One of the 20th centuries greatest Belgians, singers, voices (and of course, songwriters).
I have no end of favourites : Vesoul, Le Plat Pays, Jacky, Amsterdam, Les Marquises, Mathilde, Jef etc. etc.
Jeremy, Walker's versions ain't all that bad - their main problem being Mort Shuman's translations (from the musical 'Jacques Brel is Alive and Well..' methinks).
My prize for the best English translations / versions goes to that great Scottish satirical demi-god Nick Currie aka Momus who, at the very outset of his solo career, did 2 brilliant versions of 'Jacky' and 'Voir un ami pleurer' - the latter probably my favourite Brel song of all.
For the subtlety of his translations, witness the opening lines of the 2nd song :
'So men are still at war in Ireland / For certain songs and certain dates...' brilliantly rendered... and it was bitterly true around 86 when Momus sang his version.
Almond also helped me fall in love with another of his songs 'L'eclusier' - the Lock-keeper - one that's wonderful sean-nós (a capella)- sounds just like a trad song.
Finally, don't forget his career as an actor - he starred in a half-dozen films - crammed a lot into his few decades on earth....