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20/05/2004 Callas, Ella and Coltrane in France-only releases
French resistance to cultural globalisation ranges from attempts to stop the infiltration of the language by English words (eg "le weekend"), to support for a robust cafe society in the face of the Starbucks onslaught. It strikes a chord with me. Its impact on the music business is mixed. It produces an endless stream of pop balladeers ("Varietes francaises" in the record shops) who make no impact whatsoever outside Francophone markets. But it also leads to unique CD releases which are unavailable in retail outlets elsewhere. Warner France, the major player, has some very desirable product. I recently picked up a superb compilation of early (ie peak) Callas recordings, 'Maria Callas - Ses Premiers Recitals' in a Carrefour hypermarket for under £5. It's available because Warner have acquired the Italian Fonit Cetra label, which recorded early Callas, before she moved to EMI. On previous trips to French supermarkets, I've picked up treasured recordings in Warner Jazz's outstanding Les Incontournables budget series, which has now passed 100 titles, covering both individual artists and jazz sub-genres. I've bought strong albums by Ella Fitzgerald (the later, Pablo material), and a handful of thematic compilations, including 'Avant-garde' and 'Bebop', which perfectly illustrate their themes. They're also beautifully packaged. In an age of creeping globalisation (read "Americanisation"), the idiosyncratic tastes of the French market are a boon to music fans everywhere. By making a stand for cultural diversity, French consumers also ensure that otherwise unavailable product is there for all to enjoy.
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