The B-side of this single consists of two very short songs (90 and 110 seconds respectively) that Laurent wrote with Elain Rowen and D. McNeil respectively. Usually he collaborates with Alain Souchon (as with the A-side), so this is a bit of a surprise.
My collection: 7" single no. 7029
Found: Discogs.com, received 16 September 2023
Tracks: 'Liebe' / 'Cadillac cruise', 'Meu samba pra voce'
I have a soft spot for Voulzy, not only because of his song 'Les nuits sans Kim Wilde', but also because of the brilliant songs I discovered on the compilation album 'Carib Islander'. Every single track on that one is great - and so obviously I was curious to hear the extended version of 'Le soleil donne' which features on this 12" single. In fact the extended version also appears on the compilation album (I didn't realise that) but the dub version is very interesting too.
My collection: 12" single [unnumbered]
Found: Chelsea Records, Antwerpen, 25 November 2021
Cost: €1
Tracks: 'Le soleil donne' / 'Le soleil donne (dub)', 'Le soleil donne [edit]'
Laurent Voulzy wrote 'Les nuits sans Kim Wilde' together with his writing partner Alain Souchon after seeing music videos of Kim Wilde on television. He felt rather infatuated by this beautiful lady on the screen. Kim was approached to sing guest vocals on the track, and after some hesitation, she agreed. She eventually even appeared in the music video to promote this single. Released in the summer of 1985, it was a hit in France, but was not released in other territories.
However, in early 1986 the single was re-released. The sides were switched, and 'Belle-ile-en-mer Marie-Galante' was now the A-side. This single was an even bigger hit in France, and was also released outside of France. During a TV programme in France a few years later, Voulzy and Kim Wilde performed a version of this song together.
One of Laurent Voulzy's biggest hits in France was 'Le soleil donne', released in 1988. The song featured verses in French, English and Spanish and a very radio- and summerfriendly melody.
'Bopper en larmes' is a rather straightforward pop song, not one of the things Laurent Voulzy specialized in during the Eighties, when he was predominantly releasing ballads and well thought out album tracks.
Laurent Voulzy recorded the song 'Les nuits sans Kim Wilde' in 1985, a tribute to the English singer and a remarkable pop song. I bought the compilation album 'Carib islander' a decade later and found out that Voulzy actually made several remarkable pop songs - and some lovely chansons as well.
Laurent Voulzy was born on December 18, 1948 in Paris, France. After leading the English-pop-influenced band Le Temple de Vénus in the Sixties, he worked with Pascal Danel between 1969 and 1974. He started writing songs with Alain Souchon and released this debut single 'Rockollection' in 1977.
