Barbara

If you like the French chanson and don't know Barbara then you're in luck.  Not only could Barbara sing on par with Édith Piaf, but she wrote her own songs!  The recordings of her music are something special too... they're simple, typically with very little orchestration... usually just piano and upright bass, sometimes an accordion, a little percussion, a small string section, always spare... and rarely (maybe never) a full orchestra.  This, more than anything, sets her apart from Piaf in my opinion. It was hard to choose which songs to post because they really are all great... so if you need more let me know! I suggest downloading these songs, waiting till the weather gets nice (any day now!) and taking a walk with headphones as the sun is going down (preferably when there's a decent moon out too).

Barbara - Nantes
(1963: L'intégrale Volume 3: Dis quand Reviendras-tu?)

 - Amazing key changes... she was so good at modulating creatively and effectively.

Barbara - Le temps du lilas
(1963: L'intégrale Volume 3: Dis quand Reviendras-tu?)

 - Totally parisian style accordion

Barbara - Dis quand Reviendras-tu?
(1963: L'intégrale Volume 3: Dis quand Reviendras-tu?)

 - soooo goooood

Barbara - Le mal de vivre
(1965: L'intégrale Volume 4: Göttingen)

 - Beautiful single-reed accordion... and some pretty sweet and kind of out-of-place sounding saxophone

Barbara - Septembre
(1965: L'intégrale Volume 4: Göttingen)

 - First song I ever heard of hers and still my favorite, probably for that reason. I'm very thankful for the introduction!

Barbara - L'aigle noir
(1970: L'intégrale Volume 8: L'aigle noir)

 - The drums are obviously the best part of the song, but the bass is amazing too... and the song also happens to be incredible.