Histoire de Melody Nelson [Original recording remastered] [Import]

1. Melody [Extrait de Melody Nelson]

2. Ballade de Melody Nelson

3. Valse de Melody

4. Ah! Melody

5. Hotel Particulier [Extrait de BOF Melody Nelson]

6. En Melody

7. Cargo Culte

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Originally released in 1971, this selection features tracks with Jane Birkin.

Tracks:

Melody
Ballade De Melody Nelson
Valse De Melody
Ah! Melody
L'Hotel Particulier
En Melody
Cargo Culte

Album Details

Originally released in 1971, this selection features tracks with Jane Birkin.

Customer Reviews:

Gravel sans velvet.......2007-02-02

I love this guy... a story teller, a poet, a singer. Get Melody Nelson. And check out his talented daughter's (Charlotte Gainsbourg) work in film (Science of Sleep; Jane Eyre) and on disc (5:55).

Get in Your Car and Drive.......2006-11-02

Melody Nelson didn't do it for me right away. I kept at it though and now I can't get away. This album has a way of creeping into your existence and taking it over. I live in New York City so i don't have a car but for all of you that do, buy this album, get into it, and drive. Melody Nelson was made for late night drives. If you like this right away, good for you, if you don't then keep listening.
UPDATE:
Since I wrote the above I have been entrapped by this album. I cannot get away from it. This is one of the greatest albums ever. You haven't heard music fully until you've experienced this. I don't know anything like it and I don't think I ever will. Wow. The eerie slow play between the bass, drums, and guitar. The meandering talking of Serge as he leads you through this strange 28 minutes of love and lust. The strings and chorus. Oh the strings and chorus! Ahahahaha! Sweet infinity! I can see this being the album that takes over me life and leaves me for ruin. If you don't have this album, I'm sorry. If you have this album, I'm sorry.
Why did it take so long for me to hear about this? What's wrong with the world?

Elaborate Eurotrash - best when not translated so as not to offend the bluenoses.......2006-10-11

The recent Ballad of Congressman Mark Foley initiated these comments.

Serge, jaded and driving his Silver Ghost Rolls Royce, with its "Venus of Money of 1910 posed on the radiator," swerves off the road to find a "white skirt tied onto black pants" calling herself "Melody Nelson" with natural red curls. Evidently Serge wants an English trophy to go along with his fancy English machine! Her age? "Quatorze automnes - Et quinze étés - Un petit animal."

Best not translated. Anyway, this stuff wouldn't pass muster in the USA today.

I give "Melody Nelson" five stars for the beauty of its orchestral arrangements. Serge really knew how to get the groove out of his session musicians!! Check out "Requiem por un con" for further grooviness. Unfortunately this record is only 32 minutes long.

Guaranteed to Make you at Least 25% Sleazier...........2006-09-08

Serge Gainsbourg, will (in most peoples eyes), be the dirty little Frenchman, that seduced English rose "Jane Birkin", and mostly recorded his sleazy endeavour on the "Je T'Aime...Moi Non Plus" track. But dig past those initial reservations, and you'll find that he was a composer of some seriously good Cabaret / French Pop / White-funk / Jazz-Pop / Baroque-pop, and although his music reminded something of a cult concern, his music generally deserved a much wider audience. And with this album (considered to be his strongest album), he somehow nailed a consistency throughout the record, that his other records, weren't quite able to match. (admittedly it only contains 7 tracks), but contained here, are some of Serge's strongest compositions. For further evidence of this, investigate the staggeringly beautiful 7 minutes that make up "Melody", a track that brings together sharp string sections, coupled with tightly rhythmic guitar, and a decidedly carefree (almost organically French) sound, that is more the music to a wonderfully moody Cinematic film, than anything to do with flimsy euro-pop, and such is the brilliance of this track, that "David Holmes" would go on to cover this track, for his "Lets Get Killed" album (The track is renamed "Don't die Just yet"), which is a virtual replica of Serge's version (save for small snatches of drum beats added to the mix, and a slightly more prominent string arrangement). And almost as if to prove that this was no one off idea, he brings out the seriously funk-driven groove of "En Melody", a track that seemingly has Serge comprising a track that is unquestionably acomplished stab at white-funk, and it's a staggeringly brilliant effort, that if it wasn't for the cheeky passionate organism sounds peppered through the latter half of the album, most people would have been perfectly within reason to think that this was the work of some obscure, incredibly talented black, funk band. And the remaining tracks "Ballade de Melody Nelson", "Valse de Melody", "Ah! Melody", "L' Hotel Paticulier" & "Cargo Culte" all flit between a sublime blend of kitsch and gimmick-esque tunes, yet remain outrageously brilliant, intoxicating amalgams of jazz and pop styles, that not only tackle bohemian jazz to rock and even synth funk with a style and eccentric wit, that become a calling card of Serge's music, and possibly one of the biggest reasons for his appeal.

This album is arguably the most consistent and cohesive of Serge's albums, and although running at a fairly brief 27 minutes, it's a fascinating record, one that is by turns funky, humorous, Hedonistic and Sensual, and has a such a tongue in cheek, carefree swagger about it, that you can't fail by be impressed by the sheer audacity of it all. Those that had (like me) only really know Serge's work via his hit single "Je T'Aime...Moi Non Plus", would do well to give this a whirl. It really highlights how overlooked his work really was, and that most people initially had him pegged as a dirty old Frenchman, who got lucky with a saucy single. It's shamelessly overblown, impossibly cheeky, beautifully arranged, and impeccably performed...and most importantly it's a lot of fun to listen to. Those buyers looking for the hits (or the nearest his songs became to be popular), would be well advised seeking out one of the many compilations bearing his name, but those that are interested in hearing what the pinnacle of his work sounded like, simply must check out this funky little gem. Recommended!!!

Serge Gainsbourg'S masterpiece.......2006-05-12

The first time I heard Melody Nelson, it was in Paris, year 1977 at a friend's home. My friend pointed how "funny" were some of the lyrics (" tandis qu'hurle la radio"} but all i remember is how I loved the music...Some years went by and one day I decided to get the Integrale Gainsbourg, which is the cd collection of all he wrote and composed ( A LOT !!! ) and then I could listen to Melody Nelson in full....At that time of my life I was a DJ in a disco in Cannes in the south of France and some mornings after work I used to play Melody Nelson to help me falling asleep or just to relax. My 2 favourite parts were (and still are) the 1rst and the last songs, although I LOVE the album. Actually if you think about it Serge Gainsbourg was "rapping" ahead of his time (if rapping is talking on music!...)and that was on the first song but on the last song (Cargo Culte) the words, the music and the choir gather together to lift us almot to Heaven and THAT is what it is all about : getting high drug free!!!!! This is no mystery, just look at all the feedbacks : 5 stars everywhere! Serge Gainsbourg was someone really special and thanks to his music, he will live forever.

Aux Armes et Caetera/L'Homme a la Tete de Chou/Histoire de Melody Nelson

Average customer rating:

Aux Armes et Caetera/L'Homme a la Tete de Chou/Histoire de Melody Nelson
Serge Gainsbourg
Manufacturer: Universal
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Average customer rating:

Ah, Melody...
Soundtrack to Gallic decadence. Gorgeous.

Histoire de Melody Nelson
Serge Gainsbourg
Manufacturer: Universal
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000006RIL
Release Date: 1998-04-17

Tracks:

Melody [Extrait de Melody Nelson]
Ballade de Melody Nelson
Valse de Melody
Ah! Melody
Hotel Particulier [Extrait de BOF Melody Nelson]
En Melody
Cargo Culte

Album Description

1998 reissue on Mercury of his 1971 album for the label thathas a strong Velvet Underground feel to it throughout. A 20bit digital remaster, it features the original cover art &all seven of the original tracks. Digipak. 1998 Mercuryrelease.

Album Details

Digi-pak Reissue of the 1971 Classic.

Customer Reviews:

Ah, Melody..........2000-02-16

I own all three of Serge Gainsbourg's American reissues (Comic Strip, Couleur Cafe, and Du Jazz Dans le Ravin) as well as a few of his import titles, but none compare to Historie de Melody Nelson. It's widely considered his consummate "concept" album, and each track is perfect (and works with the others perfectly as a whole). His use of string arrangements and the inclusion of Nelson's vocal contributions (mostly giggling) make this album seem the quintessential exercise in late sixties' decadence (even in 1971, when it was first released).

Though Serge Gainsbourg's most famous partner was undoubtedly the divine Brigitte Bardot, Melody Nelson does an exceptional job matching Gainsbourg's dirty old man sounds with a nymphet's playfulness. It's an album for casual listeners, wannabe players, and for those seeking inspiration (amongst the bands influenced by Gainsbourg are Luna, Pulp, the Pet Shop Boys, and Stereolab). Prince Paul (of De La Soul/ Handsome Boy Modeling School fame) even sampled this record multiple times (most notably on De La Soul Is Dead). Luke Vibert (aka Wagon Christ aka Plug) also snatched a sample for his 1997 album Big Soup. It's a masterpiece, and one likely to provide a nice soundtrack for a make-out session or two.

Soundtrack to Gallic decadence. Gorgeous........1999-01-22

Melody Nelson is a rare example of a good concept album. The seven songs deal with the account of Gainsbourg's conquest of a young English girl, with obvious parallels to his relationship with Jane Birkin who is photographed on the cover. Magnificent use of orchestra, funk (recently sampled on 'Let's Get Killed'): an emotional voyage unsurpassed by any of Gainsbourg's albums. Cannot recommend it highly enough. No collection complete without MN.

Average customer rating:

L'histoire De Melody Nelson

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000HOJDWU
Release Date: 2006-11-01

Average customer rating:

This is the Serge to get....
A masterpiece of Rock music
If only it was longer I'd give it 5 stars

Histoire De Melody Nelson
Serge Gainsbourg
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Tracks:

Melody
Ballade De Melody Nelson
Valse De Melody
Ah! Melody
L'Hotel Particulier
En Melody
Cargo Culte

Album Description

1998 reissue on Mercury of his 1971 album for the label thathas a strong Velvet Underground feel to it throughout. A 20 bit digital remaster, it features the original cover art & all seven of the original tracks. Digipak. 1998 Mercury release.

Customer Reviews:

This is the Serge to get...........2002-11-30

I'd heard his name a million times before over the years, but was unfamiliar with his work. I happened upon this album and thinking it would be a quirky 70's novelty item, I purchased it.
I was transfixed! I don't speak a word of French, so I have only the slightest clue whats going on here, but this music and his delivery transcends language. I find it ultimately pointless to try and describe music, but think of the coolest 70's porn music imaginable, add strings and in some parts a choir, and then add a lecherous and deep narration over the top and you start to get an idea. And along the way you'll hear some of the most beautiful "melodies" that you've ever thought possible.
If you've ever swooned to Scott Walker, or been hypnotized by a particularly lush film soundtrack, then you will ADORE this.
If you've never purchased Serge before, START HERE. You'll fall for Melody Nelson, too.

A masterpiece of Rock music.......2002-11-25

A masterpiece of Rock music, the best album of french music (i've ever heard), and a good place in the top 100 best albums of rock (not far away from Ziggy Stardust, VU & Nico, The White Album, etc...). If you don't understand a word of french, you should get a translation because the text is just as fantastic as the music, in fact it's classic poetry.

Here's the story :
1. Melody : Serge drives his Rolls Royce and, deep in thought (he's thinking about the "Silver Venus" of the hood of his car), he knocks down Melody Nelson, a english red-headed 15 year-old girl - "What's your name?-Melody-Melody and what's your lastname?-Melody Nelson ..." - and fell in love with her.
2. Ballade de MN : A beautiful love song which announces the death of Melody. "her days was numbered: 14 autumns & 15 summers"
3. Valse de MN : "The sun is rare & happiness too ..." a beautiful (again) thought about love & happiness.
4. Ah Melody : "you don't know what love is, you said to me, but are all the things you say true?" it's in the same mood of the two previous songs.
5. L'Hotel Particulier : Serge is taking Melody with him to a kinda sleazy hotel. he describes the baroque decoration and suggests what's gonna happen in the "the 44, the Cleopatra room".
6. En Melody : = "In Melody" well, look at the title, if you know what i mean, it's an instrumental supposed to evoke the funny thing they're doing in this bedroom. At the end of the song, Serge tells us :
"Melody wanted to see again the sky of Sunderland.
She took the 707, the night air freighter.
But the automatic pilot at the controls
of the aircraft made a fatal error to Melody ..."
7. Cargo Culte : Serge, disenchanted and falling into madness, decides to follow the "cult of the cargo" practised by the Papuans - they are praying the gods to make the air freighters fall in the jungle (where they live) and thus salvage what's in the freighter (money, etc...) - praying the air freighters to bring his Melody back.

And so, this tremendous (although it lasts 28 min) album ends.
I Hope I gave you the desire of discovering it.

If only it was longer I'd give it 5 stars.......2002-11-04

A concept album from the master of French music. If you've never bought a Serge Gainsbourg album before, you could start with a greatest hits, or you could just dive into the deep end with this.

Dry, clean, sixties production, with the a smattering of strings. Serge's deep vocals are sensuous and dirty at the same time, Jane Birkin's are sweet and innocent textures dotted throughout. As it's in French I don't know exactly what it's saying, but it deals with a man driving his Rolls Royce (just like Serge in real life) and hitting a young woman/girl. He takes her in and they form a 'relationship'. There are some creepy tracks around this part of the album, innocent/desperate giggles from Jane, and a constantly amazing feel on the bass, winding through each track. Every song is crafted to flow into the next. It would also have to be the ultimate album to have sex to.

Tracks:

Melody [Extrait de Melody Nelson]
Ballade de Melody Nelson
Valse de Melody
Ah! Melody
Hotel Particulier [Extrait de BOF Melody Nelson]
En Melody
Cargo Culte

Customer Reviews:

Je T'aime, Gainsbourg.......2002-11-30

I don't speak or understand the French language, I stopped drinking alcohol 20 years ago and don't approve of smoking BUT Serge Gainsbourg (almost as famous for his boozing and smoking as his music) is one of my great heroes. I love his music so much I got a tattoo of his face on my arm ...and for me Histoire de Melody Nelson is his finest 28 minutes. It's mystical, sexy, seductive, dirty and even a bit vulgar. A concept album about doomed love for an English teenage girl, played by his greatest muse and partner Jane Birkin on the record and the glorious record cover. Birkin stands teasing in just blue jeans clutching a cuddly monkey to her [chest]. Jane told me that she placed this monkey in Gainsbourg's coffin with him when he died. The beautiful iconic cover would be worth the price of admission alone but the music is even more mesmerising. During the 60s and still in in 1971 when this album was originally released most people were content to make variations on a theme created by The Beatles, Bob Dylan and Brian Wilson... but what Serge offered, his brand of pop, had a completely different and individual voice. The gophic bookend tracks of the album Melody and Cargo Culte sound extraordinarily modern even today. There is great tenderness and melancholy in Ballade de Melody Nelson and Ah! Melody. Witness the sound of Jane Birkin laughing hysterically over the grooviest of 70s psych-grooves on En Melody. Birkin was actually being tickled by her brother Andrew while Serge had a tape running on record under her bed. Don't be put off by the short running time, length doesn't matter, it's what you do with it that counts.
Histoire de Melody Nelson is ultra cool, ultra sexy and ultra modern music.
Je T'aime, Gainsborg.

Hard to find, Hot to handle.......2001-07-03

Serge is an acquired taste, also theres the "French thing" that some of your immature friends may call you on. I say dont let them get you down, when you can really get down with the funky @&(! on this CD. Also, this album conjures up many moods what with the amazing strings and vocal choir arrangements that add that extra special magic to the barebones 3 piece lineup of guitar, drums, and bass. Unfortunately, I can't understand French but Serge sounds great. As usual his vocals are way up in the mix... This album is a classic and will inspire the best in you. Once you start to listen to this, you wont be able to get it out of your head. Background : I have been trying to get my hands on this cd for months and I finally found a copy in NYC on St. Marks St., also there is a great article about Serge in a recent edition of MOJO magazine.

Le soleil est rare et le bonheur aussi..........1998-10-20

The sun is rare and too... If you love THE MUSIC, you love Serge Gainsbourg and this album. It's THE MOST ALBUM of man a la "tete de chou". GAINSBOURG is like Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, the Beattles,... It's Great!

(In french)

"Tu t'appelles comment? - Melody... - Melody comment?... - Melody Nelson

L'ALBUM! de Serge Gainsbourg a mes yeux. Concept album compose en 1972 pour et avec Jane Birkin, vous retrouverez dans cet album d'anthologie, tout le genie d'un Grand Poete du 20e siecle. Une histoire d'amour, le soleil...

L'Album a avoir dans ses classiques!

Intoxicating musical minitragedy by a 20th century genius.......1998-09-27

A multitextured album comprising six pieces held together by the disjointed story of the singer/narrator's brief and disturbing relationship with a young English girl. Against an unfaltering bass-heavy backing that carries you away, the master turns the knife with his sung, whispered and sobbed poetry. A French essential, and you will also recognise the origin of a whole load of later samples!

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