Comme à la Radio (2x12")

Description

Wewantsounds is delighted to reissue Brigitte Fontaine’s landmark 1970 Saravah album Comme à la Radio, recorded with Areski Belkacem (who sadly died last June), Wadada Leo Smith and the Art Ensemble of Chicago. This deluxe 2-LP edition pairs the original album with a second LP of rare bonus material. The release is accompanied by a lavish 24-page bilingual booklet featuring an introduction by journalist Andy Beta, essays by Wadada Leo Smith, Brigitte Fontaine biographer Benoît Mouchart and Benjamin Barouh, plus a recent interview with Brigitte Fontaine and the late Areski Belkacem. The booklet also includes complete lyrics and a selection of rare archival photographs by Jean-Pierre Leloir and Philippe Gras. The reissue is announced alongside its companion, the deluxe 2-LP set Comme à la Radio "On Air", featuring previously unreleased ORTF live recordings and additional studio rarities. Wewantsounds pursues its Brigitte Fontaine reissue program with Comme à la Radio, originally released in 1970 on Pierre Barouh’s cult Saravah label, fusing Fontaine’s radical lyricism with Areski Belkacem’s minimalist compositions and the fearless improvisations of the Art Ensemble of Chicago + Wadada Leo Smith. Its title track has since become a cult classic in jazz and groove circles. The album has been newly remastered from the original tapes and is reissued in a deluxe 2-LP edition featuring 11 bonus tracks. The first LP presents the original album in restored clarity, while the second gathers rare non-album singles, English-language takes, alternate versions and previously unreleased instrumental recordings showcasing the Art Ensemble's artistry, including the elusive English version of Comme à la Radio, and a striking early version of L’été L’été. Also included is a 24-page bilingual booklet featuring rare archival photographs by cult photographers Jean-Pierre Leloir and Philippe Gras, complete lyrics, and contributions by Andy Beta, Wadada Leo Smith, Benoît Mouchart and Benjamin Barouh, plus a recent interview with Brigitte Fontaine and the late Areski Belkacem. The reissue is announced alongside its companion Comme à la Radio "On Air", a deluxe 2-LP set presenting previously unreleased ORTF live recordings and additional studio rarities. Comme à la Radio stands as a visionary landmark of French music and a defining statement in Brigitte Fontaine’s career. This expanded edition confirms its enduring influence more than fifty years after its original release. a A1. Comme À La Radio 8.03 b A2. Tanka II 2.04 c A3. Le Brouillard [3.24] [d] A4. J'ai 26 Ans [3.04] [e] B1. L'été L'été [3.56] [f] B2. Encore [1.34] [g] B3. Léo [3.50] [h] B4. Les Petits Chevaux [0.43] [i] B5. Tanka I [1.45] [j] B6. Lettre À Monsieur Le Chef De Gare De La Tour De Carol [6.04] [l] C1. Comme À La Radio – English Version [8.08] [m] C2. J’ai 26 Ans – English Version [3.56] [n] C3. Le Goudron – 7’’ Single [4.12] [o] C4. Le Noir C'est Mieux Choisi – 7" Single [5.03] [p] D1. Les Beaux Animaux – 7’’ Single [3.16] [q] D2. L'été L'été – Early version [4.38] [r] D3. L'été L'eté – Instrumental Version [4.23] [s] D4. Tanka I – Instrumental Version [1.47] [t] D5. Tanka II – Instrumental Version with Flute [1.40] [u] D6. Le Brouillard – Instrumental Version [3.57] [v] D7. Lettre À Monsieur Le Chef De Gare – A Cappella English Version [2.46] [a] A1. Comme À La Radio [8.03] [b] A2. Tanka II [2.04] [c] A3. Le Brouillard [3.24] [d] A4. J'ai 26 Ans [3.04] [e] B1. L'été L'été [3.56] [f] B2. Encore [1.34] [g] B3. Léo [3.50] [h] B4. Les Petits Chevaux [0.43] [i] B5. Tanka I [1.45] [j] B6. Lettre À Monsieur Le Chef De Gare De La Tour De Carol [6.04] [l] C1. Comme À La Radio – English Version [8.08] [m] C2. J’ai 26 Ans – English Version [3.56] [n] C3. Le Goudron – 7’’ Single [4.12] [o] C4. Le Noir C'est Mieux Choisi – 7" Single [5.03] [p] D1. Les Beaux Animaux – 7’’ Single [3.16] [q] D2. L'été L'été – Early version [4.38] [r] D3. L'été L'eté – Instrumental Version [4.23] [s] D4. Tanka I – Instrumental Version [1.47] [t] D5. Tanka II – Instrumental Version with Flute [1.40] [u] D6. Le Brouillard – Instrumental Version [3.57] [v] D7. Lettre À Monsieur Le Chef De Gare – A Cappella English Version [2.46] [a] A1. Comme À La Radio [8.03] [b] A2. Tanka II [2.04] [c] A3. Le Brouillard [3.24] [d] A4. J'ai 26 Ans [3.04] [e] B1. L'été L'été [3.56] [f] B2. Encore [1.34] [g] B3. Léo [3.50] [h] B4. Les Petits Chevaux [0.43] [i] B5. Tanka I [1.45] [j] B6. Lettre À Monsieur Le Chef De Gare De La Tour De Carol [6.04] [l] C1. Comme À La Radio – English Version [8.08] [m] C2. J’ai 26 Ans – English Version [3.56] [n] C3. Le Goudron – 7’’ Single [4.12] [o] C4. Le Noir C'est Mieux Choisi – 7" Single [5.03] [p] D1. Les Beaux Animaux – 7’’ Single [3.16] [q] D2. L'été L'été – Early version [4.38] [r] D3. L'été L'eté – Instrumental Version [4.23] [s] D4. Tanka I – Instrumental Version [1.47] [t] D5. Tanka II – Instrumental Version with Flute [1.40] [u] D6. Le Brouillard – Instrumental Version [3.57] [v] D7. Lettre À Monsieur Le Chef De Gare – A Cappella English Version [2.46] [a] A1. Comme À La Radio [8.03] [b] A2. Tanka II [2.04] [c] A3. Le Brouillard [3.24] [d] A4. J'ai 26 Ans [3.04] [e] B1. L'été L'été [3.56] [f] B2. Encore [1.34] [g] B3. Léo [3.50] [h] B4. Les Petits Chevaux [0.43] [i] B5. Tanka I [1.45] [j] B6. Lettre À Monsieur Le Chef De Gare De La Tour De Carol [6.04] [l] C1. Comme À La Radio – English Version [8.08] [m] C2. J’ai 26 Ans – English Version [3.56] [n] C3. Le Goudron – 7’’ Single [4.12] [o] C4. Le Noir C'est Mieux Choisi – 7" Single [5.03] [p] D1. Les Beaux Animaux – 7’’ Single [3.16] [q] D2. L'été L'été – Early version [4.38] [r] D3. L'été L'eté – Instrumental Version [4.23] [s] D4. Tanka I – Instrumental Version [1.47] [t] D5. Tanka II – Instrumental Version with Flute [1.40] [u] D6. Le Brouillard – Instrumental Version [3.57] [v] D7. Lettre À Monsieur Le Chef De Gare – A Cappella English Version [2.46] [a] A1. Comme À La Radio [8.03] [b] A2. Tanka II [2.04] [c] A3. Le Brouillard [3.24] [d] A4. J'ai 26 Ans [3.04] [e] B1. L'été L'été [3.56] [f] B2. Encore [1.34] [g] B3. Léo [3.50] [h] B4. Les Petits Chevaux [0.43] [i] B5. Tanka I [1.45] [j] B6. Lettre À Monsieur Le Chef De Gare De La Tour De Carol [6.04] [l] C1. Comme À La Radio – English Version [8.08] [m] C2. J’ai 26 Ans – English Version [3.56] [n] C3. Le Goudron – 7’’ Single [4.12] [o] C4. Le Noir C'est Mieux Choisi – 7" Single [5.03] [p] D1. Les Beaux Animaux – 7’’ Single [3.16] [q] D2. L'été L'été – Early version [4.38] [r] D3. L'été L'eté – Instrumental Version [4.23] [s] D4. Tanka I – Instrumental Version [1.47] [t] D5. Tanka II – Instrumental Version with Flute [1.40] [u] D6. Le Brouillard – Instrumental Version [3.57] [v] D7. Lettre À Monsieur Le Chef De Gare – A Cappella English Version [2.46] [a] A1. Comme À La Radio [8.03] [b] A2. Tanka II [2.04] [c] A3. Le Brouillard [3.24] [d] A4. J'ai 26 Ans [3.04] [e] B1. L'été L'été [3.56] [f] B2. Encore [1.34] [g] B3. Léo [3.50] [h] B4. Les Petits Chevaux [0.43] [i] B5. Tanka I [1.45] [j] B6. Lettre À Monsieur Le Chef De Gare De La Tour De Carol [6.04] [l] C1. Comme À La Radio – English Version [8.08] [m] C2. J’ai 26 Ans – English Version [3.56] [n] C3. Le Goudron – 7’’ Single [4.12] [o] C4. Le Noir C'est Mieux Choisi – 7" Single [5.03] [p] D1. Les Beaux Animaux – 7’’ Single [3.16] [q] D2. L'été L'été – Early version [4.38] [r] D3. L'été L'eté – Instrumental Version [4.23] [s] D4. Tanka I – Instrumental Version [1.47] [t] D5. Tanka II – Instrumental Version with Flute [1.40] [u] D6. Le Brouillard – Instrumental Version [3.57] [v] D7. Lettre À Monsieur Le Chef De Gare – A Cappella English Version [2.46]