Edith Piaf

1. Les Trois cloches feat. Les Compagnons de la Chanson
2. Dans les prisons de Nantes feat. Les Compagnons de la Chanson
3. Céline feat. Les Compagnons de la Chanson
4. Le Roi a fait battre tambour feat. Les Compagnons de la Chanson
5. La Complainte du Roi Renaud feat. Les Compagnons de la Chanson inédit
6. La Vie en rose
7. C’est pour ça feat. Les Compagnons de la Chanson
8. Les Amants de Paris feat. Les Compagnons de la Chanson
9. Il a chanté feat. Fred Mella
10. Hymne à l’amour
11. C’est toi feat. Eddie Constantine
12. Padam, padam
13. Pour qu’elle soit jolie ma chanson feat. Jacques Pills
14. L’accordéoniste
15. Les amants d’un jour
16. La Foule
17. Mon manège à moi (Tu me fais tourner la tête)
18. Milord
19. Non, je ne regrette rien
20. Les Amants feat. Charles Dumont
21. A quoi ça sert l’amour ? feat. Théo Sarapo
22. The Three bells (Les trois cloches)
23. Autumn Leaves (Les Feuilles mortes

Hits, duets, recordings in English and a new unreleased bonus track miraculously found 70 years later!

Fifty four years after her death, she remains the most popular French singer of all-time.

From France to the United States, and everywhere else, she was ardently praised, passionately loved and listened to.

Edith Piaf remains an absolute idol whose name instantly calls for an unrivaled talent, a deep sensibility and a unique nature. Time goes on and Edith Piaf has never been out of fashion, her voice and figure forever etched into our memories.

life looks like a novel filled with passion, flashes of happiness and a lot of drama. Maybe these events forged the unique sensibility of a small woman who was able to sing with such an incredibly powerful and moving voice, as if her frail body was on the verge of collapse.

Edith Piaf came from the street and suffered from extreme poverty before escaping a cruel fate thanks to her miraculous voice and amazing gift. She managed to overcome every obstacle to gain a one-of-a-kind status.

Edith Piaf’s greatest songs are an exceptional tribute to her unique work!

Featuring the unreleased track "La Complainte du Roi Renaud" which was recorded on October 9th 1946 with Les Compagnons de la Chanson!

The product includes twenty-three tracks, and a detailed biography filled with many pictures and recording dates!

Available December 15th 2017

"La Complainte du Roi Renaud" (unreleased)

Only referenced in the long-lost recording session track sheet, this traditional song recorded in 1946 with Les Compagnons de la Chanson was miraculously found thanks to the fervent dedication of a couple of Piaf devotees.

Matthieu Moulin, who was in charge of the audio remastering of the Warner Music France Edith Piaf 1915-2015 boxset, and is Marianne Mélodie label artistic director, finally found the track.

**About the "La Complainte du Roi Renaud" unreleased master tape

On July 10th 1946, Edith Piaf and Les Compagnons de la Chanson recorded their famous duet "Les Trois cloches". They planned for that autumn the recording of "La complainte du Roi Renaud", a 15th century folk song arranged by baritone Marc Herrand (Former Compagnons de la Chanson member).

Edith heard us rehearse the song a long time before the actual recording and she asked if she could sing it with us. Of course, we agreed with great enthusiasm. As you can imagine, I had to re-do most of the arrangements and that involved a great deal of work.

I could not imagine that she would join us at the very last moment after the hours and days it took to arrange that song. – Marc Herrand

On October 11th 1946, Edith Piaf joined les Compagnons de la Chanson for their Paris show at the Théâtre de l’Etoile where they performed "La complainte du Roi Renaud" for the first time.

Two days before, on October 9th between 2 P.M. and 5.15 P.M., a recording session was set at the Studio Albert, in Paris.

Two takes were recorded for the label. The first one was better than the second and everyone validated the CLX 2469 take 1 master before ordering four pressings of the master tape. These factory test-pressings were pressed to be heard by the artists, the technicians and the record company artistic directors. A common practice at the time, since magnetic tapes, CDs and computers were not available yet.

Between October 11th and the following six weeks, Edith and les Compagnons would perform "La Complainte du Roi Renaud" at le Théâtre de l’Etoile.

Soon, the six weeks were over, but Edith Piaf continued to perform with her dear Compagnons at the Club des Cinq and les Ambassadeurs, but also in Marseille, Mulhouse, Strasbourg, Nancy, Bruxelles, Rouen, Le Havre, Puteaux, Argenteuil, Roubaix and during a tour of Switzerland with shows in Basel, Lausanne and Geneva.

We performed "La Complainte du Roi Renaud" live for two years with Edith. I was amazed by the audience reaction. "La Complainte du Roi Renaud" was not a music-hall song. There was always silence after the song, quickly followed by thundering applause! – Marc Herrand

Les Compagnons de la Chanson lead singer Fred Mella remembers:

On stage, "La Complainte du Roi Renaud" and "Les Trois cloches" had a similar success, but they were totally different songs. "La Complainte du Roi Renaud" was a very old folk song telling a very dark story. It had a particular mood, like a play in three acts.

From the very first notes, the audience was taken with the story and they were hanging on every word. "Les Trois cloches" was not a traditional folk song, but an authentic popular song written by contemporary author Jean Villard. It was like a love song between Edith and us. These two songs cannot be compared and I wish "La Complainte du Roi Renaud" was released at the time. It is amazing to be able to hear it more than 70 years later. It takes me back 70 years and it brings back all the memories. It is also very moving to hear my young voice and, most of all, the true miracle of Edith’s voice.

Why did this song never get an official release? It was not the artist’s decision. It was so popular on stage, explains Marc Herrand. The answer is maybe elsewhere.

First assumption: at that time, Les Compagnons de la Chanson and Edith Piaf had not recorded another song together. As a consequence, there was no B-side available for a 78-RPM record and as a result, "La Complainte du Roi Renaud" remained unused.

Second assumption: it exceeded the three minute rule. "La Complainte du Roi Renaud" lasts four minutes, and the 78-RPM pressing required the exceptional 12 inches format only used for lyrical singers and classical music, instead of the regular 10 inches.

Thanks to this historical discovery, the complete recorded works of Edith Piaf between 1946 and 1963 are now available.

*Les Compagnons de la Chanson

There was nine, and they remained faithful to their early promise for several decades: to be the most dedicated and passionate song companions. Gifted with an exceptional talent resulting from experience, a song catalogue based on rigor and intuition and the actor-like presence, classy panache and charm of soloist Fred Mella, Les Compagnons de la Chanson enjoyed an extraordinary long career and the most faithful audience.

had countless hits all over the world. They sang like no other vocal ensemble and every one of their interpretations is a masterwork of precision and quality.

About "Lea Complainte du Roi Renaud" (15th century original):

This traditional song was inspired by the Charlemagne Empire wars. Charlemagne was the King of Francs and Western Emperor from 769 to 814. Duke Aymon was asked by Charlemagne to rule the Alby county with his four sons Renaud, Guichard, Alard and Richard, but Aymon’s brother was killed by an Emperor officer. The four brothers, often pictured together on the same horse named Bayard, a gift by Orlande Fairy, rebelled against Charles. After months of fighting, peace was declared and Renaud, who was married to Clarisse, the sister of the powerful Aquitaine Duke, went to Jerusalem on a pilgrimage. He died in Cologne, murdered by workers who were building the city cathedral.

By Matthieu Moulin

Source: Piaf written by Pierre Duclos & George Martin