C'est Chic! French Girl Singers of the 1960s

Released a year after Big Beat International re-introduced the world to the hip-shaking beats of 1960s Japan with Nippon Girls: Japanese Pop, Beat & Bossa Nova 1966-70, Ace's Big Beat imprint returned with the equally shag-tastic C'est Chic! French Girl Singers of the 1960s. Had Mike Meyer's Austin Powers films been set in sinful Paris as opposed to swinging London, these 24 tracks would have provided the perfect soundtrack. Françoise Hardy, France Gall, Jacqueline Taïeb, Les Gam's, and more all get two slots apiece, culminating in a sweaty, impossibly fun collection of go-go beats liberally laced with tragic romance and sultry come ons, all of which are delivered in one of the world's sexiest languages. ~ James Christopher Monger