Discovered by film director Roger Vadim, Cairo-born British Bardot Gillian Hills is best known for her roles in cult movies such as Beat Girl (1959), Antonioni's Blow-Up (1966) and A Clockwork Orange (1971). Her parallel career as a teenage singer/songwriter saw her record for the Paris-based Barclay label and, buoyed by her appearance in 1962's Les Parisiennes and touring alongside Johnny Hallyday, Gillian enjoyed success on the burgeoning yé-yé scene. Working with Paul Mauriat, Jean Bouchéty and Mickey Baker, Gillian's recordings benefitted from superb arrangements and top-notch orchestration. Encompassing sentimental ballads, beaty numbers plus Gillian's own well-crafted compositions, this 24-track best of comprises original material and cover versions. Aside from French Universal's 2002 2CD set, Gillian's catalogue has been largely overlooked - Zou Bisou Bisou is the only single CD currently available. Having worked latterly as an illustrator, in 2012 the spotlight was once again thrown upon Gillian when Zou Bisou Bisou featured prominently in Season 5 of MadMen. This spawned a cover version by actress Jessica Paré and also saw Gillian's recording played out in the coveted closing credits spot. Since then Gillian's rendition has been used as the soundbed for an international Garnier shampoo campaign.
Courtesy of Alec Palao, Zou Bisou Bisou includes a new interview with the artist. Highly regarded by yé-yé aficionados, Gillian Hills is a welcome addition to Ace's French pop compendium.
1 C'est Le Garçon
2 Oublie
3 Jean-Lou
4 Qui a Su
5 Ma Première Cigarette
6 Ne Crois Surtout Pas
7 Cha Cha Stop
8 Tu Peux
9 Si Tu Veux Que Je Te Dise
10 Zou Bisou Bisou
11 Un Petit Baiser
12 Le Paradis Pour Toi
13 La Tête À L'envers
14 Mon Coeur Est Prêt
15 Les Jolis Coeurs
16 C'est Bien Mieux Comme Ça
17 Tu Mens
18 Maintenant Il Téléphone
19 Ne T'en Fais Pas
20 Avec Toi
21 Je Partirai
22 Tut, Tut, Tut, Tut
23 Rentre Sans Moi
24 Rien N'est Changé
