The Styrous® Viewfinder: 45 RPMs 86: Edith Piaf ~ Milord & the Paper Doll

December 19, 2024

45 RPMs 86: Edith Piaf ~ Milord & the Paper Doll

45 RPM front cover

artwork by Roger Anney

Today is the birthday of the woman who's song marked a pivotal moment in my life. Milord by Edith Piaf "came out" about the same time I did and I consider it the first "Gay" song I knew. At the time I frequented the Paper Doll, a bar/restaurant in the North Beach section of San Francisco and it was the song played over and over by the patrons.

There is a wonderful history of the Paper Doll and many other venues of the area and the time on the website, Found SF (link below). In 2018 the Paper Doll was named an official SF landmark (links below).

In the 1952 film noir, The Sniper, starring Marie Windsor and Arthur Franz as a serial killer, the Paper Doll is the scene of the first murder.

Arthur Franz - The Sniper

I found this album on one of my frequent "junking" tours (link below) on Turk Street in the late sixties and jumped on it.

Edith Piaf - Milord

45 RPM front cover

Milord (French: [milɔʁ]) is a term for an Englishman, especially a noble, traveling in Continental Europe. The term was used in both French and English from the 16th century. It derives ultimately from the English phrase "my lord", which was borrowed into Middle French as millourt or milor, meaning a noble or rich man.

The song tells the tale of a woman of the street who spies a gentleman accompanied by a beautiful woman. The man does not see the singer but she dreams of talking to him and what they might have been (link to complete lyrics below).

Edith Piaf - Milord

45 RPM record

Tracklist:

Side 1:

A - Milord, Lyrics By J. Moustaki*, Music By M. Monnot*

Side 2:

B - Je Sais Comment, Lyrics By, Music By J. Bouquet* & R. Chauvigny*

Companies, etc.

    Record Company – Les Industries Musicales Et Electriques Pathé Marconi
    Printed By – Imp. Carron & Fils
    Pressed By – Pathé Marconi, Chatou – 200666
    Pressed By – Pathé Marconi, Chatou – 200692

Credits:

Artwork [Cover] – Roger Anney
Conductor [Orchestre, Direction] – Robert Chauvigny

Notes:

Other similar releases:
Edith Piaf - Milord / Je Sais Comment (repressed by Pathé Marconi, Chatou cat# 265809 / 265810)
Edith Piaf - Milord and Edith Piaf - Milord, both printed by Dillard et Cie. Imp. Paris

Les Industries Musicales Et Electriques Pathé Marconi - Paris.
Imp. Carron & Fils - Villeurbanne
Record Made In France.
Sleeve Printed in France.

Barcode and Other Identifiers

    Rights Society: BIEM
    Price Code (Cover): M
    Price Code (Label): Ⓜ
    Matrix / Runout (Label side A): 7 TCL 1219
    Matrix / Runout (Label side B): 7 TCL 1221
    Matrix / Runout (Runout side A, stamped): 7 TCL 1219 21 M3 200666
    Matrix / Runout (Runout side B, stamped): 7 TCL 1221 21 M3 200692

Edith Piaf – Milord
Label: Columbia – ESRF 1245
Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, EP
Country: France
Released: Nov 1959
Genre: Pop
Style: Chanson

Viewfinder links:

Arthur Franz

Milord lyrics
Édith Piaf

Piaf at the Olympia & Milord

Turkish Delights

Marie Windsor

Net links:

Bay Area Reporter ~ SF landmark status recommended for site of North Beach LGBT eatery

Found SF ~ Before the Castro: North Beach, a Gay Mecca

NoeHill in SF ~ San Francisco Landmark #287

SF Planning Department ~ Landmark Designation Case Report

YouTube links:

Milord

Milord (live)