Lost-In-Tyme: Les Napoleons - a Go-Go (disque du monde,1966)

Don't ask why, but for some reason we've become fascinated by mid-1960s French-Canadian garage bands. That said, here's a wonderful copy of one of the genres' best and rarest offerings - Montreal's Les Napoleons.

Wish we knew more about thus outfit (see comments at the end of the review).

We've found next to nothing on the web and even the LP is of little help - no liner notes and no writing or performance credits. Here's what little we know about these guys. Signed by the small Canadian Passe Temps label, the band debuted with the 1966 single "Fou De Toi" b/w "Tu Es Partis" (Passe Temps catalog number 903).

The single sold well with French-Canadian audiences, leading Passe Temps to finance a supporting LP.

Sporting a subtitle that says "music for dancing", 1966's "Les Napoleons a Go Go", offers up an engaging mix of snarling garage rockers and Mersybeat-inspired pop. While isolated ballads such as "Tu es Partie" and "La Vie Sans Toi are okay, the band's at their best on up-tempo rockers such as "Fou de Toi", "Reviens" and "Je M'en Fou".

The set's low-fi production feel (again there are no production credits) adds to the overall appeal. Elsewhere their covers of The Beatles' "I Feel Fine" (for some reason mis-translated as "I'm In Love") and "We Can Work It Out" (translated as "Tout S'arrangera") are great. At least to our ears this set's even more interesting for the fact that although all ten tracks are sung in French, the energetic performances more than compensate for the fact the lyrics are largely a mystery.

Man, these guys were every bit as good as their Anglo competition ...

side 1
1.) Fou de Toi
2.) Tu es Partie (You are Leaving)
3.

) Reviens
4.) La Vie Sans Toi (LIfe without You)
5.) Je Suis en Amour (I'm In Love) (John Lennon - Paul McCartney) -

side 2
1.

) Attention
2.) Tout S'arrangera (We Can Work It Out) (John Lennon - Paul McCartney) -
3.) Ne M'oublie Pas
4.

) Je M'en Fou
5.