Disco Sunday #9: Belle Epoque
Posted on October 28th, 2007 posted by Baron von Luxxury in Disco Sunday
Evelyne Lenton was a french chanteuse who performed as Evy before hooking up with two backup singers and forming Belle Epoque in Paris in the mid-1970’s. Their first single, a cover of Los Bravos’ “Black is Black” (which was also disco-fied by Cerrone, who we wrote about last week), was a top 10 hit in Europe in 1977. While the band had some success in the clubs in the US, they didn’t make the charts until they released their 2nd single, “Miss Broadway.” I am obsessed with this song right now, because it is infectiously funky, charmingly imperfect (the drums sound like cardboard boxes) and just plain juicy juicy juicy punk disco (you’ll *love* the Betty Davis-esque gritty vocals!)
MP3: “Miss Broadway” - Belle Epoque
Here is Glass Candy’s wonderful version of that song, in case you missed it when I posted it a few months ago.
MP3: “Miss Broadway” - Glass Candy
After Miss Broadway, their next single and album Bamalama featured the following 11 minute extended title track. It is insane not only as it twists and turns to contain nearly a dozen distinct parts/songs (listed below) but also because the beat is an utter mess, with the snare coming early sometimes and the hi-hats and synths late half the time. These imperfections give it a unique sort of charm and character, and are a welcome change to my ears from the quantized perfection of most electronically-driven dance music.
Here’s what you’re about to hear:
a) Bamalama
b) Taste of destruction
c) Bamalama
d) Medley: Good Golly Miss Molly/Lucille/Whole lotta shakin’ going’ on/Jenny Jenny/Bamalama
e) Live concert medley: Summertime blues/Let me be/Drink me/Memphis Tennessee
MP3: “Bamalama” - Belle Epoque
(Sample trainspotters will note that Ed Banger Mr. Flash’s “Disco Dynamite” is basically just the first half of this song, sampled straight up.)
MP3: “Disco Dynamite” - Mr Flash
Belle Epoque Myspace
Buy on Amazon
Also, I did not punch Malcom McLaren in the face yesterday. But I would have if had hadn’t wussed out.
xx,
- Baron von Luxxury
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October 28th, 2007 12:12 pm
she’s awesome!
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[…] Bonus video #1! Remember Belle Epoque from Disco Sunday #10 three weeks ago? Here is an amazing low-rent video of a mercifully edited version of their song […]
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December 22nd, 2007 2:18 am
[…] to this record which includes Glass Candy’s “Rolling Down The Hills” and their Belle Epoque cover, “Miss Broadway” (the original “Miss Broadway” has also been the […]
March 20th, 2008 5:44 am
The Glass Candy version does nothing for me
March 30th, 2009 11:56 pm
I had never heard the original Miss Broadway before reading this submission on your blog.
Although I still like the Glass Candy version, the Belle Epoque version is 10,000 (no typo) better . . . thanks a million for introducing me to this song