Paul Mauriat - R.I.P.

[Brian Olewnick]

Paul Mauriat, 81, French Orchestra Leader, Dies

The New York Times
Published: November 7, 2006

PARIS, Nov. 6 (Agence France-Presse) — The French conductor Paul Mauriat, who enjoyed huge popularity in Japan and was famous for his 1968 hit “Love Is Blue,” died on Friday in the southern French city of Perpignan. He was 81.

His family announced the death.

Mr. Mauriat was born in Marseille but grew up in Paris. He began conducting his own orchestra during World War II.

He wrote his first song with André Pascal, with whom he won a major French prize in 1958. From 1967 to 1972 he wrote many songs for the French singer Mireille Mathieu.

In 1968 his arrangement and orchestration of André Popp’s “Love Is Blue” brought him fame and topped the American hit parade. Another hit was Petula Clark’s “I Will Follow Him.”

Mr. Mauriat also orchestrated songs for Charles Aznavour, Melina Mercouri, Léo Ferré and Leny Escudero.

He conducted about 1,200 concerts in Japan and South Korea. His last appearance was at Osaka in 1998, but his orchestra continues to perform in Asia with new leaders.

[Brian Olewnick]

A few months ago, at the Record Club I attend, we had a Guilty Pleasures evening and one of my selections was "Love Is Blue"*. As a 13-14 year old, it was a major favorite of mine and I still think of it, drowning in treacle and all, with affection. I think it may have been instrumental in solidifying in my brain the general idea that listening to instrumental music was an actual option.


* The other was King Crimson's "I Talk to the Wind".

[walto]

Whew, T.M.I., bro.

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

His biggest hit is part of the answer to a trivia question we did a while back:

Who was the youngest girl singer to have a solo #1 hit and what was it?

Little Peggy March, who took a translation of Mauriat's French song "Chariot" entitled "I Will Follow Him" to #1 for 3 weeks in 1963. (Peggy -- who stood 4'10" -- had a manager who squandered the money, and she wound up with $500.)


Walter: you get that "TMI" stuff from your daughters, too?

[Gordon B]

Originally Posted by Brian Olewnick

A few months ago, at the Record Club I attend, we had a Guilty Pleasures evening and one of my selections was "Love Is Blue"*. As a 13-14 year old, it was a major favorite of mine and I still think of it, drowning in treacle and all, with affection. I think it may have been instrumental in solidifying in my brain the general idea that listening to instrumental music was an actual option.


* The other was King Crimson's "I Talk to the Wind".

I liked "Love is Blue," too but my favorite instrumental non-classical tune before I discovered jazz was Cliff Noble's "The Horse". I also like Huge Masekela's "Grazing in the Grass." I still like that one.

[walto]

Walter: you get that "TMI" stuff from your daughters, too?

Yeah. Got pounded just this morning, I think.

[Jimmy Cantiello]

Whenever I hear "Love Is Blue" I sometimes also think of Percy Faith's "Theme From A Summer Place". They both seem to have just the right amount of cloyingness so as not to cause you to stop listening immediately............

[claude]

So that's who these saxophones are named for:

[Tom Storer]

Originally Posted by Gordon B

I also like Huge Masekela's "Grazing in the Grass." I still like that one.

He wasn't that big. But didn't "Grazing in the Grass" have lyrics? "Grazin' in the grass is a gas, baby, can you dig it?"

[Jimmy Cantiello]

Artist: The Friends of Distinction Lyrics
Song: Grazing in the Grass Lyrics

It sure is mellow grazin' in the grass
(Grazin' in the grass is a gas, baby, can you dig it)
What a trip just watchin' as the world goes past
(Grazin' in the grass is a gas, baby, can you dig it)
There are so many good things to see
While grazin' in the grass
(Grazin' in the grass is a gas, baby, can you dig it)
Flowers with colours for takin'
Everything outta sight in the grass
(Grazin' in the grass is a gas, baby, can you dig it)
The sun beaming down between the leaves
(Grazin' in the grass is a gas, baby, can you dig it)
And the bir-ir-ir-irds dartin' in and out of the trees
(Grazin' in the grass is a gas, baby, can you dig it)

Everything here is so clear, you can see it
And everything here is so real, you can feel it
And it's real, so real, so real, so real, so real, so real
Can you dig it
Whooo-oooh

I can dig it, he can dig it
She can dig it, we can dig it
They can dig it, you can dig it
Oh, let's dig it
Can you dig it, baby
I can dig it, he can dig it
She can dig it, we can dig it
They can dig it, you can dig it
Oh, let's dig it
Can you dig it, baby

The sun beaming down between the leaves
(Grazin' in the grass is a gas, baby, can you dig it)
And the bir-ir-ir-irds dartin' in and out of the trees
(Grazin' in the grass is a gas, baby, can you dig it)
Everything here is so clear, you can see it
And everything here is so real, you can feel it
And it's real, so real, so real, so real, so real, so real
Can you dig it
Whooo-oooh, yeah
I can dig it, he can dig it
She can dig it, we can dig it
They can dig it, you can dig it
Oh, let's dig it
Can you dig it, baby
I can dig it, he can dig it
She can dig it, we can dig it
They can dig it, you can dig it
Oh, let's dig it
Can you dig it, baby

I can dig it, he can dig it
She can dig it, we can dig it
They can dig it, you can dig it
Oh, let's dig it
Can you dig it, baby

I can dig it, he can dig it
(Grazin' in the grass is a gas, baby, can you dig it)
She can dig it, we can dig it
They can dig it, you can dig it
(Grazin' in the grass is a gas, baby, can you dig it)
Oh, let's dig it....

[Lenny D.Guitarist]

I dig it.

[Gordon B]

I can dig the Friends of Distinction version, too.

I recommend "The Lasting Impression of Ooga Booga" by Masekela, although Grazing isn't on it.

[Dr Dave]

Billboard Top Pop Hits: 1968
1. Classical Gas / Mason Williams
2. A Beautiful Morning / The Rascals
3. Honey / Bobby Goldsboro
4. Love Is Blue / Paul Mauriat
5. Young Girl / Gary Puckett
6. Spooky / Classics IV
7. Harper Valley P.T.A. / Jeannie C. Riley
8. Abraham, Martin and John / Dion
9. Slip Away / Clarence Carter
10. Hush / Deep Purple

I saw this list and could hardly believe it. What a dreck-laden collection. The very thought of Bobby Goldsboro and Gary Puckett makes me ill.

I am I right in thinking that "Classical Gas" may have been the first pop hit with a video attached to it?

[Jazzooo]

I liked some of those songs--what's wrong with It's A Beautiful Morning?

But I loved Love is Blue--I sat at the piano and figured out all of the jazzy harmonies and voicings of the orchestra.

[Gordon B]

Originally Posted by Jazzooo

I liked some of those songs--what's wrong with It's A Beautiful Morning?

But I loved Love is Blue--I sat at the piano and figured out all of the jazzy harmonies and voicings of the orchestra.

Spooky wasn't bad, although I liked Stormy better.
Didn't Gary Puckett and the Union Gap follow "Young Girl" with "Lady Willpower?"

[Jimmy Cantiello]

Yep......

[Pete C]

Any man's death diminishes me, but I hate "Love is Blue." In 1994 I must have heard it about 20 times in hotels and restaurants in China, where it seemed to be as popular as Kenny G and Mr. Acker Bilk.

[Dr Dave]

Originally Posted by Jazzooo

I liked some of those songs--what's wrong with It's A Beautiful Morning?

Felix Cavaliere in his sappy mode. Still a good tune, and miles better than anything else on that list except Clarence Carter's "Slip Away," which remains wonderfully salacious to this day.