Variety

Pop music holds a special place in popular history: accessible, melodic, and often timeless, it accompanies the daily lives and memories of entire generations. On vinyl, it reveals itself in all its warmth and authenticity, from early microgrooves to more recent productions.

From elegant crooners to the great voices of French pop, as well as international pop hits and retro pop treasures, these records bring together a rich and eclectic heritage. They include the catchy tunes of the 60s as well as the hits that marked the following decades, not to mention contemporary performers who are revitalizing the genre.

Each pop vinyl record is a musical madeleine: it tells stories of love, celebration, or nostalgia, and transports everyone back to moments in their lives. These pressings are all witnesses to a popular culture that has spanned the ages and continues to unite a large audience.

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Antoine Corriveau

Variety Vinyl Records: French Chanson, Crooners and Retro Pop Hits

What "variety" means on these vinyl records

The French word "variété" means mainstream popular song: the music on the radio, on Saturday night TV shows and on the family record player. These variety vinyl records cover French chanson, big international voices, crooners and retro pop hits, from original LPs to recent reissues. For American listeners, think of it as the French equivalent of the pop and easy listening charts, with a strong singer-songwriter tradition. For each album, you can compare offers from several partner stores.

EPs, 10-inch LPs and reissues: buying French variety on vinyl

French popular music has its own format history. In the 1950s many albums came out as 10-inch LPs; in the 1960s the four-track EP with a picture sleeve ruled, before the 12-inch LP took over. Used copies were often played a lot, so check the vinyl and watch for written-on or torn jackets. Recent reissues usually reproduce the original artwork, sometimes with a booklet or bonus tracks.

Best-of collections are handy for discovering an artist. For a real catalog, favor the studio albums, which keep the running order and cohesion of the time. A double best-of often spans several decades, but some mix in later re-recordings, so read the track list and credits before you pick one.

Reissue: original artwork and track order or not
Best-of: which years it covers, single or double LP
Used copies: surface noise, warping, jacket condition

Variety artists and albums to own on vinyl

The pillars of French chanson are Jacques Brel, Barbara, Charles Aznavour, Dalida and Serge Gainsbourg, whose "Histoire de Melody Nelson" (1971) has become a cult classic. The 70s and 80s bring Michel Berger, France Gall, Véronique Sanson, Alain Souchon and Jean-Jacques Goldman, who wrote and composed most of Céline Dion's French-language album "D'eux" (1995). On the international side, look for Billy Ocean, Chris Rea and The Righteous Brothers, and for Italian pop, Gianni Morandi, Antonello Venditti and Luca Carboni.

Variety subgenres: from crooners to retro hits

Each sub-collection matches a way of browsing. French Variety covers French-language songs old and new, while French Retro Variety focuses on the 1950s to the 80s. International Variety and International Retro Variety do the same for English-language hits. European Variety highlights Italian, Spanish and German pop. Crooners gathers the smooth voices, from Frank Sinatra to Harry Connick Jr. New releases for the genre are linked just above this text.

Frequently asked questions

What is French variété music?

Variété is French-language popular song aimed at a broad audience and spread through radio and television. It covers many styles, from the literary chanson of Jacques Brel to the pop hits of Michel Berger or Jean-Jacques Goldman. The word describes a place in popular culture more than one specific sound.

Are old variety LPs from the 70s worth money?

Most mainstream pop LPs from the 70s were pressed in huge numbers and are worth little, even in good shape. A few titles are exceptions, such as some early Serge Gainsbourg pressings. For listening, a new reissue or a clean used copy is enough, and condition matters more than age.

Should I buy a best-of or the studio albums?

A best-of is ideal to discover an artist or get the hits on one record. Studio albums are better once you like the artist: they keep the original running order, the deeper cuts and the artwork of the time. Many classic variety albums have been reissued, so they are easy to find new.

What is a crooner?

A crooner is a singer with a smooth, relaxed voice who performs standards and ballads, usually backed by an orchestra or big band. Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Tony Bennett are the classic examples, and artists like Harry Connick Jr have carried the tradition forward.