Missing individuals located, as per Renée Claude's update
Cracking the Vault: Renée Claude's Hidden Gems See Light Once More
Five long years ago, the world lost a shining star in the music industry - Renée Claude. Despite the challenging years that defined her final days, she must never be forgotten for her ability to blend the sophistication of chanson and the sparkle of pop music. So, here we are, eager to celebrate her legacy with the upcoming release of a treasure trove of 22 tunes, untouched since their original creation.
Jean-Christophe Laurence, our go-to guy for Renée Claude's music, is at it again with this new collection, titled Airs du temps. This gem primarily focuses on the four albums created with the mighty Stéphane Venne, released on the Barclay label between 1969 and 1973. The biggest hits of this golden era were already dished out in a double CD, C'était le début d'un temps nouveau, back in the 90s. But there were a few lesser-known songs that Renée Claude herself tucked away, gathering dust on the shelves.
Looking to breathe new life into these forgotten gems is Normand Paquette, head honcho at Transit Records and Renée's former producer. As he eloquently puts it, "There was stuff lurking here worth bringing back."
Among his picks, Normand highlights the covers of French classics like "Que reste-t-il de nos amours" and cheeky takes on Beatles tunes like "Peut-être (Something), À 75 ans (When I'm 64)," and "Je t'oublierai (If I Fell)." Overall, the producer is thrilled to have "rediscovered" another side of Renée, far removed from the diva who crooned Ferré and Brassens towards the end of her career. He marvels at the "warmth," "sensuality," and unique "timbre" that her voice brought to each track.
The collection boasts only two tracks from outside the Stéphane Venne era on Barclay. The first, "Feuille de gui," is a historical gem, recorded by Renée Claude back in 1962 and, sadly, impossible to find in good condition. Hence, Normand turned to a French admirer who had a digital version of this title signed by Jean-Pierre Ferland and Pierre Brabant - the dynamic duo who won a song contest that year in Belgium.
The second offering is "Le ciel du Sud," a minor hit from 1974 that only surfaced as a 45 rpm. The musical genius behind the song, namely pianist Yvan Ouellet, takes an interesting tack. Although he's long retired from the music biz, he can't help but admit that the lyrics beneath this playful tune had "a little something special." The man is a wordsmith, after all, reminding us that "Your love is in the sky of the South / Your tenderness is in the sky of the North" are some of the oldest lyrics humanity has preserved.
As for Yvan, he fondly recalls the $5,000 in royalties he earned from the single, which bought him a beautiful grand piano.
Voilà, folks! Get ready to dive into this beautiful collection of rarities that shine a fresh light on Renée Claude's vast repertoire. Although less well-known, the tunes in "Airs du temps" remind us of Renée's audacity and ability to seamlessly adapt to pop and funky arrangements while keeping her own unique style intact. Mario Girard, Renée's biographer, adds, "She took risks and made good choices throughout her career."
Pretty Much Complete, minus One
With the re-release of these 22 songs, Renée Claude's catalog almost takes on the status of completed work. Almost. There's one big exception: Shippagan, a legendary album released by Columbia in 1968, which remains elusive to this day, much to the dismay of Mario Girard. "It's a masterpiece that deserves a comeback. Neil Chotem's arrangements give it a prelude-like feeling to [the album] L'Heptade, another notable work in which Chotem played a part." According to the journalist and author, Renée's entourage is considering releasing previously unreleased songs they've dug up in old boxes, including an old audition at Radio-Canada.
Stay tuned, friends. This is a project worth keeping an eye on.
Note: Due to the loss of master tapes, most of the compilation's songs have been re-recorded from the original albums in Renée's personal collection.
Compilation
Airs du temps
Artist
Renée Claude
Record Label
Transit Records
Format
Digital
Release Date
May 12 (Renée Claude's deceased day)
- The upcoming release of Airs du temps by Renée Claude on Transit Records will almost complete her catalog, with one exception: Shippagan, her 1968 release that remains elusive.
- Master tapes for many songs in the compilation have been lost, so they have been re-recorded from Renée Claude's personal collection.
- Journalist and author, Neil Chotem, views Shippagan as a masterpiece that deserves a comeback due to its prelude-like feeling to another notable work, L'Heptade.
- Renée's entourage is considering releasing previously unreleased songs they've discovered in old boxes, including an old audition at Radio-Canada to round out the Shippagan album.
- This project, including the re-release of Airs du temps, will undoubtedly bring Renée Claude's unique blend of arts and music back into the spotlight, joining her name with celebrities and pop-culture icons who have affected the world of entertainment.
