Moving away from the big theaters and flourishing in clubs and small cafés, French Song had its summit in the mid-20th Century, when figures such as Édith Piaf, Charles Trenet, Jacques Brel, Georges Brassens, Léo Ferré, Dalida, Charles Aznavour, Henri Salvador, Juliette Gréco, and Serge Gainsbourg, disseminated their art first in Paris, and then throughout the world. It was a new kind of song, influenced by literary realism and the naturalist movement, and its lyrics frequently focused on the lives of socially marginalized people. 26 of the best exponents of the genre are included on this splendid collection.