Jean-Philippe Smet was born on June 15, 1943. Influenced and inspired by Elvis Presley, he joined the rock revolution as Johnny Hallyday when he released his first album in 1960. He is a hero in France, but almost unknown in the English speaking world. It is true in Canada that performers who sing en Francais do not have much success outside Quebec, and this holds true for Johnny Hallyday on a global scale. He reminds this listener of a favourite Quebecois singer Michel Pagliaro, who rocks every bit as hard as Hallyday (the lead-off track on Live at Montreux sounds like a Pagliaro cut) but only gets airplay in the rest of Canada when he sings in English! Anyway, Canadian politics have no place here. Johnny Hallyday is a big star and this live album from 1988 gives you a taste of why.
As I mentioned it starts off at full tilt with “Mon Petit Loup” and then moves into gentler territory with “Laura” and then the power ballad “Que Je t’Aime.” This one is synth based and almost anthemic. Johnny is supported by a large band, two guitarists (Hugo Ripoli, Norbert Krief), bassist Bernard Paganotti, two keyboardists (Bertrand Lajudie and Bruno Fontaine), drummer Yves Sanna, Patrick Bourgoin on sax and three vocalists (Erick Bamy, Shandi Sinnamon, Lorraine Serra). When this band plays, they get your attention!
When Hallyday talks to the audience he gets a response too. Everybody sings along on the call and response “Je Te Promets.” This concert took place at the height of a rebirth of Johnny Hallyday’s career. It’s actually pretty exciting. The guy has charisma, even on a twenty year old recording. When he launches into Jerry Lee Lewis’s “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” you can’t help but be swept up in the show. The band sounds like they’re enjoying themselves too. This is followed by the more theatric “Envie,” more rock’n’roll in the form of “Le Bon Temps du Rock and Roll” (a bit stiffer than “Shakin’ “), even more rock with “Gabrielle,” a slow bluesy “La Musique que J’aime” and the finale “Quelque Chose de Tennessee.” It’s not bluegrass, but it’s not bad!
These were hits for Johnny Hallyday, and the Swiss crowd is thrilled by this display from his long career. For the uninformed listener who doesn’t know Johnny Hallyday, Live at Montreux serves as an introduction, and while his style may be a bit dated, there’s no denying that he was an exciting performer.
2009 was a tough year for him. He was diagnosed with colon cancer, underwent surgery for a herniated disc, suffered complications and spent time in a medically induced coma. As of the end of December he and his wife were starting legal proceedings against the surgeon.
(Eagle Records, 2009)
