Les 5 Gentlemen - Plus Grands Succés (1965-68)

This highly talented band from Marseille is definitely my favourite french group. They released five E.P.'s on the Riviera label and one as "Les Ambitieux" on Columbia. They also tried to get a foot on the british market and released one 45 under the moniker "Darwin's Theory" but "Daytime" (which was "Dis-Nous Dylan" with english lyrics) didn't make any impact there. This cool sixteen-track compilation (Belle Amie 0100 / 2000) contains their best work from 1965-68. From my personnal view "LSD 25", "Si Tu Reviens Chez Moi" and "Twiggy" are absolutely essential for every psych/freakbeat connoisseur.

Tracklist:
- Cara-Lin
- Hosanna
- Dis-Moi
- Je Te Veux
- Prie!
- Lsd 25
- Dis-Nous Dylan
- Si Tu Reviens Chez Moi
- Cette Fille-La
- Trop Tard
- Ces Mots
- Oum Tse Oum Papa
- Olivier
- Longue, Longue Nuit D'Amor
- Twiggy
- Mets Du Sucre Dans Ton Café

Personnel:
Claude Olmos (lead gtr, back vcls)
Francois "La Canard" Paoli (gtr, tambourine, back vcls)
Jean Fredenucci (vcls, bs)
Guy Matteoni (keybd's, vcls)
Michel Donat (drms)

Band origin:
Marseille (France)

Discographie:
45's:
1. Cosa Mi Vieni A Dire/Quel Che Ho Fatto
   (Pathé AQ 1323) 1965
2. Daytime/Hosanna (Major Minor MM 50) 1966

[1. italian release]
[2. as Darwin's Theory]

E.P.'s:
1. Danse, Danse Encore/Ces Mots/Dis-Moi/C'est Pas Vrai
   (Columbia ESRF 1662) 1965
2. Cara-Lin/Trop Tard/Oublie-Moi/Cette Fille-La
   (Riviera 231142) 1966
3. Dis-Nous Dylan/Hosanna/Si Tu Reviens Chez Moi/Prie!
   (Riviera 231181) 1966
4. Qu'as-Tu Katioucha/LSD 25/Je Te Veux/Olivier
   (Riviera 231212) 1967
5. Oum Tse Oum Papa/Anna/Longue, Longue Nuit D'amor/
   1.000.000 D'annees Avant Jesus Christ
   (Riviera 231265) 1967
6. Twiggy/Mets Du Sucre Dans Ton Café/Cinema Muet/
   La Fabrique De Savon (Riviera 231321) 1968

[1. as Les Ambitieux]

Get it here (Artwork included / vinyl rip)

Listen to Si Tu Reviens Chez Moi