Special Copains Special by Eddie Vartan – A Wild Ride Through 1963 France
Alright, buckle up, because this album’s a trip. Special Copains Special by Eddie Vartan isn’t just another relic from the ‘60s; it’s like someone cranked the volume on French pop-rock and let the chaos spill out. Released in 1963 under the Twist label (yeah, they weren’t exactly reinventing branding back then), this record slams together Pop, Rock, Twist, and Rock & Roll into one gloriously messy package. And guess what? It works.
First off, you gotta talk about “I’m Just A Baby.” Holy crap, this track hits hard for something so simple. Eddie’s voice is raw, almost desperate, like he’s begging you to believe him. The melody sticks to your brain like gum under a table—annoying at first but kinda fun after a while. It’s not perfect, sure, but that’s what makes it memorable. You can practically hear the sweat dripping off the mic as he belts it out. This ain’t some polished studio magic; it feels alive, real, and unapologetically loud.
Then there’s “Dizzy Twist.” Oh man, where do I even start? If you’ve ever wanted to feel like you’re spinning in circles while someone yells vaguely danceable nonsense at you, this is your jam. The rhythm jerks around like a broken washing machine, and honestly, that’s its charm. It’s chaotic, sure, but it doesn’t care. That guitar riff is sharp enough to cut glass, and the whole thing just screams teenage rebellion wrapped in a twist beat. You won’t forget it—not because it’s good, necessarily, but because it grabs you by the collar and shakes you until you pay attention.
The rest of the tracks are solid too—“Dansons” brings some swagger, and “Tous Mes Copains” has that sing-along vibe—but those two standouts make the album worth revisiting. Sure, some parts sound dated now, but that’s kind of the point. This isn’t music trying to be timeless; it’s music made for right then. For kids twisting their socks off in smoky Paris clubs or blasting it on tinny radios.
Here’s the kicker though: listening to this album today feels like finding an old Polaroid in your grandpa’s attic. It’s faded, a little weird, and maybe not as cool as you thought when you were younger—but damn if it doesn’t take you back somewhere. Somewhere wilder, louder, freer. So yeah, give Special Copains Special a spin if you want to hear how rock & roll sounded before everyone got obsessed with being “serious artists.” Spoiler alert: it was way more fun.
And hey, who knew France could get this rowdy?
