Johnny Hallyday

This CD presents two of Hallyday’s most iconic albums from his early career: the 1961 masterpiece "Tète à Tête" (this was the last album he recorded for the Vogue label), plus the equally splendid, and long unavailable, "Retiens la Nuit" (also known as "Numéro 2", it was released by Philips in 1962). Both titles were originally issued as 10-inch records, and contain some of Johnny Hallyday’s finest moments from his early years – when he gained fame as France’s answer to Elvis Presley and the other rock stars of the ‘50s.

In addition, this remastered collector’s CD contains 12 bonus tracks from the same period, including French adaptations of rock & roll hits of that era, such as “Viens danser le twist” (“Let’s Twist Again,” as popularized by Chubby Checker), “L’idole des jeunes” (Ricky Nelson’s “Teenage Idol”), “Avec une poigneé de terre” (“A Hundred Pounds of Clay” by The Drifters), “Nous quand on s’embrasse” (Jerry Lee Lewis’ killer smash N“High School Confidential”), and “Pas cette chanson” (Ben E. King’s “Don’t Play That Song”). The latter number features accompaniment by the same Nashville A-Teamers who were backing Elvis Presley during that period, among them guitar masters Grady Martin and Harold Bradley, bassist Bob Moore, drummer Buddy Harman, saxophonist Boots Randolph, and The Jordanaires on backing vocals.

These recordings clearly show the influence of the great stars of 1950s American rock & roll, yet they also demonstrate Hallyday’s penchant for ballads, for the popular dance steps of the day (the aforementioned “Viens danser le twist”), and selfpenned tunes like “Tu m’plais,” “Si tu restes avec moi,” “Laisse les filles,” and the excellent “Souvenirs, souvenirs” (widely regarded as a classic of French rock). A versatile vocalist, Hallyday’s inviting style lent itself to edgy rock & roll, danceable twist and romantic ballads.