Paul Mauriat

Collecting two discs' worth of his hits and album tracks from the '60s and '70s, Definitive Collection is one of the better Paul Mauriat retrospectives available. Along with his biggest hit, "Love Is Blue," the compilation also includes his performances of some of that era's biggest pop songs, such as "Speak Softly Love," "Love Story," "Le Temps des Fleurs (Those Were the Days)," "A Man and a Woman," "Yesterday," and "The Windmills of Your Mind." In addition, the album also delves into Mauriat's roots in classical music, presenting both his interpretations of classical pieces like Liszt's "Liebestraum No.3" and Mozart's "Zaide" as well as more traditionally styled pieces of Mauriat's own, such as "Piano Ballade" and "Nocturne." However, the focus is on Mauriat's sparkling, symphonic pop, which "Minuetto," "Petite Melody," and "Tombe la Neige" embody. It may not be completely definitive, but this compilation does provide a good overview of Mauriat at the peak of his powers. ~ Heather Phares, All Music Guide