Though
Maurice Chevalier was better known as an actor than as a vocalist, he remains one of the most good-natured singers of the 20th century and fully earned his status as a cabaret archetype.
Fleur de Paris is an album of tracks recorded by
Chevalier between 1939 and 1948, and it includes some real gems -- "Appelez Ca Comme Vous Voulez," "Notre Espoir," the pleasantly jingoistic "Ca Sent Si Bon la France" -- these are period pieces that evoke an endlessly romanticized era in the history of French popular culture.
Chevalier was not the most polished singer in the world, but his irrepressible good humor and dramatic, over-the-top delivery endeared him to a generation. That said, dramatic, over-the-top French pop music isn't for everyone, and those with a low
Edith Piaf threshold may have trouble warming up to
Chevalier. If you like the material but would prefer a more cultivated voice, try the
Charles Trenet collection that was released by Angel at the same time (Anthologie, 8 31393 2). ~ Rick Anderson