Secret History of Rock. The Most Influential Bands You've Never Heard by Roni Sarig Page B

etcetera with Bob Marley’s Wailers as his backing group. The song, which amounted to the French national anthem “La Marseillaise” set to a reggae beat, was viewed as disrespectful and created an outrage in France.
    Even into his late fifties, Gainsbourg continued to shock with songs – set to disco, funk, even hip-hop music – such as Love on the Beat , about male hustlers, and 1985’s Lemon Incest , for which he made a video in bed with his daughter Charlotte Gainsbourg (now an actress). In the late ‘80s, Gainsbourg made news again when he told Whitney Houston, live on a French television talk show, “I want to fuck you.” When Gainsbourg died of a heart attack on March 2, 1991, the entire nation of France mourned the loss of their most distinctive voice. Only posthumously would his influence truly blossom in the U.S., on the fringes of an exotica revival that he clearly transcends.

    DISCOGRAPHY
    Du chant a la une! (Philips [France], 1958) .
    Jeunes femmes et vieux messieurs (Philips [Fr], 1959) .
    L’ é tonnant Serge Gainsbourg (Philips [France], 1961) .
    Confidential (Philips [France], 1964) ; a notable album from his jazz period.
    Gainsbourg percussions (Philips [France], 1964) ; the album signaling his move toward Latin-flavored music.
    Bardot & S. Gainsbourg / Bonnie & Clyde (Philips [France], 1968) ; the first collaboration with Brigit Bardot, featuring their duet Bonnie & Clyde .
    Initials B.B. (Philips [France], 1968) ; another album with Bardot.
    Jane Birkin & Serge Gainsbourg (Philips [France], 1969) ; a collaboration with Birkin, featuring Soixante neuf ann é e é rotique and Les sucettes .
    (w/ Jane Birkin) Je t’aime (Beautiful Love) (Fontana, 1969) .
    Histoire de m é lodie Nelson (Philips [France], 1971) ; a concept album recorded with Birkin.
    Rock around the Bunker (Philips [France], 1975) ; an album of politically provocative songs.
    L’homme à t ê te de chou (Philips [France], 1976) ; a reggae album recorded in Jamaica.
    Love on the Beat (Philips [France], 1984) ; an electro-dance record.
    You’re under Arrest (Philips [France], 1987) ; Gainsbourg’s final album, featuring the rapped title track.
    Jazz dans le Ravin (Mercury, 1996) ; a collection of songs from Gainsbourg’s jazz period in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s, released domestically in the U.S.
    Comic Strip (Mercury, 1996) ; a collection of late ‘60s pop songs, including his best-known songs Je t’aime... moi non plus and Soixante neuf ann é e é rotique , available in the U.S.
    Couleur caf é (Mercury, 1996) ; a collection of Gainsbourg’s Latin-flavored songs from the late ‘50s and early ‘60s, released domestically in the U.S.
    TRIBUTE: Mick Harvey, Intoxicated Man (Mute, 1995) ; first of two albums featuring Gainsbourg songs, translated into English and interpreted by Harvey, former Birthday Party member and currently in Nick Cave’s Bad Seeds.
    TRIBUTE: Mick Harvey, Pink Elephants (Mute, 1997) ; the second of Harvey’s excellent Gainsbourg collections.
    TRIBUTE: Great Jewish Music: Serge Gainsbourg (Tzadik, 1997) ; part of John Zorn’s series highlighting Jewish musical figures, this features Faith No More’s Mike Patton, Cibo Matto, Blonde Redhead, Kramer, and others in Zorn’s “downtown” music circle.

    BIG STAR
    Steve Wynn, solo / Dream Syndicate:
    [Big Star] influenced me so much that when I was 21 I took a Greyhound bus from Los Angeles to Memphis just on the chance I might meet Alex Chilton. I spent a week buying him beer and cigarettes, trying to ask him about his music. But he was so bitter about music, it kind of bummed me out. I thought I would meet the voice behind those records, but the person was so different. Now I know how unfair that is, but I was young and idealistic. He was very cordial, and put me up a couple nights. But he was just so bitter about music, which is not what you hear in Big Star.
    In rock, Big Star was a freak of nature. While most British bands of the ‘60s tried to