For a long time I didn’t know who sang this pretty song, since all I had was an audio clip from it someone had put on a mix tape for me. Years later I found this record and was overjoyed to finally have it, and to discover this wonderful artist. 

“Look Around Rock” is just exploding with beauty, with its uplifting lyrics, gorgeous arrangments and Penny Nichols’ soft, comforting vocals. This song has stayed with me through difficult times, and helps when the blues hit. 

Penny Nichols – Look Around Rock

Here’s “The In-Crowd” in French (“C’est le Go-Go”), sung by Québécoise Nicole Lord.
I’ve had this 45 for years, and still know nothing about her. No photos, nothing. A little hard on the ears at times when Nicole tries to sustain a note (ouch!), but still a very cool record.

Or maybe I’m always too harsh on these matters?

Bonne année!

Nicole Lord – C’est le Go-Go (“The In-Crowd”)

Well well well…look who’s back!

I know, I had such high hopes for this blog, and then *poof*, I disappeared! Or so it seems. Actually, I moved to a new appartment in October and before Otis and I could get our little music studio back in order, our turn table broke! Now we have a cheap but cute little thing hooked up and here I am.

What better way to make a grand comeback than by posting about the lovely Victoire Scott? This beautiful lady is such a mystery, even her (non official, of course) Myspace invites people to write in if anybody has any info on her.

Baroque Pop never really catched on in France in the late 60s, but as far as the genre goes, Victoire Scott has recorded some of the finest and most beautiful sweet Baroque Pop sounds I have ever heard.

When I bought this record some time in the mid 90s, I didn’t know who Victoire Scott was. I took it home, listened to it, and had chills all over from the absolute beauty of what I was hearing. “4ème Dimension” is a stunning piece of work, describing drug-induced psychedelic hallucinations of angelic proportions.

Strangely enough, it was re-recorded 10 years later by Al Turban, (brother of Christian Turban, who originally wrote the song). I’d love to hear it!

All songs from this Decca EP are beautifully orchestrated by JD Mercier and will just warm your heart with awe and fuzzy goodness.

Joyeux Noël!

Victoire Scott – 4ème Dimension
Victoire Scott – Une fleur dans le coeur
Victoire Scott – Par delà le sang de la terre
Victoire Scott – L’amour en couleur

Poor Pamela, it seems no care went into the design of her record sleeve. The record’s cover is shocking in its dullness; Pamela’s facial features are hard to make out, the cheap black and white photo makes it look like a photocopy and the back only lists the songs, with no credits or the label’s usual plugs for other Vogue artist releases. I am just baffled. Maybe this copy was a promo release? Who knows.

Too bad because the record is very nice. Sure, Pamela didn’t have the greatest voice but the arrangements are pretty and she does a remarkable cover of Antoine‘s beautiful “Une autre autoroute”.

(Which reminds me: I should do a giant post about all the Antoine covers I have and invite people to post theirs!)

If anybody has any info on Pamela, I would love to know. Tell me!

Pamela – Le jour où
Pamela – Une autre autoroute (Antoine)

Wencke Myhre was a Norwegian singing and acting star. If you look up her name you’ll see she is still out there and has her own website.

She sang the song Ein Hoch der Liebe for Germany at Eurovision in 1968 and had a fulfilling career singing in Norwegian, Danish, German and Swedish. This album is from 1966 and was recorded with James Last’s orchestra; some of the songs on here are just spectacular, with full sound orchestra. Some people would call these Shlager but, damn you world, I call this purdy music.

Manana, Manana is catchy as all hell; Ola Ola, min eigne ugne is a beautiful traditional Scandinavian ballad and very Lee Hazlewood-ish; and finally, Vergessen und Vergeben is a fantastic, emotionally packed high drama ballad, just like I love’em.

Wencke Myhre – Manana, Manana
Wencke Myrhe – Ola Ola, min eigen unge
Wencke Myrhe – Vergessen und Vergeben

Here is Italian cutie Barbara Lory, who is someone I don’t have much info on. Here’s what the back of her record cover says about her:

Real Name: Barbara Vittoria Lory
Born in: PieveEmanuele, in the province of Milan
Date of birth: March 1, 1946
Zodiac Sign: Pisces
Favorite sports: Swimming and riding*
Favorite colours: shocking pink, sicilian orange
Favorite singers: Barbara Streisand, Bessie Smith
Hobbies: Collecting picture postcards and beach pebbles from around the world

Here are my two favorite tracks from her LP “Holidays in Italy”!

Barbara Lory – In guesto mondo
Barbara Lory – Male di luna

* she didn’t specify what kind of riding. Ponies, surely.

Unlike many other 60s singers trying to keep up with the times, she didn’t fall into the disco craze in the 70s, but rather followed in her father’s footsteps and her first love, country music.

This next track is quite possibly my favorite one. You will recognize the familiar Beatles melody, of course, but as much as I love it, my heart always sinks when I hear it, because the quality of the mix is just so bad, not to mention the pressing makes the whole record sound like a whisper. What should have been a grandiose sounding album was ruined, and whoever is responsible for this will die in “bad music engineer” hell!

Phew! Ok. And now, thanks to digital technology, I managed to crank it up a notch (just a little) so we can at least hear that Wurlitzer Electric Piano (same type used by Barry & The Remains.). Good Lord at least I think that’s what it’s called.

In any case, that’s the best I could do.

French lyrics are by Karo! –>

Renée Martel has suffered two car accidents in the last decade and has rarely appeared publicly since her father’s death in 1999. I hope she’ll come out to play more often.

Renée Martel – Un certain soira>