Gainsbourg was an incomparable French composer of high-quality, sophisticated pop tunes of all kinds. He sounds like a much more upbeat, hipper, peevish version of Leonard Cohen. In fact, if you don't understand two words of French, Serge's music sounds even better, since your imagination is free to roam anywhere it likes.

There are 3 major compilations of Serge's '60s output that are on the market, "Du Jazz Dans Le Ravin," "Coleur Cafe," and "Comic Strip." All three are ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL music for self-respecting pop conneisseurs. In fact, whip out your credit card right now and buy all 3, because THERE IS NO BETTER POP MUSIC MADE BY ANYONE ANYWHERE.

"Coleur Cafe," which is a mostly Mambo, Latin, and African beat influenced collection is the most consistent of the three. "Du Jazz Dans Le Ravin" is a Miles Davis/Dave Brubeck influenced collection of ultra-cool Jazz-pop fusion. "Comic Strip" is a less consistent, late '60s, psychedelic-rock influenced set which features some of Serge's most spectacular songs such as his collaborations with Brigitte Bardot (Bonnie and Clyde) and Jane Birkin (je t'aime...moi non plus).

I just wanted to make a comment about "What the Critics Say:" Maybe the author of that critic should have made better research about Jane Birkin. She was his WIFE. She sang a lot of songs that Serge Composed. She was not just put in that song because of the song being "filthily." If you want to check other songs where Jane sings, check-out the Gainsbourg "Musiques de Films." There you can find a lot of songs that he composed for movies and where Jane Birkin sings. As a matter of fact, I'm listening to the album right now. He was a great composer and I remember when he passed away, it was a great loss. Also did you know about a dictation that was givin by the French Academy to some French celebrities (song composer etc.), Serge scored best. He might have been very eccentric but that was what made him. He could intimidate a lot of scholars that way, even though he always had a glass of alcohol and never forgot his cigarettes "Gitannes."

Cardamar.

This CD showcases the best of Serge, in my opinion.

Somehow I think that Serge loved this period best. I think that this is where his heart was - long before he turned into Gainsbarre and the late 60s - 80s.

The song "Couleur Cafe" itself is an enduring classic of French popular music. To this day one can still hear it being played on the radio in France.

Gainsbourg here is exploring another musical style, and successfully so. It makes me want to dance, at least. I particularly enjoy "Laissez-moi tranquille", although the entire album works well as one coheisve piece, and is great background music. Also wonderful are the vocal and instrumental versions of "Cha Cha Cha du Loup"... the arrangement of "Les Amours Perdues" is clever, along with "New York USA". Apart from this, while the album is lovely overall, it descends into an odd faux-jungle sound in the background with Gainsbourg singing and seems to be a choir of young people singing(chanting) in the background, and this becomes tiresome.