AMG Review of Voice of the Sparrow: The Very Best of Edith Piaf

John Bush
All Music Guide

Capitol's The Voice of the Sparrow: The Very Best of Edith Piaf offers 18 selections from the Edith Piaf songbook, in nearly every case the best version of the song -- whether performed during the '30s, '40s, or '50s. Many of her best songs are here, from her signature songs -- "La Vie en Rose" and "L'Accordéoniste" -- to "Hymne À l'Amour" and "Non, Je Regrette Rien." True, the collection concentrates overly on her latter-day sides (the playful, cabaret "Le Vieux Piano" and "Polichinelle," among others) to the detriment of her wondrous '30s recordings, and also displays its 1991 vintage (no liner notes or recording information, and an overly smoothed-out sound). Still, The Voice of the Sparrow is certainly the Edith Piaf introduction that's easiest to find.