Le Chat Bleu? Another super slick cool boyo.

"...no longer shall you trudge 'cross my peaceful mind."

yea Chelsea, me. Saw him 4 times live. imo, he sings the greatest "stand by me" version.

Willy Deville's a great singer. Good songs too. "Heaven stood still" is a real gem.

Yes!

Loved the first album (Some call it "Mink DeVille" others "Cabretta") and Return to Magenta.

But Le Chat Bleu...oh man!

Bought it as an import. Capitol refused to release it in the U.S. The big hang-up was the song "Mazurka." An exec was quoted in Rolling Stone saying he wouldn't release an album with a song with an accordion on it! (Basically the guy had no ears for the upcoming explosion of World Music)

The first time I played it, it didn't work for me. Put it aside. Mink DeVille booked a show for the Roxy. About a week before, I thought I'd give the album another listen....and it clicked. I played it non-stop for a week and was totally into it.

And then at the end of that week, I saw Mink DeVille play it live. Willy came out dancing, almost gliding out as the band played "Slow Drain." They proceeded to play every cut off the album...including Mazurka! Shortly after that, Le Chat Bleu was released in the U.S. (with another song replacing the dreaded accordion number)

Even though I had seen Willy and co. before and after, that was the best show I've seen them do. One of the best shows I've ever seen, period.

stand by me is wonderful! but he also did a
great version of you better move on

Droog, I can relate to what you say about him "gliding". I dig his moves too.

"...no longer shall you trudge 'cross my peaceful mind."

Hey Yeah Chelsea...great album...
Have most of his work but always feel
Le Chat is kinda special...Try and find the
Australian 2003 reissue of Le Chat...has like
10-11 bonus tracks....about 9-10 live tracks from
early 1980's ... Turn You Everyway But Loose which was dropped
from the album in some countries and a bonus interview with Doc Pomus...

Also love his 1999 release A Horse Of A Different Color
which was originally only released in Germany...but has some
massive stuff on it....Needles and Pins...a stunning groove out of
Andre William's Bacon Fat and an incredible heartfelt....Lay Me Down Easy



ROCKMAN

Ahh, gotta love "Spanish Stroll".

Willy did a pretty rockin version of the Chambers Bros' "Time Has Come Today." about 10 years ago.

I read a story once on another music forum about the recording of Mink DeVille's I think first album. mick jagger dropped by the sessions one night to say hello to I believe Jack Nitzsche. The band was thunderstruck and sat in silence as mick talked with Jack while the songs they had recorded were played back. Then they were elated when mick stopped talking and spontaneously started to dance to one song: "Mixed Up Shook Up Girl." He told them how much liked the song and wished them well. It is a great cut, a funky ballad.

Great artist!!!

Count me in: DV is great, esp. live!

C

My best memory of Rod Stewart in Stockholm 1983 - Mink DeVille as support.
Saw them a few years later in Oslo, great show. Think they played for around 3 hours.
Willy was back a few years ago but I missed him.

TE
Oslo

Great artist only let me down once. Went to see them about 11 or 12 times since 1988.

The first of about a dozen times I saw him was in 1982 in a small club in Munich. He was so cool, but still on drugs. It was two or three days before the Stones played in town. Someone gave him a tour poster of the Stones and he just tore it apart. I mean what else could he do, it was his show and he was not on stage to celebrate the boys. Cool reaction I must say.

The last time I saw him was Nov.2006 and I have to admitt I was a bit disapointed but he has still got one of the greatest voices in RnR.

My all time favorite from Willy "Heaven stood still".

Hey Chelsea finally found my
copy of Le Chat Blue Expanded Edition...

On the US pressing Muzurka was dropped
and replaced by Turn You Every Way But Loose....





ROCKMAN

Yeah Rocker, that is exactly the one I got too.

"...no longer shall you trudge 'cross my peaceful mind."

Coooooooooooool......



ROCKMAN

I have I think the first four or five, very good - must play them again. Dug the Jack Nitzsche connection, and wasn't he across the street from the motel when Johnny Thunders' died in New Orleans, 1991?

johnr...yeah heard that about Thunders connection
Willy was living in New Orleans full time but not
sure if still there now................................



ROCKMAN

he did a song on his 1st or 2nd disc,i think, called soul twist which was a killer...

bassaleman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> he did a song on his 1st or 2nd disc,i think,
> called soul twist which was a killer...

from the second album, "Return to Magenta." Great tune.

Does anyone recall the opening credits to the Richard Gere movie "Breathless?"

"Bad Boy" from Le Chat Bleu played underneath them.

Does anybody know the Coup de Grace album? It's only about 35 minutes long but it's perfect. The You Better Move On cover is on it.

imonlysleeping,
this was my first DV-album,
i love it, especially you better move on.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-01-09 20:26 by kait.

I saw him last year and this year. He is really great.
he is one one the true ones. great great artist
if he will come to italy again, i will go again 100%

I love Mink Deville and Willy's solo work after he left that band.

He had a drug problem for about two decades, which soured his music career, but he was extremely talented. A lot of people don't know that he got his start at CBGBs, were the Ramones played. He was sort of a man out of his time. His musical vocabulary extends to blues, Latin soul, and country.

He's very much alive -- mostly plays in Europe these days. I think he's better than Springsteen and I've never understood why he didn't have more success.





And Willy from 1982 (proving a man can smoke and sing at the same time):







Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-03-16 19:59 by Pietro.

I saw W Deville 2x both great shows. Once in Paris- I actually met the bassist in a cafe and helped him with his french and scored 4 tickets to the Paris show. Aslo saw him at a club in Cambridge, MA. As noted above, he's definately more appreciated in Europe than in the US.

Pietro Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I love Mink Deville and Willy's solo work after he
> left that band.
>
> He had a drug problem for about two decades, which
> soured his music career, but he was extremely
> talented. A lot of people don't know that he got
> his start at CBGBs, were the Ramones played. He
> was sort of a man out of his time. His musical
> vocabulary extends to blues, Latin soul, and
> country.
>
> He's very much alive -- mostly plays in Europe
> these days. I think he's better than Springsteen
> and I've never understood why he didn't have more
> success.
>
>


>
> And Willy from 1982 (proving a man can smoke and
> sing at the same time):
>
>




So I learned something new today - Mink de Ville is the band and Willy de Ville the solo performer. I always wondered about that one - thanks ;-)

BUMP!

I love Willy Deville!

Willy is touring Europe!

I've been waiting 15 years for him to play San Francisco, where his original band, Mink Deville, was first formed.

Come home Willy!