FRANCIS LAI STORY (14CD)

This unique 14 CD collection of legendary compositions from Oscar winning composer Francis Lai, including the celebrated Love Story, A Man and A Woman, Vivre pour Vivre, Bilitis, Les Uns et Les Autres, Les Miserables and many more, in their original recordings. In special book type packaging.

Francis Lai is one of the French composers to have most significantly marked his generation. It is therefore very natural that we should want to trace the steps of this man whose life has been as exceptional as it has been eclectic. His talent, as well as his rare human qualities and attentiveness to others, has meant a life enriched with a multitude of meetings that few men can lay claim to and that has undoubtedly enabled him to develop his artistic personality.

The first five CDs retrace chronolgically through a hundred or so different soundtracks from 90 films, the evolution of his compositions for cinema, and the importance of these meetings. The very first one with Claude Lelouch for 'A Man and A Woman', is essential without the meetings that followed (with Rene Clement, Jean Delannoy, Dino Risi, Arthur Hiller, Georges Lautner, Nikita Mikhalkov, Henri Verneuil, Claude Zidi etc...) would perhaps never have come to be.

The next two CDs devoted to film scores, also reveal their share of plentiful meetings. When talking of songs it is also necessary to talk of the songwriters and singers. How could we not cite the name of Pierre Barouh, who is of course closely involved in the artistic world of composition, as is Nicole Croisille, the composer's favourite singer and Christian Gaubert, associated with the musical arrangements and orchestral conducting of almost 60 film soundtracks.

The eighth volume presents some of the international singers of Francis Lai. Far from representing all the interest the composer has incited throughout the world, a few names such as Andy Williams, Tom Jones and Carly Simon are sufficient to measure the distance this small composer from Nice has followed from the beginning of his career. How could we not also appreciate his collaboration with eminent English-speaking composers such as Tim Rice and Don Black.

Francis Lai's undeniable talent as a singer will surprise many people, through his extreme sensitivity, warmth and the originality of his voice pitch; this ninth volume, an archetype of the essential 'Francis Lai romanticism' providing moments of pure joy would not have had the same impact without the participation of songwriters such as Catherine Desage, Pierre Grosz, Michele Senlis and once again Pierre Barouh.

Throughout the following four volumes, we remain astounded by the number of artists singing Lai from so many different horizons. We can almost imagine that the second half of the artistic 20th century agreed to meet at Francis Lai's, first of all in the 'Place du Tertre', then later on in the 'Place du Trocadero'. On his entry into the world of French song, he had two influential fairy godmothers : Claude Goaty and Edith Piaf. Bernard Dimey also provided the magic of his first texts. As every song is an alchemy, other magicians have succeeded him for more than 50 years, combining their talent in perfect harmony with that of the composer.

The fourteenth and final volume relives some of the instrumental theme tunes composed for different occasions, television series, documentaries, live shows or radio and TV credits. This is a less well known aspect of Francis Lai's career which is nevertheless just as alive.

We could have compiled a fifteenth volume and more, but the aim of the initiator of this project was not to provide an exhaustive collection. These 14 volumes represent 15 hours of music and songs in homage to the talent of Francis Lai; a tribute to the composer's work, but also to all the producers, composers and singers that have marked his career. It can even be seen as a collection of so much talent, memories, sometimes suffering, hard work and happiness, a sort of party celebration amongst the ardent admirers of the artist, where the door remains wide open to those who have yet to discover him. We ask for your indulgence for any omissions, for reasons of the greatest importance (unobtainable recording, etc...). This boxed set is the result of immense love, we have made the decision to include recordings for which we have not been able to contact the parties concerned. We would like to offer our apologies to these people and invite them to contact us in order to settle this sitution.

Volume 1
ORIGINAL FILM SOUNDTRACKS
1- LES ETOILES DU CINEMA
2- UN HOMME ET UNE FEMME
3- PLUS FORT QUE NOUS
4- VIVRE POUR VIVRE
5- MON AMOUR MON AMOUR
6- THE BOBO
7- I’LL NEVER FORGET WHAT’S’IS NAME
8- 13 JOURS EN FRANCE
9- LA DESCENTE
10- MAYERLING
11- LA LECON PARTICULIERE
12- LA VIE, L’AMOUR, LA MORT
13- HANNIBAL BROOKS
14- LE PASSAGER DE LA PLUIE
15- LA LOUVE SOLITAIRE
16- CONCERTO POUR LA FIN D'UN AMOUR
17- DU SOLEIL PLEIN LES YEUX
18- HELLO GOODBYE
19- THE GAMES
20- LOVE STORY
21- MADLY
22- LA MODIFICATION
23- LE VOYOU
24- LE SOLEIL DES VOYOUS
25- LES PETROLEUSES

Volume 2
ORIGINAL FILM SOUNDTRACKS
1- L’ODEUR DES FAUVES
2- SMIC SMAC SMOC
3- LE PETIT MATIN
4- DANS LA POUSSIERE DU SOLEIL
5- L’AVENTURE C’EST L’AVENTURE
6- LA COURSE DU LIEVRE A TRAVERS LES CHAMPS
7- LE PETIT POUCET
8- LA BONNE ANNEE
9- UN HOMME LIBRE
10- LE BAISER
11- UN AMOUR DE PLUIE
12- PAR LE SANG DES AUTRES
13- TOUTE UNE VIE
14- A CHILD UNDER A LEAF
15- MARIAGE
16- LE CHAT ET LA SOURIS
17- LA BABY SITTER

Volume 3
ORIGINAL FILM SOUNDTRACKS
1- EMMANUELLE 2
2- LE BON ET LES MECHANTS
3- SI C’ETAIT A REFAIRE
4- LE CORPS DE MON ENNEMI
5- AMES PERDUES
6- BILITIS
7- SCENE D’AMOUR
8- UN AUTRE HOMME, UNE AUTRE CHANCE
9- WIDOW’S NEST
10- ROBERT ET ROBERT
11- INTERNATIONAL VELVET
12- LES RINGARDS
13- PASSION FLOWER HOTEL
14- OLIVER’S STORY
15- A NOUS DEUX
16- LES BORSALINI
17- INDIAN SUMMER
18- BEYOND THE REEF

Volume 4
ORIGINAL FILM SOUNDTRACKS
1- BALLET APOCALYPSE
2- LES VIOLONS DE LA MORT
3- MADAME CLAUDE 2
4- COMBAT DE BOXE
5- CANICULE
6- LES RIPOUX
7- J’AI RENCONTRE LE PERE NOEL
8- MARIE, A TRUE STORY
9- SAGA D’UNE FEMME SACREE
10- UN HOMME ET UNE FEMME, 20 ANS DEJA
11- ASSOCIATION DE MALFAITEURS
12- ATTENTION BANDITS
13- LES YEUX NOIRS
14- AIDS-TROP JEUNE POUR MOURIR
15- ITINERAIRE D’UN ENFANT GATE
16- BERNADETTE
17- LES PYRAMIDES BLEUES
18- KEYS TO FREEDOM

Volume 5
ORIGINAL FILM SOUNDTRACKS
1- IL Y A DES JOURS ET DES LUNES
2- RIPOUX CONTRE RIPOUX
3- LA PASSION DE BERNADETTE
4- LES CLES DU PARADIS
5- LE PROVINCIAL
6- LA BELLE HISTOIRE
7- MARIE, MARIA, MARIAGE
8- TOLGO IL DISTURBO
9- L’INCONNU DANS LA MAISON
10- TOUT CA POUR CA
11- LE VOLEUR ET LA MENTEUSE
12- LA CHANSON DES MISERABLES
13- J’EN AI TANT VU
14- HOMMES, FEMMES : MODE D’EMPLOI
15- HASARDS OU COINCIDENCES
16- UNE POUR TOUTES
17- LES INSAISISSABLES
18- LES ETOILES DU CINEMA

Volume 6
SONGS FROM FILMS
1- UN HOMME ET UNE FEMME From the film 'a man and a woman' by Claude Lelouch
10- LE PETIT MATIN From the film 'vivre pour vivre' by Claude Lelouch
11- L’AVENTURE C’EST L’AVENTURE From the film 'vivre pour vivre' by Claude Lelouch
12- LA BONNE ANNEE From the film '13jours en France' by Claude Lelouch
13- AUTANT MOURIR AU SOLEIL From the film 'le passager de la pluie' by Rene Clement
14- UN HOMME LIBRE From the film 'love story' by Arthur Hiller
15- EMMANUELLE From the film 'les petroleuses' by Christian Jaque
16- LA BALADE DU BON ET DES MECHANTS From the film 'l’odeur des fauves' by Richard Balducci
17- FEMME PARMI LES FEMMES From the film 'smic,smac,smoc' by Claude Lelouch
18- BALADE D’UN ENFANT DU SIECLE From the film 'le petit matin' by Jean-Gabriel Albicocco
19- MY BABY BLUE From the film 'l’aventure c’est l’aventure' by Claude Lelouch
2- VIVRE POUR VIVRE From the film 'la bonne annee' by Claude Lelouch
3- CANDICE From the film 'les hommes' by Daniel Vigne
4- PEGGY From the film 'un homme libre' by Roberto Muller
5- LE PASSAGER DE LA PLUIE From the film 'emmanuelle 2' by Francis Giacobetti
6- UNE HISTOIRE D’AMOUR From the film 'le bon et les mechants' by Claude Lelouch
7- PRAIRIE WOMAN From the film 'si c’etait a refaire' by Claude Lelouch
8- SEULE From the film 'robert et robert' by Claude Lelouch
9- SMIC, SMAC, SMOC From the film 'passion flower hotel' by Andre Farwagi

Volume 7
SONGS FROM FILMS
1- A NOUS DEUX From the film 'a nous deux' by Claude Lelouch
10- TOUT CA POUR CA From the film 'les uns et les autres' by Claude Lelouch
11- LA CHANSON DES MISERABLES From the film 'les uns et les autres' by Claude Lelouch
12- HOMMES, FEMMES : MODE D’EMPLOI From the film 'Edith et Marcel' by Claude Lelouch
13- LOVE IN MY EYES From the film 'here comes santa claus'by Christian Gion
14- UNE POUR TOUTES From the film 'un homme et une femme, 20 ans deja'by Claude Lelouch
2- LES UNS ET LES AUTRES From the film 'itineraire d’un enfant gate' by Claude Lelouch
3- BALADE POUR MA MEMOIRE From the film 'les pyramides bleues' by Arielle Dombasle
4- JE N’ATTENDAIS QUE TOI From the film 'la belle histoire' by Claude Lelouch
5- NOEL,UN ENFANT From the film 'tout ca pour ca' by Claude Lelouch
6- CENT ANS DEJA From the film 'les miserables' by Claude Lelouch
7- QUI ME DIRA From the film 'hommes, femmes : mode d’emploi' by Claude Lelouch
8- NADA MAS From the film 'le serment sous la lune' by Regis Gezelbasch
9- LES ABEILLES D’ISRAEL From the film 'une pour toutes' by Claude Lelouch

Volume 8
INTERNATIONAL PERFORMERS
1- ALASKA Performed by Jeane Manson
2- FROM DENVER TO L.A. Performed by Elton John
3- LES HOMMES SONT TOUS LES MEMES Performed by Saori Yuki
4- I THINK OF YOU Performed by Perry Como
5- IT’S HARD TO BE TENDER Performed by Carly Simon
6- LEAVING Performed by Navah
7- LOOK AROUND Performed by Vince Hill
8- LOVELY LOVE DE PARIS Performed by Demis Roussos
9- LOVELY SUNNY DAYS Performed by Demis Roussos
10- MUSIC IS TOO SWEET NOT FOR DANCE Performed by Andy William
11- NOEL, UN ENFANT Performed by Saskia & Serge
12- ONE DAY SOON Performed by Tom Jones
13- REDS Performed by Navah
14- SE TI VA SONO QUI Performed by Milva
15- SMILE Performed by Nick Hamilton
16- UNA COSA Performed by Milva
17- WALK ACROSS THE WORLD Performed by Brenda Wooton
18- WONDERLAND Performed by Katia Epstein

Volume 9
FRANCIS LAI SINGS FRANCIS LAI
1- MON VOYAGEUR DE LUNE
2- MA VIE ET MOI
3- LE JARDIN TRISTE
4- FILLE DU SOLEIL
5- LOIN DE PARIS
6- SOLEIL D’HIVER
7- QUAND MON AVION S’ENVOLERA
8- ET MEME SI JE T’AIME
9- PIANO BAR
10- LA VRAIE VIE
11- TOUT A CHANGE SOUS LE SOLEIL
12- C’ETAIT EN DECEMBRE
13- TU VERRAS
14- VU DE LA-HAUT
15- 2050
16- NEW-YORK
17- OLTRE LA COLLINE

Volume 10
FRENCH PERFORMERS
1- AU NOM DE TOUS LES MIENS Performed by Cedi Ray
2- A 17 ANS Performed by Mouloudji
3- LES ANNEES Performed by Philippe Clay
4- AMI DE SARAGOSSE Performed by Anita Morales
5- UN AMOUR DE PLUIE Performed by Cynthia Davis
6- AMOURS DE NORVEGE Performed by Isabelle Aubret
7- L’ARBRE Performed by Patty d’Arbanville
8- LA BICYCLETTE Performed by Yves Montand
9- BLESSEE PEUT-ETRE Performed by Linda de Suza
10- BONSOIR TRISTESSE Performed by Nicole Martin
11- CE JOUR LA Performed by Jean-Claude Pascal
12- CE SERA POUR DEMAIN Performed by Cora Vaucaire
13- CE SALE PETIT BROUILLARD Performed by Edith Piaf
14- C’ETAIT A BABELSBERG Performed by Anna Prucnal
15- CHANSON POUR TEDDY Performed by Pierre Barouh
16- LA CHANSON DE MELISSA Performed by Patty d’Arbanville
17- UN ETERNEL ETE Performed by Jessie
18- ELISABETH Performed by Anna Prucnal
19- LES ENFANTS DE LA TERRE Performed by Martine Chevrier

Volume 11
FRENCH PERFORMERS
1- ETRE SEULE Performed by Ginette Reno
2- L’ENFANT DU SOLEIL Performed by Monique Pianea
20- LETTRES DES ILES Performed by Jacqueline Dulac
21- JE VOUDRAIS QUE TU COMPRENNES Performed by Mylene Farmer
3- ENCORE UN JOUR DE NOTRE AMOUR Performed by Valerie Lagrange
4- LA FILLE DU SOLDAT Performed by Colette Renard
5- LE FUNAMBULE Performed by Philippe Clay
6- LA FIN D’UN AMOUR Performed by Nicole Croisille
7- FEMME DE L’UNIVERS Performed by Fabienne Thibeault
8- FAUT FAIRE RIRE Performed by Alice Sapritch
9- LES FRUITS DE MER Performed by Serge Reggiani
10- LE GUILLEDOU Performed by Claude Goaty
11- LE GRAND SAUT Performed by Cynthia Davis
12- L’HYMNE A LA VIE Performed by Jeane Manson
13- HOTEL DU HASARD Performed by Pierre Falco
14- JE ME CHAMPSELYSE Performed by Zizi Jeanmaire
15- JAMAIS PLUS BEL ETE Performed by Jean Sablon
16- JE N’IRAI PAS A SAINT-TROPEZ Performed by Cora Vaucaire
17- JE T’AIME AVEC MA PEAU Performed by Mireille Mathieu
18- LE JOUR ET LA NUIT Performed by Jacqueline Huet
19- JACK L’EVENTREUR Performed by Marina Vlady

Volume 12
FRENCH PERFORMERS
1- LAISSE TOMBER Performed by Rosalie Dubois
2- LORSQU’ON EST HEUREUX Performed by Jacqueline Dulac
3- MES ENFANTS DE TOI Performed by Maurane et Peter Lorn
4- MON AMOUR MON ADIEU Performed by Jeanne Colletin
5- LA MUSIQUE A TOUT VA Performed by Edith Piaf
6- MON HEROS PREFERE Performed by Veronique Jannot
7- LES MAINS Performed by Theo Sarapo
8- MAIS IL Y A LA MER Performed by Carole Vernay
9- MAIS SI JE N’AI RIEN Performed by Dominique Dimey
10- NOEL Performed by Pierre Barouh
11- NOS CHERES MAISONS Performed by Juliette Greco
12- NICE Performed by Bessy Gordon
13- LES OBJETS PERDUS Performed by Serge Reggiani
14- OUVRE LES BRAS Performed by Franck Fernandel
15- OU SONT NOS VINGT ANS SAMUEL Interpretee par Roger Hanin
16- LES OISEAUX Performed by Noelle Cordier
17- ON NE POURRA JAMAIS SAVOIR Performed by Daniele Darrieux
18- POUR QUI POUR QUOI Performed by Dalida
19- LES PAILLETTES DE L’AMOUR Performed by Marthe Keller

Volume 13
FRENCH SONGS
1- PRAGUE ET PARIS Performed by Jacqueline Francois
2- LES PETITS CARTONS Performed by Juliette Greco
3- POUR UN MOT Performed by Jacqueline Dano
4- PENSE A MOI Performed by Lucky Blondo
5- QUE VIVA VILAS Performed by Pierre Barouh
6- QUAND ON S’EN VA LE C?UR OUBLI Performed by Pierre Falco
7- QU’EST-CE QU’VOUS VOULEZ QU’J’EN FASSE Performed by Regine
8- QUAND ON QUITTE PARIS Performed by Anna Prucnal
9- UNE ROSE QUI PLEURE Performed by Petula Clark
10- REQUIEM POUR TROIS MARIAGES Performed by Marie Laforet
11- RIMBAUD Performed by Allain Leprest
12- SERONS-NOUS SPECTATEURS ? Performed by Nana Mouskouri
13- SAINT-PAUL DE VENCE Performed by Pierre Barouh
14- TES 18 ANS Performed by Pierre Barouh
15- LA TAVERNE D’ATTILLIO Performed by Felix Marten
16- UNIS VERS L’UNIVERS Performed by Antoine Tome
17- LES YEUX BAISSES Performed by Gigliollia Cinquetti

Volume 14
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
1- L’OUVERTURE SUIVI DU VAISSEAU
2- MEMORIA
3- HAUNTING DREAM
4- EMOTION
5- SIRELLA
6- ASTROLAB 22
7- HYMNE A ISOLA 2000
8- YOUNG FREEDOM
9- L’HEURE BLEUE
10- OBSESSION
11- DER REIGEN
12- MAREVA
13- DAS TRAUMSCHIFF
14- THE OATH (SINS)
15- DISPERATAMENTE GIULIA
16- THE SEX SYMBOL
17- SOUVENIR EINER SANGERIN