Swing de Paris (1) Jean Sablon - Sur le pont d'avignon (Swing Version, 1939)

The cycle of swing and big band music continues from Paris, where swing music was wholeheartedly embraced. The country not only had some of the finest swing and jazz musicians but swing music was also part of many singers repertoire. They usually sang about their (and other people's love) love for swing, During the German occupation and under the Vichy Regime swing remained just as popular although it was officially frowned upon. The swing kids (which had their own dress style and openly proclaimed their love for swing music) were known in France as "les zazous"... Some titles of the era speak for themselves : Etes-vous swing? (Guy Berry, 1941), Elle était swing ! (Jacques Pills, 1941), Swing Troubadour (Charles Trenet, 1943), Mon heure de swing (Georgius, 1941), Grand'père n'aime pas le swing (Josette Daydé, 1943), Le swing de Paris/ swing 41 (Dajngo Reinhardt, 1940)... In 1942 swing music arrived in cinemas as the movie "Mademoiselle Swing" featuring Raymond Legrand and his orchestra with singer Irène de Trébert. The movie has become somewhat of a myth, bringing a shimmer of hope and joy in what were Europe's darkest days.

Jean Sablon (1906-1994) - the highly popular French crooner- recorded this swing version of the traditional "Sur le pont d'avignon" (on y danse) for Disque Grampohone in 1939. He had become a favourite with audiences in Europe and the Americas from the early 1930s onwards and was Jean Sablon was considered the French equivalent of Bing Crosby. He was very popular in the USA and Brazil. He retired in the early 80s. In the 1960s he performed a twist version "Sur le pont.." on a French tv show.

Sur le pont d'Avignon was arranged by the brilliant "chef d'orchestre" and composer Wal-Berg (1910-1994). He recorded with all the great French singers of the era... He later succesfully switched to classical music and - during concerts - often combined classical and contemporary music.
The video shows images of Jean Sablon and pre-war Paris as well as some sheet music (from personal collection.

About the record :

Disque Gramophone K8297 / OLA3002

Transferred without modification.

Sound equipment used :
Ortophon om78 Cartridge & Stylus
Turntable : Stanton T.90
TerraTec 78RPM Phono Pre-amp

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Category:

Music

Tags:

• Jean
• Sablon
• 78rpm
• Sur
• le
• pont
• d'avignon
• on
• danse
• chanson
• swing
• Paris
• 1939
• Disque
• Gramophone
• Schellack
• Schellac
• Seconde
• Guerre
• Mondiale
• Zweiter
• Weltkrieg
• Django
• Reinhardt
• Stephane
• Grapelli
• Zazous

[camille885]

Bonne surprise! Mieux que la version twist. Merci.

[docmusic1930]

Qué canción tan alegre nos está cantando el gran Jean Sablon el mejor músico francés del pasado. Esta canción de Paris es en realidad de verdad una verdadera joya musical que nos deleita a morir.

[VideoZOO]

Does anyone know what happened to the Jean Sablon music video version of this song? One of the best versions ever recorded with Jean and the dancing girls in it!

It was here for a long time and now suddenly missing! :(

[jackrenglish]

A DISTANT RELATIVE..JEAN SABLON...........FINE THINGS.........JACK ENGLISH...HOLLYWOOD

[Rudipolt]

Fine Song Jean!

Thanks for posting!

Aloha From Hawaii!

[bellini7verdi]

ESTO LO CANTA COMO UN ANGEL.....MIREILLE MATHIEU..........LA NUMBER ONE.....DE LAS VOCES.......UNA DELICIA......SIN DESMERECER ESTA ANTIGUA QUE ES PRECIOSA.......COMO TODO LO ANTIGUO......LLENO DE ESE GLAMOUR ETERNO.......

[VentduSud13]

Le pont d'avignon.... houhou pas la plus belle chanson de Sablon.

Avignon bridge... houhou is not the better song of Sablon...

but if you like

[uncoverbrother]

bravo! super! me luv this.

[francis2811]

I love this! I love Jean's voice!