Arthur Wood's Folkwax E-zine

Margaret Moser - Austin Chronicle

Runoffgroove blog

more reviews

Europe is in my blood and Texas is in my soul, so they come together in my music.  The journey began in 1992 when we put a band of musicians together in Austin and recorded "Texafrance".  What could have been a one time musical experiment took on a life of its own and "Texafrance-Encore!" was released in 2003.  They say the third time's a charm, so voila!

Merci beaucoup to my mother, Betty Albert, for her help with translations and comprehension; to Lisa Rolke, Mark Turner and the army of people who helped us create the new MoonHouse Studio; to the musicians who played with such "je ne sais quoi"; and to Chris Gage, who knows how to coax music, love , life and passion out of me every single day.

1. Swing Troubadour    (3:39)
(Charles Trenet, Leon Chauliac; English translation by Christine Albert)
     Charles Trenet was a prolific French music icon known for his eccentric and spirited songs, and a true “singer/songwriter” who only performed his own songs - which was unusual for his time.

2. I Shouldn't Care /
               J'M'En Fous Pas Mal    (2:38)
(Michel Emer; English lyrics Rick French)
     I love the slinkiness of this song and it was a perfect fit for our 110 year old grand piano.

3. When You’re Away /
               Quand T’es Ailleurs    (3:33)
(Michael Austin, Roy Eisenstein; French translation by Christine Albert)
     Our friend Michael Austin’s song has always had the beauty and vibe of a French song and holds its own next to Piaf and Trenet. (Special thanks to David Gershater for kick starting the translation process.)

4. The French Song    (3:27)
(Harry Pease, Larry Vincent)
     Recorded in 1963 by Canadian artist Lucille Starr with Herb Alpert in the producer’s chair, this was a surprise international hit. I couldn’t resist its mountain chanson charm.

5. Chante-Moi    (3:50)
(Edith Piaf; English lyrics Mack David)
      Although I just recently discovered this Edith Piaf song, I know it will stay with me for a lifetime. 

6. L'air de la Louisiane    (3:18)
(Jesse Winchester; English translation by Christine Albert)
      Post-Katrina, Jesse Winchester’s song has an even more profound beauty.

7. Don't Cry /
            C'est D'la Faute À Tes Yeux    (3:16)
(Edith Piaf, R. Chauvigny; English lyrics Eddie Constantine)
     Piaf recorded the English version of this in New York on December 1, 1950.  I can imagine her blowing away those American musicians in the studio that day. 

8. French Waltz    (3:24)
(Adam Mitchell)
      I heard this in the 70’s on Nicolette Larson’s first album and it felt like “my” song. I pictured my French grandmother sitting at her window in Paris, waiting for me to visit (which I eventually did, many times). 

9. Un Prince en Avignon    (3:00)
(F. Thomas, J.M. Rivat, J.P. Bourtayre)
     A friend in Austin gave me a live recording of Walter Hyatt singing this with Uncle Walt’s Band at Waterloo Ice House in Austin in 1980. Walter moves through my heart every time I sing it. 

10. Y’a de la Joie    (2:50)
(Charles Trenet; English translation by Christine Albert)
      Trenet’s lyrics contain images verging on psychedelic as he sings about joy in the face of life’s harsh realities. Writing the translation for his one-of-a-kind song was a joyful challenge.

11. Hymne a l'amour /
                   Hymn To Love    (4:31)
(Edith Piaf, Marguerite Monnot; English lyrics Eddie Constantine)
     This is more than a song to me, it is a prayer. Edith Piaf wrote it after her lover perished in a plane crash, transforming her grief into a masterpiece.