Joe Dassin - Souvenirs (CD)

All Music Guide

Joe Dassin was a talented singer and perhaps more so a talented showman. Falling in with the sounds of the times in European pop and art music, Dassin brought a simple joy to his poporiented entries and a bit of mystique to his more highend art efforts. Extraordinarily popular in France, bits and pieces of his music hit the charts throughout Europe and Canada as well. As such, numerous compilations were released following his death in 1980, each covering portions of his career. In 2000, Souvenirs was released as the ultimate compilation, with a full 22 hits represented from throughout his long career. The bulk of the hits follow something of a John Denver sound (particularly "Salut les Amoreux"), though there are hints of influence from the French café scene in pieces like "MarieJeanne" as well. Tiny touches of RB and soul creep into the arrangements from time to time, adding a bit of American flavor to the proceedings. The sound can be a bit dated for modern tastes, but the album has ...showed itself (and Dassin at large) to be a wholly consumable commodity released a full 20 years after his death, the album immediately found its way onto numerous charts. Another decade removed from the release, the compilation was still finding its way onto international hot lists; it made the Greek Top 10 by 2009. - Adam Greenberg, All Music Guide Read more Less