Brigitte Bardot Sings – Brigitte Bardot

Unlike Jayne Mansfield's preposterously pretentious album Shakespeare, Tchaikovsky and Me (an irritating embarrassment which was foisted upon the public by MGM records in 1964), Brigitte Bardot Sings actually merits some degree of redeeming social value. Originally released as a Phillips LP in 1963, it has also appeared over the years with a different but equally hair fetish-inspiring cover photo under the title Brigitte Bardot. Although some will turn their noses up at its stylistic jumble and cheesy production gimmickry, this album is weirdly enjoyable as a mixed bag of zany camp, sensual soft serve pop ballads, trad jazz, and quirky lounge exotica. Track three sounds like a scene from a musical spaghetti western filmed in Bolivia, while tracks five and eight are tangos. "Everybody Loves My Baby" could conceivably hold water as a jazz performance, thanks to the swinging arrangement and stride piano solo by musical director Claude Bolling. No one ever expected this album to be artistically profound. Enclosed booklet provides song lyrics in French and Anglais. Those who take themselves too seriously need not apply. ~ arwulf arwulf, All Music Guide