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Lepage, Clare & Compagne

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Clare Lepage & Compagne

                 



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$150.00 USD USD  +  shipping

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Format: LP     Want this on CD also?

Condition: VG+ COVER / VG+ LP (cover/media)    More Info
Label: Trans Canada TC 706
Country: Canada
Released: 1971
Genre: psych
Num In Set: 1
Quantity: 2 in stock
Seller Ref:   170

And here's where LaPage's career gets simultaenously weird and interesting.   A solo act up until 1970, she abruptly threw her lot in with the band Comagnie (singer/guitarist Germain Gauthier, bassist Bill Lagariuk, and drummer Richard Patri).   Billed as Clare Lepage & Comagnie, the quartet recording a totally surprising rock album - "Clare Lepage & Comagnie".  While her earlier releases occasionally hinted at what a great voice Lepage had (check out the 1967 garage-tinged single 'Bam Bam Bam'), most of her output was pretty lame ('Le Noel des Petits').   None of those earlier singles prepared you for these ten rock-oriented   numbers.   Tracks like 'Les Chemins de L'amour', 'Rendez-Vous Express', and 'Depuis que c'est arrive' made it clear she was more than a pretty face (well, yeah she was that too).   Not only did Lepage show she could hang with a full-tilt rock band, but she was also credited with co-writing much of the material.   For a singer who had always cozied up to French Canadian audiences, the album held an even bigger surprise in the form of four songs performed in English - 'Take It Easy', 'Tomorrow', 'Quand la Nuit Sera Tombee' (ignore the French title), and a cover of The Beatles' 'We Can Work It Out'.   About all I can say is that all three songs were great.   Nothing but speculation on my part, but given Gauthier handled lead vocals on the 'Take It Easy' and 'Tomorrow' I'm guessing they were pre-Lepage collaboration Compagnie compositions.   Regardless, I've got to tell you the overall results were thoroughly impressive and enjoyable, frequently hitting that magic sweet spot that blends pop and rock into a true musical pleasure.
"Clare Lepage & Comagnie" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Les Chemins de L'amour    (Germain Gauthier) - 3:01     rating: **** stars
With Gauthier opening the song with some chunky guitar chords, 'Les Chemins de L'amour' was a killer slice of pop-rock.   Great melody, great harmonies, pounding rhythm section ...    if this had been sung in English it would have been a massive hit.    Who cares if the lyrics were foreign ...   The song was tapped as the album's second single:
- 1971's 'Les Chemins de L'amour' b/w 'Demain' (Trans Canada TC-3350)
For anyone interested, YouTube has a   clip of the band lip-synching the song for a Canadian television performance:
      
2.) Demain    (Clare Lepage - Germain Gauthier) - 3:09     rating: **** stars
I think it translates as 'Tomorrow' - regardless 'Demain' was a fantastic ballad with a dreamy melody and some of Lepage's most beguiling vocals.    It must have been my ears, but it almost sounded like Lepage was singing the French lyrics phonetically ...  
3.) Rendez-Vous Express    (Clare Lepage - Germain Gauthier) - 2:51    rating: *** stars 
Tapped as the leadoff single, 'Rendez-Vous Express' opened up with some tasty burst of fuzz guitar and a nifty acoustic riff.   Power-pop at its best ...the song's always reminded me of another tune, but I've never been able to lay my fingers on the reference.    The song was tapped as a single:
   
- 1970's 'Rendez-vous Express' b/w 'L'amour est La' (Trans Canada TC-3329)
'L'amour est La' was a rote cover of Edison Lighthouse's 'Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes'.   If you liked the original, this one might have a bit of appeal, if only to hear a pretty Canadian woman sing it in French.   YouTube has a black and white clip of the band lip-synching the song for a Canadian television performance.
   
5.) Depuis que c'est arrive    (Clare Lepage - Germain Gauthier - Bill Lazariuk - Richard Patry) - 2:32      rating: **** stars
Built on an incideously catchy Gauthier riff, 'Depuis que c'est arrive' sounded like a chugging Marc Bolan slice of glam rock.   Another one that's hard to get out of your head ...     
  
(side 2)
1.) Take It Easy    (Germain Gauthier - Bill Lazariuk) - 2:54     rating: **** stars

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