also the sound / mastering is great.  Not sure where they get the original sound source, it can be digital, but still, you're paying for their great curating taste.  Solal's music and performance are superb.  It mirrors the film's sense of wonder and adventure, and it's supreme French Jazz, which to me is über-cool.  

Antoine Duhamel - "Pierrot Le Fou" / "Week-End" (Banes Originales Des Films de Jean-Luc Godard

Antoine Duhamel – Pierrot Le Fou / Week-End (Banes Originales Des Films De Jean-Luc Godard)

CD Album, France, 2001

Universal Music

There are no such thing as a bad Jean-Luc Godard soundtrack. Antoine Duhamel's haunting score for Godard's great Pierrot Le Fou is something to hear with and without the film. The orchestration and melody gives me chills as I listen to it now. There is always a sense of sadness in Godard's work, and that sadness is conveyed in the various soundtracks by a series of composers and performers. But Pierrot Le Fou conveys a sense of regret of not wasted moments, but the sadness that's life itself. History turned sour and slowly realizing that the world you are in is not one of your making or worst yet, you are part of that world. Also the piece very much reminds me of Vivaldi's Four Seasons, which I am not sure if it is an influence or not – but it carries the weight of the world on its melancholy melody. Even the Jazz here has dark overtures.

Week-End doesn't hint despair, it is despair. With some funny moments, but never the less the score to this mid-'60s Godard is full of nervous tension, and one can gather a traffic jam due to a fatal accident, as strings hum over the desolute landscape of abandoned cars and people.