On Tuesday I stopped by one of my dealers for my weekly fix. I came looking for Hot Fuss by the much-hyped Vegas boyband The Killers. But my heart really raced when I found a somewhat dusty copy of the David Whitaker Songbook. I’ve been looking for this for ages! Whitaker is a brilliant songwriter, arranger, film soundtrack composer lauded in recent years by the likes of Bertrand Burgalat, Air, and The Verve (who borrowed heavily from his awesome arrangement of TheLast Time with The Andrew Oldham Orchestra for the hit "The Bittersweet Symphony"). He’s especially revered in France – this is a Tricatel release. The David Whitaker Songbook is a wonderful collection of his influential 1960’s work, mixing selections from lovely soundtrack instrumentals (”Run Wild, Run Free”), session work (Lee Hazlewood’s “What's More I don't Need her”), and original compositions for popular singers. Also included is the now more readily available pre-Velvet Underground Nico’s scopitone single, “I’m Not Saying,” and a rare French-language tune, “Plaisir d'amour,” by a young Marianne Faithful. What really turns me on is France Gall’s trippy, sitar-dripped “Chanson Indienne.” I’m not a France Gall fan by any means – her infantile voice and delivery annoy me – even the Gainsbourg-penned stuff - but this track sounds like it could be on an Elysian Fields album! Sexy. This collection is a delight and some of the music is truly beautiful. Also nice intro notes from former Rolling Stone manager Andrew Loog Oldham. Those who enjoy vintage soundtrack music from the likes of John Barry, Andre Popp, and Georges DeLarue, and dig the sounds of swinging London and Paris, are well advised to track this disc down and enjoy. Well curated and lovingly put together.

As for The Killers – methinks I’m just half sold at this point. Maybe Hot Fuss would worked better as a five-song EP.