Beatiful and spine-tingling

What an amazing collection! This album boasts wonderful liner notes and photographs, and the collection is stellar. The highlight for me is the "new" tracks at the beginning, especially "Le Cathedrale" and "Sans exigences," which were recorded shortly before his death. One can't help but be moved by the sound of a dying man singing his heart out. Also included are English translations of his lyrics...on a final note, I have other Brel import collections, and the versions of "Ne me quitte pas" and "Quand on n'a que l'amour" are slightly different, but wonderful nonetheless.

J'Arrive

Nearly 25 years after his death, & there's finally a North American release of this great talent. I'd say he's neck & neck with Bob Dylan for being one of the most original songwriters of the late 20th Century. Though I've never seen him live, what performances I have seen via video were astounding. When he came to America to play Carnegie Hall in '65, he was described as an "electrical storm". On record , he's still fierce, confrontational & straight from the gut. However, his introduction to many Americans may have come via the Shuman/Blau translations of the off-Broadway hit, JACQUES BREL IS ALIVE & LIVING IN PARIS. Sadly, they don't even come close to hitting the mark. Furthermore, they lack the bite, the wit & the bleak romanticism of the originals. Scott Walker released a gushing tribute in the late 60's and despite some fine moments, it still lacks the intensity of the real thing. Oddly enough, I became aware of Brel through David Bowie's 1973 versions of "Amsterdam" & "My Death". Which to this day, hold up well against any other English versions I've heard. But like I said, none of that comes close to Brel spitting it out himself. He can be as bitterly mournful on "Ne Me Quitte Pas" as he is perversely sarcastic on "Les Bigotes". No translator needed. This collection provides an excellent overview of his oeuvre, as well as finally providing some decent English translations for those who failed high school French. Though, a few personal favorites are omitted, I'd still say that this is the perfect introduction. For the seasoned listener, the unissued tracks like, "La Cathedrale" & "L'Amour est Morte" will not disappoint. They are as haunting & pointed as his best known work.