Inconsistent sound, but one of the very best Piaf discs

Edith Piaf sang at the Olympia Theatre in Paris many times, making the venue so synonymous with her own name that eventually Jeff Buckely dreamed of playing there. EMI's AT THE PARIS OLYMPIA DISC contains material from five Piaf concerts from 1955, her first show there, until 1962, one of her last concerts, for a total of twenty tracks. These include truly stunning songs, such as the moving "Heureuse" and energetic "L'Accordeoniste", and fortunately there is only a few spots where Piaf sings in English, a style which alienates many fans.

In contrast to the myriad budget Piaf compilations, it is clear that care has been taken with AT THE PARIS OLYMPIA. The sound quality is better than one would expect from 1950's live recordings. There are detailed liner notes written by one Ralph Harvey which discuss each concert and the sungs performed there, speaking frankly about Piaf's ill health and drug dependency in her final days.

Unfortunately, this compilation from four separate sources means that the audio quality is inconsistent. The opening "Milord", dating from 1962, is clear and distinct, but 1961's "Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien", for example, sounds flat and uninspiring (though from the applause, the audience present certainly enjoyed it).

All in all, this is one of the best Piaf discs, and I would wholeheartedly recommend it. I feel it would also make a better introduction to her work than her studio albums or any of the low-quality compiliations which mix studio and live material.