Coming both stylistically and chronologically between older pop crooners like Maurice Chevalier and such younger, rock and roll-influenced artists as Serge Gainsbourg and Jacques Dutronc, Charles Aznavour is possibly easiest described as the Frank Sinatra of France. Indeed, most of his American releases in the '60s were on Sinatra's Reprise label.

The modishly-titled AZNAVOUR 65, reissued by EMI/Angel in 1996 with new multi-lingual liner notes, consists of 18 jazz-inflected French pop songs recorded with a swinging orchestra and female backing vocals. The set starts off with one of Aznavour's signature tracks, "Le Toreador," and also includes such gems as the impassioned "C'Est Fini" and the lovely, tender "Une Enfant." AZNAVOUR 65 captures one of French pop's best male singers at the height of his talent.