JOHNNY HALLYDAY ON RPM INTERNATIONAL: LE ROI DE FRANCE, JOHNNY HALLYDAY, 1966-1969

The next RPM International CD is pretty special: the first comp of Johnny Hallyday’s best ‘60s stuff to ever be issued outside France.

Some of this rips. He might have arrived 1960 as France's very-own Elvis, but Le Roi De France pulls its cuts from the era when Hallyday had left the rock ‘n’ roll template behind and was recording red-hot, driving pop. He’s helped by a pre-Led Zeppelin Jimmy Page on the scorching Psychedelic and A Tout Casser. Mod titans The Small Faces back him on three cuts. British session legend Big Jim Sullivan is heard here too. Otis Redding's band appear on Je Crois Qu’il Me Rend Fou. Hallyday knew how the pick the right musicians for his records.

Essential. Really.

Release date is 31 May. Tracklist below:
1. Psychedelic (Philips 437380, 10/67) +
2. A Tout Casser (Philips 437428, 4/68) +
3. Voyage Au Pays Des Vivants (Philips 437480, 8/69)
4. Je Crois Qu’il Me Rend Fou (Such A Fool For You) (Philips 437304, 3/67)
5. Don’t Need Somebody (Philips 840586, 10/66)
6. J’ai Crié La Nuit (Philips 437341, 6/67)
7. C’est Mon Imagnation (Philips 437371, 8/67)
8. Son Amour Pour En Jeu (Philips 842157, 7/67)
9. Noir C’est Noir (Philips 437260, 9/66)
10. Jeune Homme (Philips 437439, 6/68)
11. Au Pays Des Aveugles (Philips 437439, 6/68)
12. Mon Fils (Philips 437380, 10/67)
13. Je N’ai Pas Voulu Croire (Philips 437439, 6/68)
14. Mal (Hush) (Philips 437395, 1/68)
15. Regarde Pour Moi (Philips 844971, 5/69) ++
16. Réclamation (Philips 844971, 5/69) ++
17. Amen (Philips 844971, 5/69) ++
18. Je N’ai Jamais Rien Demandé (My Way Of Giving) (Philips 437371, 8/67)
19. La Géneration Perdue (Philips 437260, 9/66)
20. Le Mauvais Rêve (Philips 437395, 1/68)
21. Quand L’Aigle Est Blessé (Philips 437428, 4/68) +++
22. Cheval D’Acier (Philips 437428, 4/68)

+ with Jimmy Page
++ with The Small Faces
+++ with Big Jim Sullivan