Thursday, October 28, 2010

More Tales From the Land of the Ignoble Frog: The Blues Came Down From LeHavre...

Back from you know where, at last.

But given how little real rock'n'roll has ever been produced in that Socialist Hellhole, it seems only fitting that we close the book on our annual voyage with the exception that proves the rule. So -- from 1978, please enjoy surprisingly convincing roots rock Frenchies passing for punk Little Bob Story and the pretty damned good "Little Big Boss."



The song itself is from Off the Rails, the 1977 debut LP by Little Bob (nee Roberto Piazza), produced by the redoubtable Sean Tyla of Ducks Deluxe pub rock fame. On Stiff Records, where it belonged, actually (the Frenchie title was Livin' In The Fast Lane.) The petite little guy is still at it, apparently (here's his non-English website, for those who care); two of his import CDs can be found at American Amazon as well.

You don't want to know the kind of crap that passes for pop music in France at the moment, BTW....

7 comments:

Faze said...

This makes me uncomfortable.

Although there is some great French rock out there. Ca Plan Pour Moi, for instance. Reet Petite. Denis. Michelle. My Cherie Amour. Iko Iko. None of it French, of course.

steve simels said...

There was actually a pretty good first generation French punk band called (charmingly) The Stinky Toys.
http://www.boxoffice.com/articles/2008-10-au-revoir-les-enfants

TMink said...

Interesting, though I really like two bands, Ivy and Stereolab, that have French speaking, or erstwhile French speaking singers. Must be the whole chanteuse thing.

Trey

Maude Lange said...

Ah yes, Stinky Toys - and Shakin' Street. And Michel Polnareff's early stuff like La Poupee Qui Fait Non. Few and far between, but the occasional gem.

Kid Charlemagne said...

The French punk/Garage band The Dogs from the late 70/early 80s were great Steve. Check 'em out!

steve simels said...

I did not know that, Kid, and I will. Thank you.

Anonymous said...

That singer is great, despite or because of his AV squad look. I love how some Stiff acts were really catchy and simultaneously a parody of catchy.

AP