Charlelie Couture

1-20-09 Charlelie Couture

Even before I was into French artists like Etienne Daho and Les Rita Mitsouko, there was Charlelie Couture.

CD LE PECHEUR RCA FR ND 70378

1979 11 TRKS

LP LE PECHEUR re-issue RCA DE NL 70378

1979 11 TRKS re-issue of album #2

CD POCHETTE SURPRISE ISLAND FR 846408.2

1981 10 TRKS Wally Badarou

LP POCHETTE SURPRISE ISLAND FR 6313 145

1981 10 TRKS album #3

CD POEMES ROCK ISLAND FR 256.218

1981 11 TRKS

LP POEMES ROCK ISLAND FR 6313 239

1981 11 TRKS album #4

7" COMME UN AVION SANS AILE / OUBLIER ISLAND FR 6010 426

1981 2 TRKS with pic sleeve – great B side!

LP QUOI FAIRE? ISLAND FR 6313 428

1982 10 TRKS – must try and get a CD of this, one day

CD CROCODILE ISLAND FR 814548.2

1983 10 TRKS

LP CROCODILE ISLAND FR 814548.1

1983 10 TRKS album #5

LP TCHAO PANTIN ISLAND DE 205.985

1983 19 TRKS O.S.T. to a French film (a cop / gangster movie?)

7" MISSIPI DANCING / COMBAT DES PHOQUES ISLAND FR 818457.7

1983 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

12" MISSIPI DANCING ISLAND FR 818457.1

1983 3 TRKS with pic sleeve

LP ART ET SCALP ISLAND FR 824051.1

1984 10 TRKS album #6

CD ART ET SCALP ISLAND FR 256.848

1984 11 TRKS (1 x bonus track)

7" ELLE A TROP D'EXPERIENCE / (Good Night) ESMERALDA ISLAND FR 880361.7

1984 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

12" CHARLELIE COUTURE ISLAND UK IMA 12

1984 6 TRK EP; with pic sleeve – incl. a unique live track, I believe – his sole UK release?

CD ISLAND COLORS ISLAND FR 510584.2

1991 12 TRK Collection of his Island Records era

I was in France every year from ’79 – ’81, and I am sure I saw “Pochette Surprise” in the FNAC etc. It looked very new wave; closer inspection revealed that Mr. Couture was working directly with Chris Blackwell of Island Records – and I deeply revered other Island records that Mr. Blackwell had taken a direct interest in – Grace Jones “Nightclubbing”, Marianne Faithfull “Broken English” etc.

I have still never seen Couture’s indie debut – #1:“12 Chansons Dans La Scruire” (or thereabouts). But I really got the message on Couture when “Crocodile” came along – wow, an amazing album, still a favorite 25 years later. Of course, Couture’s work continued after his stint with Island Records, but today, that’s what I am highlighting.

I’ve corresponded with Mr. Couture; I’ve seen him play live in France, even! You simply cannot ignore “Crocodile” and “Art et Scalp”.