1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #43. Jacques Brel - A L'Olympia (1964)

Jacques Brel - A L'Olympia (1964)

Label - Barclay
Producer – Jean-Marie Guerin
Art Direction – Uncredited
Nationality- Belgium
Running Time – 47:56

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Amsterdam
2. Timides
3. Dernier Repas
4. Jardins de Casino
5. Vieux
6. Toros
7. Tango Funèbre
8. Plat Pays
9. Bonbons
10. Mathilde
11. Bigotes
12. Bourgeois
13. Jef
14. Suivant
15. Madeleine

This record is also known as “Enregistrement Public à l'Olympia 1964”. Jacques Brel's recordings have been released in many different permutations, in different countries, and on different formats. Furthermore, releases of Brel's recordings are sometimes known by different titles, and sometimes exist in different versions with the tracks arranged in different running orders – so it was tough to nail down a copy as described in the book.
Whatever title you’d like to call it – it’s simply dreadful. I try to keep an open mind when I play albums that I’m sure I will have zero interest in – and have been surprised by many already (mainly some of the jazz ones) but this record just seemed to go on and on and on. At almost 48 minutes it seemed twice as long.
Again – to be fair as I have mentioned in reviews before – there is not 1 word of English on this record which I’m sure has something to do with me not caring for it – but it’s actually more than that. Lackluster vocals and droning songs – I cannot imagine having to been sitting in the audience when this was recorded. On the vocals he sounds angry, outrages, determined and retarded (listen to ‘Bonbons’ and you will know what I am meaning!).
The standout track – ‘Amsterdam’ is the only one of these songs that I had ever heard of before as David Bowie did a English cover of it in the 70’s. Other than that just dreadful and NOT recommended.


You can purchase the CD here.