Les Variations
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| Les Variations | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Variations |
| Origin | France |
| Genres | Rock and roll Hard rock Rhythm and blues Blues Middle Eastern |
| Years active | 1968 — 1975 |
| Labels | Magic, EMI/Pathé Records |
| Website | Les Variations |
| Members | |
| Robert Fitoussi Marc Tobaly “Petit Pois” Grande Isaac “Jacky” Bitton |
|
| Former members | |
| Joe Leb | |
Les Variations was a French rock band from the 1960s and 1970s that sang in English and was known for its rock guitar based music. Often, their songs and compositions contained hints of North African and Jewish Sephardic melodies as well as the Hebrew songs of the band members’ youth.[1]
Contents |
[edit] History
Three of the original four members were Moroccan Jews. Joe Leb sang vocals, Marc Tobaly played guitar, and Isaac “Jacky” Bitton was on drums. The fourth member, Jacques “Petit Pois” Grande, who played bass, is of Italian heritage. In 1971, Leb was briefly replaced by French singer Michel Chevalier. [2] Leb was later replaced by Tunisian born Robert Fitoussi.[3]
Les Variations began touring Europe in 1966 as a great live performance band, singing songs in English of their favorite artists, such as Little Richards, Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley and the Rolling Stones. In 1967, they began their recording career in Denmark with the release of "Spics & Spack." Returning to France in 1969, they signed with France's EMI/Pathé Records, and forged a successful recording relationship. Les Variations were the first and certainly one of the best known rock groups from France, largely in part to their commercial record successes, their unabandoned concert and television performances, their unmatched media and press coverage, and their unique position of being the first French rock band to tour America, to sign with an American label and eventually pioneer a new style of rock music over their decade-long existence. [4] Between 1969 and 1973, they released the bulk of their albums on Pathe Records. Their early recordings often mimicked traits of the Rolling Stones, The Who and Led Zeppelin. In 1972, they began touring and recording in America. Interestingly, their only French language recording, "Je Suis Juste Un Rock'n Roller," (backed by soul sisters Angel & Sybil)was recorded in Cincinnati's 5th Floor Recording Studios, and became their biggest hit, reaching No. 7 in the French pop charts. In 1973, their popular album "Take it or Leave It" was recorded in Memphis's Ardent Studios with producer Don Nix.
In 1974, Les Variations signed with the American label, Buddah Records and created a more exotic style. Their pioneering introduction of sounds and styles taken from their Moroccan heritages, was exemplified in the albums Moroccan Roll (produced by Ralph Moss), and Cafe de Paris (produced by Lewis Merenstein & Michael Wendroff), and would influence rock bands for the next several generations. During the recording and subsequent touring of these Buddah albums, the band added the American keyboard player/singer Jim Morris; and for the next album (Cafe de Paris) and its tours, they added the French/Tunisian/singer/guitarist/composer Robert Fitoussi and the ledendary French/Tunisian violinist of Arabic music, Maurice Meimoun. This 1975 album reached the Billboard Top 200 Album Charts in America, while their single "Superman, Superman," reached No. 36 in the U.S. Pop Charts. Unfortunately, as they finally were able to gain measurable success in America, Les Variations, who been based in Paris and Cincinnati since 1972, disbanded on December 21, 1975.
Over the course of their career, Les Variations became the first French rock band to tour Europe, Africa and America, and to headline the Olympia Theatre in Paris. Over their ten years on the road they toured with many major acts of the era, including: Bachman Turner Overdrive, Kiss, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Cream, Yes, Guess Who, Taste, Queen, Uriah Heep, Rush, Kraftwerk, and Aerosmith, to name a few.
[edit] Albums
- Nador (1969)
- Take It Or Leave It (1971)
- Moroccan Roll (1973)
- Cafe de Paris (1974)
[edit] Trivia
- Proud of his Jewish heritage, Bitton wore a noticeable Star of David around his neck[5] during concerts.
