Brel en Public Olympia 1964

The joy of the audience and the power of Brel's voice combine to create a sense of being in the theatre while Jaques Brel performs the songs on this album/cd. The pain of "Amsterdam", the pathos of "Les Timides", the irony and satire of "Les Toros" and "Les Bourgeois" are all made more powerful by the desire and love given to Brel by the audience; and Brel responds. If you have only listened to Brel's studio productions then you have not listened to the Jaques Brel that grew to international fame as an observer of humanity, its foibles and its greatness. In this performance you truly come to understand why Jaques Brel may be considered one of the finest writer/performers of the 20th century.

Brel live - powerful and challenging

Though this is not my favourite live recording of Jacques Brel, it's still worth listening. He starts with 'Amsterdam' - and there really isn't a more powerful recording in the world. I've listened to many sorts of music and though heavy metal can drown you, Brel singing 'Amsterdam' with just a few acoustic instruments, his voice raising towards the end, leaves me completely breathless every time, even after hundreds of times. There still isn't a voice as full of life and energy as his was. Six pieds sous terre tu chantes encore, Jacky.

Other highlights on the record are Les toros (not hard to understand after hearing it, that four years later he played Don Quijote. The elements are here, though he still had no idea of what was ahead) and Tango funebre. He really could say wicked things about people, and the worst thing is: they are usually true... On the whole this is a wicked record: he laughs at Flamandes, unlucky suitors, bourgeois... And he wouldn't have been Brel if he hadn't laughed at himself a bit, too, and still managed to look at people with deep understanding and even compassion. The most beautiful of his songs are missing here, you can find them on the live recording '61, but one Mathilde is back in town - and there's enough passion for the whole record.

This isn't the easiest Brel but perhaps Brel being most Brel - if you get my meaning. And live on stage he was the performer of the century.

Simply the best entertainer

Jacques Brel. He transcended the stage and popular music of the time. His words are biting, acerbic, funny and most of all, introspective. No one could convey emotion like this man.

Words. I know people who hated listening to Brel because as they said, you couldn't help but think about things after listening to them.

Jeff Harmon