Cherry Red's RPM International offshoot continues its mission of introducing English-speaking listeners to the many delightful pop/rock confections the French cooked up in the '60s. This time out, France Gall benefits from this excellent collection of her charming and catchy girl group-styled songs, several of which were composed by the legendary Serge Gainsbourg.
"Incredibly, it's been 47 years since France Gall romped to victory at the Eurovision song contest in Naples with "Poupée de cire, poupée de son." Her winning song was, arguably, the first contemporary tune to win the contest and had been penned by no less than Serge Gainsbourg, Gallic pop's enfant terrible...Indeed, Gainsbourg would write many of Gall's hits—and a number of her most controversial tracks, including, most notably, "Les sucettes." This ode to the joys of sucking a lollipop was the very height of double-entendre, but it left the singer publicly humiliated when she discovered the song’s other meaning. It marked the beginning of the end of the relationship between the two of them. That's a shame, as this terrific compilation of their joint oeuvres—brought to us by those lovely people at RPM—amply demonstrates that, together, Gall and Gainsbourg were pop genius." - Ready Steady Girls!