Rendez-Vous (Jean-Michel Jarre album)
Rendez-vous is the eighth studio album by electronic musician and composer Jean-Michel Jarre released on Disques Dreyfus, licensed to Polydor, on 5 April 1986. It sold some three million copies worldwide and remains Jarre's longest-running chart album in both the U.S. and UK, with a 20-week run in the U.S. and a 38-week run in the UK. It is his last studio album to date that topped the French charts. The album art of the album was created by long-time collaborator Michel Granger.[2]
| Rendez-vous | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 5 April 1986 | |||
| Recorded | 1985-86 | |||
| Genre | Electronica, space music, synthpop | |||
| Length | 35:03 | |||
| Label | Disques Dreyfus | |||
| Producer | Jean-Michel Jarre | |||
| Jean-Michel Jarre chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
The last track on the album was originally scheduled to include a saxophone part recorded by astronaut Ron McNair on the Space Shuttle Challenger, which would have made it the first piece of music to be recorded in space. However, on January 28, 1986, 73 seconds after lift-off, the shuttle disintegrated and the entire Challenger crew were killed. The track was dedicated to McNair and the other astronauts on board Challenger.[3] On the album, the saxophone part is played by saxophonist Pierre Gossez.
The album reached no. 9 in the UK charts and no. 52 in the US, making it Jarre's highest-charting album in the country.[4]
The album was nominated for Grammy Award for Best New Age Album in 1987, although it did not win the award.[5]
In April 1986, Jarre performed the large-scale outdoor concert Rendez-vous Houston in Houston, Texas, celebrating the 150th anniversary of the founding of Texas. The show attracted a then-world-record live audience of 1.3 million people. The concert was originally to have included a video projection of Ron McNair's performance, recorded in space.
Jean-Michel returned to the stage in October for another performance, Rendez-Vous Lyon, marking Pope John Paul II's visit to Jarre's hometown of Lyon.
Use in other media
In 1998, British commercial broadcaster ITV used a remixed version of "Fourth Rendez-Vous" (called Rendez-Vous 98) for their television coverage of the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France. British group Apollo 440 were credited alongside Jarre for the remix.[6]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Premier Rendez-vous" (First Rendez-vous) | 2:54 |
| 2. | "Deuxième Rendez-vous" (Second Rendez-vous) | 10:55 |
| 3. | "Troisième Rendez-vous" (Third Rendez-vous) | 3:30 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Quatrième Rendez-vous" (Fourth Rendez-vous) | 3:57 |
| 2. | "Cinquième Rendez-vous" (Fifth Rendez-vous) | 7:41 |
| 3. | "Dernier Rendez-vous (Ron's Piece)" (Last Rendez-vous) | 6:04 |
| Total length: | 35:01 | |
Alternate track listing
Early editions of the album from 1986 had the tracks for Second and Fifth Rendez-Vous split up into separate parts, and slightly different timings for Fourth and Last Rendez-Vous (Ron's Piece).
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "First Rendez-Vous" | 2:54 |
| 2. | "Second Rendez-Vous (Part 1)" | 2:36 |
| 3. | "Second Rendez-Vous (Part 2)" | 3:17 |
| 4. | "Second Rendez-Vous (Part 3)" | 2:18 |
| 5. | "Second Rendez-Vous (Part 4)" | 2:43 |
| 6. | "Third Rendez-Vous" | 3:30 |
| 7. | "Fourth Rendez-Vous" | 4:03 |
| 8. | "Fifth Rendez-Vous (Part 1)" | 2:59 |
| 9. | "Fifth Rendez-Vous (Part 2)" | 1:13 |
| 10. | "Fifth Rendez-Vous (Part 3)" | 3:45 |
| 11. | "Last Rendez-Vous (Ron's Piece)" | 5:47 |
| Total length: | 35:05 | |
- "Second Rendez-Vous", total time: 10:54 (not specified on CD)
- "Fifth Rendez-Vous", total time: 7:57 (not specified on CD)
Personnel
- Jean-Michel Jarre – Seiko DS-250, Elka Synthex, Moog synthesizer, Roland JX 8P, Fairlight CMI, E-mu Emulator II, Eminent 310U, EMS Synthi AKS, Laser Harp, RMI Harmonic Synthesizer, Oberheim OB-X, Yamaha DX100, Matrisequencer, Roland TR-808, Linn 9000, Sequential Circuits Prophet-5, Casio CZ 5000, ARP 2600
- Michel Geiss – ARP 2600, Eminent BV, Matrisequencer, Roland TR-808
- Dominique Perrier – Memorymoog
- Joe Hammer – E-mu Drumulator, percussions
- David Jarre – Baby Korg personal keyboard on "Fifth Rendez-Vous (Part II)"
- Pierre Gossez – Saxophone on "Last Rendez-Vous (Ron's Piece)"
- The choir of Radio France, directed by Sylvain Durand – vocals on "Second Rendez-Vous"
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| France (SNEP)[7] | none | 784,400[8]* |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[9] | Gold | 100,000^ |
|
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
- Bush, John. "Allmusic review". Retrieved 9 July 2013.
- http://www.granger-michel.com/project/disque-jean-michel-jarre-cover3/
- Jarre, Jean-Michel (1986). Rendez-Vous (liner notes). Disques Dreyfus.
- http://www.connollyco.com/discography/jeanmichel_jarre/rendezvous.html
- "Grammy Awards 1987". Retrieved 9 July 2013.
- House, Future Publishing Limited Quay; Ambury, The; Engl, Bath BA1 1UA All rights reserved; number 2008885, Wales company registration (2018-06-14). "BBC vs ITV: The battle of the World Cup theme tunes". FourFourTwo. Retrieved 2019-07-02.
- "French album certifications – JMJ – Rendez-Vous" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
- https://www.infodisc.fr/Ventes_Albums_Tout_Temps.php?debut=250
- "British album certifications – JMJ – Rendez Vous". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type Rendez Vous in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
