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A minor dilemma for me, as a blogger living in a different hemisphere to almost all of my readers, is when to share a mix that seems so perfect for a particular season. I've had this mix in mind as a soundtrack for spring, but wondered whether to post it in your spring or mine? I've decided perhaps this is an ideal time for you and I alike, as my springtime begins, and maybe some of your summery days still linger as it turns to autumn. Whatever the weather, I think this provides some much-needed sunny cheer. It's music for daydreaming out the window.

This mix was inspired by, and shaped around, the simple, escapist joy of the song 'Up, Up and Away'. Written by Jimmy Webb and originally recorded by The Fifth Dimension, the harmonic slice of breezy listening was a big hit around the world in 1967. I wanted to create a mix with a feeling of pure escapism and floating away from troubles. Is there any song that better epitomises this?

The version I decided to include here is the less familiar Supremes' cover from their 1968 album Reflections, which is a little sweeter and more buoyant to my ears, and of course has Diana Ross' irresistibly silken vocals. It's nestled among a collection of songs I find uplifting, comforting and sometimes achingly beautiful (wow, that Aretha cover of 'Over The Rainbow').

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Here's an all-France Gall mix, featuring some of my favourite songs of hers from 1963 to 1972. I say some of because, well, I love pretty much all her stuff from that era - it took some restraint to only choose 38 songs! You'll find some of her absolute classics here, as well as some lesser-known songs that are equally wonderful. After making the mix, I realised I drew a lot from my favourite album of hers, the 1967 psych-pop classic, 1968. I also seem to have included every song where she does her adorable version of scatting, which is really just the best thing ever. As well as her French songs, I've included a few of her German tracks, the Japanese version of 'Un prince charmant' and the Italian version of 'La Quatrième Chose'.

I've already gone into what I love about France Gall's music, so I'm not going to get descriptive here, but just let the music speak for itself. My hope is these selections would make someone new to her music fall in love with it as much as I did. And perhaps there are a few things here that are not so readily familiar to established French pop fans. 

Okay, so it's nearly March, which probably makes this the world's most untimely 'Best of 2017' list! First I'll get to the music, but there's a personal note at the bottom of this post explaining why I'm sometimes much later with posts than I'd like, and why I think they're still worth doing anyway.

Wow, I was really blown away by the musical offerings from last year! There's some truly spectacular music being made by incredibly creative artists who are dedicated to their craft. and to making brilliant music for the sake of it. Though it's easier than ever to find music from all over the world to suit your particular tastes, I'm pretty convinced there's also just more and more amazing music being produced. This playlist features a song from each of my favourite 2017 albums. It's pretty long, with fifty-five tracks, coming in at around three hours and forty minutes of listening. I heard so much great stuff, this was as much as I could narrow it down! And you'll notice this is only Part One.... 

I've been obsessed with hunting down every enjoyable Christmas song (and some winter and December-themed ones) I can find on Last.fm, and as a result, Spiked Candy Canes Radio is now more than three times the size it was last year!

Click here to play it in a pop-up window, or here to play it in your last.fm player (get the player here).

What has gone into the Spiked Candy Canes mix? Generous handfuls each of twee pop, Phil Spector, A Charlie Brown Christmas, 60s pop, crooners, soul, Japanese ukulele girls and Doris Day; a dash of jazz and a splash of glam rock; a sprinkling of country, and a, uh, tiny pinch of Tiny Tim. Sneak a peek at the track list here.

Stay tuned... more Christmas posts still to come!

(Pic of 'Les' Beach Boys from Jukebox mag).

I think I've hit on a plan to let me keep blogging without exhausting myself and then subsequently losing interest. I'm going to keep things as simple as possible with just pictures and the song and probably not  buying links, although I feel a bit guilty leaving those out. But you should be able to find any albums from the vendors in my sidebar. If you've searched high and low and can't find where to buy something, you can always ask and I'll help you out.

Please use the comments section to ask me any questions. I've taken down my email address, but if you still have it, please don't use it to ask me questions you can easily find answers for on a search engine. I'm also unable to send out anything individually, even for a trade. Nor am I taking requests or band submissions. Unless you're a band in my myspace friends and you want to send me free stuff? Eh? Eh? Can't blame a girl for trying.

I'm excited to be adding Radioblog*, which I discovered on the gorgeous blog Pop 'N Cherries. I've been trying to find a free way to do something like this for ages, but had no luck so it's a happy discovery indeed. This is my exception to my no requests policy; you can ask me to post an mp3 if you like anything on there. And I'm hoping that will make the blog a little more interactive and I'll get some more feedback on what people like. Remember, feedback keeps your widdle bloggers happy and makes them want to go on! Even just a 'thanks' or 'you rule the school' or even 'you suck!' (no just kidding, please don't) is great to hear.

I did think of starting up a forum where readers of this blog and the others that post French 60s stuff regularly could talk about what they love and any new discoveries, or trade stuff, but again I'd be biting off a bit more than I can chew. But for anyone who'd be interested in such an idea, please join the last.fm groups I have, French 60s and Ye-Ye Girls and maybe you could liven those up a bit. Even if you don't use the other last.fm features, the forums have the potential to be a great meeting place for fans.

And don't forget Spiked-Candy Last.fm Radio is still chugging away, churning out lots of aural treats and free to listen to. If the player has let you down before, try the beta for the upcoming release. As long as you have a decent connection, it should work a charm. And I know the 2 separate downloads for the Audioscrobbler plug-in and the Last.fm player are confusing to some; this download has them both in one and guides you through everything you need to do.

Merci, and I'll be back with some tunes very soon :).

Credit: Picture of France Gall, Johnny Hallyday et al from Douce France... Gall

*Songs I posted on Radioblog are now in this 8tracks playlist:

Pop-up player | 8tracks tips | Alternate link

Buy: Gluon
Links: Hi-Posi bio

Really struggling illness-wise at the moment, so it's hard to get the enthusiasm to blog. Not closing up though, just having an extended break. Anyone who has written to me, I will get back to you eventually, just a bit overwhelmed right now.

Don't forget about Spiked Candy Last.Fm Radio, which will keep bringing you the pop tunes in my absence! Also, have a look at my two posts on Last.FM about on-demand music available on there - here and here. Some of the bands mentioned are France's Watoo Watoo, Japan's Limited Express (has gone?) and Piano Magic. Some other on-demand music I've recently found on there: I'm From Barcelona, The Lovekevins, and Carrie (actually I can't get her page to work, I'm just assuming she's good because I like the bow in her hair). If you've been put off before by the player not working, it's running perfectly now.

And one release I've been meaning to blog about is Boutique Chic's Chez Le Coiffeur on Thomas Deligny's Stereofiction label.  Deligny's previous releases as Concorde Music Club are also up on last.fm, as mentioned in one of my entries.

You can stream the whole thing on last.fm or on the Boutique Chic site, where you can also download samples (click the album cover, then click 'buy this 12" or download mp3'). I have to agree with Guuzbourg - the standout track for me from this collection of hair salon-themed club tunes is Minimatic's 'La Raie Ou Milieu'.

Some of the posts from Poupées de son, a feature originally posted in the sidebar:

Fumie Hosokawa - Yumemiru Chanson Ningyo

Buy: Gainsbourg: Made In Japan

Leo Dan - Muñeca de cera

One of many Spanish covers of the song, this one from Argentinian heart-throb Leo Dan. Not sure of the year, but I would guess that most of these would have been released not long after the success of the original in 1965. Click on the album cover above to see the larger picture. I really like the way the girl on the right manages to pull off an 80s trash look back in the 60s. Below is another album cover of his I like, with the dual modesty of 'El Fenomeno' and 'The New Idol Of Young Latin America':

Ritva Palukka - Vahanukke, laulava nukke

A Finnish language cover! Can't find any info on Ritva or a photo, so instead I have an excuse to post another marvellous France photo. Click on the pic to see the full size which is - *hyperventilates* - France looking at products from her cosmetic line. Time-machine, where are you?

Conchita Bautista - Muñeca de cera (Spain, 1965)

Gitte Hænning - Det kan väl inte jag rå för

1965 Swedish cover.
Gitte Hænning discography (with sleeve pictures).

France Gall - Poupée de cire, poupée de son (Live, Eurovision 1965)

France Gall - Poupée de cire, poupée de son (video)

Little-seen 2nd performance from Eurovision 1965, sung after it was announced she'd won. Includes footage of her accepting her prize with Serge Gainsbourg.

Fumie Hosokawa - Yumemiru Chanson Ningyo

Buy: Gainsbourg: Made In Japan