The French label Barclay Records, with which singer/songwriter Jacques Brel was associated for most of the 1960s and '70s, released a compilation of recordings of his songs in March 2004 that differs significantly from this U.S. edition. The French version of Next Brel has 15 tracks to the American 12, but that doesn't mean simply that three tracks have been deleted. In fact, there are six tracks on the French album not found on the American one: "If We Only Have Love," by Dionne Warwick; "Amsterdam," by Anne Watts; "If You Go Away," by Emiliana Torrini; "Next," by Gavin Friday & the Man Seezer; "The Desperate Ones," by Nina Simone; and "Seasons in the Sun," by Terry Jacks (a number one hit in the U.S.). But there are also three tracks on the American album not contained on the French one: "Les Flamandes," by French chanteuse Barbara; "Ne Me Quitte Pas," by Nina Simone; and "My Death," by Scott Walker. The deletions and substitutions make for less repetition of songs on the American album.

Legendary Album Recorded in 1972 from Tormented and Nostalgic Singer, J. brel. 11 Songs Including 'Les Biches', 'ne Me Quitte Pas', 'la Valse a Mille Temps' and Much More.
"Ne me quitte pas", au début, ne marchait pas tellement. Au bout de quelques années, Jacques Brel ne l’a plus chantée. Mais quand il est mort, de très nombreux artistes comme Nina Simone … ont repris sa chanson, et puis c’est devenu un Succès Mondial ! Il y a des mystères …" Gérard Jouannest