Françoise Hardy - Sings In English (1966) 24-bit/96kHz Vinyl Rip

Usually thought of as a middle-of-the-road popular singer, Françoise Hardy — at the beginning of her career, at least — covered more stylistic ground and owed more debts to pop/rock than she’s given credit for. Immensely popular in her native France, the chanteuse first displayed her breathy, measured vocals in the early and mid-’60s. Her (mostly self-penned) recordings from that era draw from French pop traditions, lightweight ’50s teen idol rock, girl groups, and sultry jazz and blues — sometimes in the same song. The material is perhaps too unreservedly sentimental for some (in the French tradition), but the songs are invariably catchy and the production, arrangements, and near-operatic backup harmonies excellent, at times almost Spector-esque. Fans of Marianne Faithfull’s mid-’60s work can find something of a French equivalent here, though Hardy’s material was stronger and her delivery more confident. Richie Unterberger, AllMusic.

Track listing:

01. This Little Heart
02. All Over The World
03. However Much
04. It’s Getting Late
05. Only Friends
06. Say It Now

07. Just Call And I’ll Be There
08. The Rose
09. Only You Can Do It
10. It’s My Heart
11. Another Place
12. Autumn Rendezvous

Arranged by Charles Blackwell

Note: there is a little groove wear distortion towards the end of side one.