The Voice of the Sparrow: The Very Best of Edith Piaf

by Edith Piaf

Overview

The world has a place for but one French singer: Edith Piaf, affectionately known as "the Little Sparrow." For most, Piaf is the embodiment of the French "chanson" tradition. Language didn't seem to pose a problem for her beloved fans who didn't understand French. The obvious pain of her difficult childhood and adolescence, and her romantic travails as an adult could be clearly heard in her singing, and an international audience responded. Piaf brought a piercing sense of naked expressiveness and emotional honesty to her songs that endeared her to listeners through four decades. This fine collection gives a crisp picture of her unique artistry. Yes, Piaf's anthem"La Vie en Rose" has pride of place here, but there are plenty of other Piaf standards that stand proudly alongside it, including "Non Je Ne Regrette Rien" and "Hymne à L'Amour."

Product Details

Release Date:	07/30/1991
Label:	Parlophone (Wea)
UPC:	0077779663224
catalogNumber:	966325
Rank:	149

Tracks

1. La Vie, l'Amour
2. La Vie en Rose
3. Milord
4. Comme Moi
5. Le Vieux Piano
6. Polichinelle
7. Toujours Aimer
8. L' Effet Que Tu Me Fais
9. Mon Manège à Moi (Tu Me Fais Tourner La Tête)
10. Mon Dieu
11. Hymne à l'Amour
12. T'Es Beau Tu Sais
13. Bravo Pour le Clown
14. C'est l'Amour
15. Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien
16. Avant Nous
17. La Goualante du Pauvre Jean
18. L' Accordéoniste

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Edith Piaf   Primary Artist,Vocals

Technical Credits

Leonard Bernstein   Composer
Edith Piaf   Composer
Marcel Louiguy   Composer
Marguerite Monnot   Composer
René Rouzaud   Composer
Eddie Constantine   Composer
Henri Contet   Composer
Charles Dumont   Composer
Michel Vaucaire   Composer
Marc Herrand   Composer
Michelle Senlis   Composer
Edith Delécluse   Composer
Louis Louiguy   Composer

Editorial Reviews

Capitol's The Voice of the Sparrow: The Very Best of Edith Piaf offers 18 selections from the Edith Piaf songbook, in nearly every case the best version of the song -- whether performed during the '30s, '40s, or '50s. Many of her best songs are here, from her signature songs -- "La Vie en Rose" and "L'Accordéoniste" -- to "Hymne À l'Amour" and "Non, Je Regrette Rien." True, the collection concentrates overly on her latter-day sides (the playful, cabaret "Le Vieux Piano" and "Polichinelle," among others) to the detriment of her wondrous '30s recordings, and also displays its 1991 vintage (no liner notes or recording information, and an overly smoothed-out sound). Still, The Voice of the Sparrow is certainly the Edith Piaf introduction that's easiest to find.

All Music Guide - John Bush