Nana Mouskouri : Olympia 1967

This live date by Greek songstress Nana Mouskouri and her band Les Atheniens was recorded at the famed Olympia Theater in Paris, the public home of Edith Piaf, Jacques Brel, and Charles Aznavour, and signaled the beginning of her international stardom; Mouskouri has sold more albums than any other female artist in history. The program is filled mainly with French tunes, though there are some notable exceptions such as her signature reading of "Guantanamera" and "Telalima" by her countryman and mentor in popular music Manos Hadjidakis. The audience sounds on this set can be a bit irritating because of their prominent place in the mix, and they were no doubt doctored that way in the studio later, as was the custom of the time. Still, the stellar quality of Mouskouri's performance cannot be denied. She is inspired, innovative, and emotionally resonant in each of these 13 numbers. For those collectors who don't already possess this welcome and lovely artifact, the choice is obvious. For the novice, it's best to stick with one of the dozens of studio compilations as an introduction.