Histoire De Melody Nelson (2CD+DVD Deluxe Edition) [Deluxe Edition, Box set]

This is the 40th Anniversary edition of Serge Gainsbourg's 1971 concept album about a middle-aged man (Gainsbourg) who becomes obsessed with a teenage girl (Jane Birkin) when he knocks her off her bicycle whilst driving his Rolls Royce. The unfortunate teenage girl, from Sunderland, later dies when a cargo plane she is travelling in crashes... Welcome to 'Histoire de Melody Nelson' and the genius that is Serge Gainsbourg.

Melody Nelson is the definitive Gainsbourg album and it needs little introduction - just the cover alone is worth the entrance fee. It has a sound all of its own and it still sounds timeless and effortlessly cool 40 years later. Credit for the unique sound must also go to Jean-Claude Vannier who co-wrote much of the music and is responsible for the arrangements, including the lush orchestral arrangements. The bass guitar dominates this album and together with the inventive use of the lead guitar & percussion, Gainsbourg's almost spoken vocals and Vannier's orchestral arrangements, it makes for an unforgettable listening experience.

This 2CD & DVD edition consists of the following:

CD 1: Histoire de Melody Nelson.
CD 2: Histoire de Melody Nelson outtakes.
DVD: (NTSC All regions): Histoire de Melody Nelson 5.1 mix & a 40 minute documentary.

The outtakes on CD 2 are all previously unreleased and are alternative and instrumental versions of the tracks found on the original album. There are two versions (vocal and instrumental) of the one new song, 'Melody Lit Babar'. Driven, unsurprisingly, by heavy bass and featuring trumpet, it's a decent upbeat number but it doesn't fit with the rest of the album and it's easy to hear why it didn't make the final cut. The alternative versions are not too far removed from the originals, but the subtle differences are noticeable. Most are preceded by very, very brief snatches of studio talk and, if you listen carefully, you'll even hear what sounds like Gainsbourg sparking up a Gitanes on the intro to 'Ballade De Melody Nelson'! The full track listing for the outtakes CD:

1. Melody (Complete Version)
2. Ballade de Melody Nelson (Alternative Vocals)
3. Valse de Melody (Alternative Vocals)
4. Ah! Melody (Alternative Vocals)
5. Melody Lit Babar
6. Melody Lit Babar (Instrumental)
7. L'hotel Particulier (Complete Version)
8. En Melody (Alternative Version (Instrumental))
9. Cargo Culte (Instrumental Version)

The excellent 40 minute documentary (in both French and subtitled English) on the DVD features contributions from Jane Birkin, her brother, Andrew Birkin, Jean-Claude Vannier and the original sound engineer, Jean-Claude Charvier. It also features archive footage of Gainsbourg and together they explain the inspirations behind the album and the writing and recording of it. There is also a separate five minute film about the album cover.

The sound quality is outstanding - there's no mention in the sleeve notes that it's been re-mastered, but it certainly sounds better than my 1990 CD copy - there is more space and clarity between the instruments. Disc 1 clocks in at just under 28 minutes and Disc 2 has a playing time just short of 34 minutes. Housed in a quality triple gate-fold digipak alongside a comprehensive booklet with liner notes in French and English, this is an exemplary reissue of this iconic album.

Of all Gainsbourg's wonderful compositions and performances, Histoire de Melody Nelson continues to be his most timeless, coherent work. Listening to this album isn't idle work: it requires you enter its soundworld, one that's beguiling and challenging.
As with the recent remastered release from Light in the Attic Records, the sound on this edition is fantastic, with an incredible clarity and depth; it's this depth of sound in Histoire which marks it as unique.
The bonus disc emphasises the original's unequalled perfection. As an expansion of the original it differs only slightly - there's only 2 previously unreleased tracks of 1 new song - and mainly features lengthier edits and a little studio chat, but all of it sounds excellent.
The clincher is the dvd, which sports a fascinating documentary about the "mystery" of Melody Nelson and tantalisingly brief glimpses of archive studio footage; perhaps these treasures would be included in full in the Super Deluxe edition? I may have to rethink this purchase...
An essential rerelease, pretty much definitive in itself, and a perfect introduction to Gainsbourg.