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French 1960s music was issued across LPs, 25 cm albums, EPs, and later anthologies, so an album title alone is not enough to establish what a seller is offering. This list prioritizes original 1960s albums or albums whose original release is clearly identified, then points buyers toward legitimate CD or vinyl editions. Later compilations can be excellent introductions, but they should never be passed off as a 1960s original studio album. Check the artist, canonical title, original year, edition label, and track listing before buying—especially with French records whose titles were reissued in several countries.
| # | Product | Price | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Françoise Hardy — Tous les garçons et les filles | $15–$40 | Amazon · eBay |
| 2 | Françoise Hardy — Françoise Hardy (Le Premier Bonheur du jour) | $15–$45 | Amazon · eBay |
| 3 | Serge Gainsbourg — Gainsbourg Percussions | $15–$50 | Amazon · eBay |
| 4 | Serge Gainsbourg — Initials B.B. | $15–$45 | Amazon · eBay |
| 5 | Serge Gainsbourg & Brigitte Bardot — Bonnie and Clyde | $15–$50 | Amazon · eBay |
| 6 | Jacques Dutronc — Jacques Dutronc | $15–$45 | Amazon |
| 7 | France Gall — 1968 | $15–$50 | Amazon · eBay |
| 8 | Johnny Hallyday — Salut les copains | $15–$50 | Amazon · eBay |
| 9 | Jacques Brel — Ces gens-là | $12–$40 | Amazon · eBay |
| 10 | Claude François — Comme d’habitude | $12–$45 | Amazon |
The picks, in detail
Françoise Hardy — Tous les garçons et les filles
Hardy’s 1962 debut LP is the essential yé-yé starting point, built around the title song rather than a later greatest-hits compilation bearing similar artwork.
- Françoise Hardy studio album
- original release: 1962
- French yé-yé context
- legitimate CD and vinyl reissues circulate
- A foundational original album for a French-1960s shelf
- Modern reissues make the music accessible without requiring a first pressing
- Some listings use the song title loosely; confirm the complete LP track list
Françoise Hardy — Françoise Hardy (Le Premier Bonheur du jour)
Hardy’s second LP was released in France in October 1963 as the self-titled Disques Vogue album FH 1; it is often informally called Le Premier Bonheur du jour after its best-known song.
- Françoise Hardy studio album
- original French release: October 1963
- Disques Vogue FH 1
- also known informally as Le Premier Bonheur du jour
- The alternate informal title helps avoid a common catalog-search mistake
- A genuine 1963 album rather than a retrospective collection
- Different reissues may title it differently, so match artist, year, and track list
Serge Gainsbourg — Gainsbourg Percussions
Gainsbourg Percussions is Serge Gainsbourg’s 1964 studio album, a compact early-1960s record for buyers who want an original-period title rather than a later anthology.
- Serge Gainsbourg studio album
- original release: 1964
- French chanson and pop context
- CD and vinyl editions available
- A distinct 1964 album in Gainsbourg’s catalog
- Useful entry before his later, more internationally familiar records
- Used vinyl listings can mix original pressings and later reissues; check label and catalog number
Serge Gainsbourg — Initials B.B.
Initials B.B. is Gainsbourg’s 1968 studio album, associated with his late-1960s orchestral pop period and with the Brigitte Bardot collaboration context of that year.
- Serge Gainsbourg studio album
- original release: 1968
- French Philips-era title
- official vinyl and CD editions listed by major French retailers
- A major late-1960s Gainsbourg album rather than a repackaged singles collection
- Legitimate reissues simplify buying a playable copy
- Do not confuse it with Bonnie and Clyde, a separate 1968 album
Serge Gainsbourg & Brigitte Bardot — Bonnie and Clyde
Bonnie and Clyde is the 1968 collaborative album credited to Serge Gainsbourg and Brigitte Bardot, not a Gainsbourg solo record with a similar cover or a later compilation.
- Serge Gainsbourg and Brigitte Bardot album
- original release: 1968
- collaborative French pop record
- CD and vinyl editions available
- Adds Bardot’s vocal presence and a distinct late-1960s album identity
- Easy to separate from solo Gainsbourg titles when both artists are credited
- Some sellers shorten the credit; confirm both artists and the album track list
Jacques Dutronc — Jacques Dutronc
Dutronc’s self-titled 1968 debut LP is often cataloged simply as Jacques Dutronc, making year and track list especially important when distinguishing it from later self-titled collections.
- Jacques Dutronc studio album
- original release: 1968
- French rock/yé-yé context
- legitimate vinyl and CD editions circulate
- A central original album from a major 1960s French performer
- Strong choice for buyers moving from Hardy toward guitar-led French pop
- Self-titled catalog entries require extra care with edition and year
France Gall — 1968
France Gall’s 1968 album is an original-period Philips release, not the later multi-disc collection of her 1963–1968 recordings. The year is part of the canonical title and helps separate them.
- France Gall studio album
- original release: 1968
- French Philips-era recording
- vinyl editions and used copies available
- A genuine final-1960s album rather than a retrospective
- Useful for listeners seeking Gall’s period work beyond single compilations
- Do not confuse it with the much later 1963–1968 box or ‘best of’ titles
Johnny Hallyday — Salut les copains
Johnny Hallyday’s Salut les copains is a 1961 Philips 30 cm LP. The official Hallyday discography identifies the original release and also documents later CD reissues, making it safer than a vague early-Hallyday compilation.
- Johnny Hallyday studio album
- original release: 1961
- Philips 30 cm LP
- documented later CD reissues
- Clear original-album identity with an official discography trail
- Early French rock-and-roll perspective within the decade
- Title similarity with radio and compilation branding means edition details matter
Jacques Brel — Ces gens-là
Ces gens-là is Jacques Brel’s 1966 studio album, a chanson-focused record for a list otherwise heavy on yé-yé and pop. Buy the album rather than assuming any Brel anthology reproduces its original sequence.
- Jacques Brel studio album
- original release: 1966
- French chanson
- CD and vinyl editions available
- Broadens a 1960s French collection beyond pop singles
- Original-album context for its title track
- Later Brel collections are plentiful but are separate products from this studio album
Claude François — Comme d’habitude
Comme d’habitude is Claude François’s 1967 studio album, named for the song later adapted into ‘My Way.’ The original French album is the relevant item here, not a later ‘My Way’ compilation.
- Claude François studio album
- original release: 1967
- French pop album
- legitimate CD and vinyl editions available
- Provides direct French-pop context for a globally known song
- Original 1967 album rather than a retrospective package
- Search results can overemphasize later versions and compilations; verify the French title and 1967 date
Buying tips
- Use the original year to distinguish a studio album from a later compilation, remaster, or box set.
- For French pressings, check the exact title accents, artist credit, label, catalog number, and track list; covers alone are not reliable identifiers.
- A legitimate reissue is often the better listening purchase. Buy an original only when the seller supplies clear grading and pressing information.
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