"Accordion de Paris"
Jo Basile, His Accordion and
Orchestra, 1959
Musically,
this is a record I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. Not only is it accordion
music, but it's accordion music trying to sound like what people think
French cafe music sounds like. No wonder the copy I found of Accordion
de Paris I found was in mint condition. It takes a brave person
to put accordion music on the stereo just because. But when you look beyond
the music, this is one of my favorite albums. This record is on display
on my record shelf for all to see. It's a Technicolor marvel featuring
a sultry french woman in a high slit skirt, fishnets, and a tight balck-and-yellow
top smoking her cigarette (how French!) staring seductively over to Mr.
Accordion Player who we assume is also French because of his black attire
and barrette. On the back there's a amazing and lengthy essay on the Paris
cafe life, Jo Basile and his accordion mastery, and the history of the
accordion. Here's a sample of the first paragraph: "Paris--glittering,
sparkling queen of the Seine, home of laughter, gayety and romance, city
of a thousand dreams, a thousand delights. The accordions of Paris are
her voice and her song, telling of the hopes, loves, and desires of her
people. Caught in a magic web of melody are all the varied flavors, exciting
emotions and thrilling experiences that go to make up this beloved city."
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