Mink Deville - Le Chat Bleu

Out of print in the U.S. Le Chat Bleu, released in 1980, is the third album by the New York rock band Mink DeVille. Le Chat Bleu is angel-headed hipster rock. The Doc Pomus influence on the opening track, 'This Must Be the Night', with it's cascading harmonies and 1950s girl group melodies, is a doo wop fantasy for the punk age. The songs on this album are some of the strongest that DeVille ever recorded and his vocal performances throughout are magnificent. His amazing voice could deftly caress a tender ballad, or rip it up on a fast-paced rocker. The first of the DeVille/Pomus soul ballads is included here. This album is not the sound of a band losing it's innocence as much as it is the sound of a rock 'n' roll band finding it's identity.