Plus Tapes

Plustapes is proud to present a collection of our biggest French songstress crush: Ms. Anna St. Clair. However, beyond the unpretentiously pretty face that stares almost rebelliously from the 45 sleeves, we know very little.

We do know she had a knack for surrounding herself with impressive figures in the late 60s French pop scene: producer and Serge Gainsbourg conspirator Jean-Claude Vannier, Lee Hallyday and his famous son Johnny, writer Boris Bergmann, popular singer Dalida, and arranger Raymond Donnez (known as Don Ray during his disco days). Exploring Europe in her early 20’s with a guitar and the Joan Baez songbook, St. Clair managed to make the jump from street performer to cabaret singer to burgeoning pop artist rather easily. She enlisted the helpo of her talented friends. Six spunky 45s were released from 1967-1970. A tour was planned with Hallyday. The press just started to pay attention. And then… and then?

Nothing.

Somewhere between Yeh-Yeh music, freakbeat and rebellious French pop with hints of early prog-rock and even a bit of a Tropicalia vibe, the six 45s of St. Clair are infectious and impressive. Both Vannier and Donnez craft colorful and buoyant arrangements with just enough edge that set off St. Clair’s affable though often yearning vocals with a spark. These are songs of flourishing individualism and independence, with a cautious defiance of what she should sound like just beginning to spring. But of course, song titles like “Friday, You Can Brush Me Off Your Mind” and “Don’t You Know, It’s You I Love” signify that she also knew the plights of her young, lovesick audience. These characteristics were the bullnose of a very promising career. Yet, nothing.

We may never know what happened to Ms. Anna St. Clair, but at least we have these few pop artifacts to enjoy. The question lingers on and on in our mind: Anna St. Clair, who are you?