Five years after the disappearance of singer and actress Marie Laforêt, an unreleased album resurfaces, and it is accompanied by a story that seems straight out of a Hollywood script. Recorded in 1980 and remained under lock and key for more than 40 years, the album “Le feu” reveals a little-known side of the artist.
In 1980, Marie Laforêt went through a period of personal and professional upheaval. Installed in Switzerland after filming “Flic ou rogue” alongside Jean-Paul Belmondo, she aspires to new horizons. The artist dreams of becoming an auctioneer, writes a book and runs his own art gallery. Musically, she is embarking on a daring project: a pop album, far from her folk ballads of the 60s and 70s.
This album, called “Le feu”, marks a clear break with the style that made him famous. With 11 unreleased tracks, it testifies to this desire for renewal. But at the time, audacity was frightening. Marie Laforêt, dissatisfied with the result or perhaps shaken by this radical change, refused to release it.
The story of this album takes an incredible turn when he becomes the victim of an unexpected theft. Swiss producer Pierre-Richard Muller, who financed the recording, kept the tapes in his office safe. In 1982, a burglary turned everything upside down: everything disappeared, including Marie Laforêt’s album.
Chance or destiny intervened a few days later when a police officer found these precious tapes in a trash bag abandoned on a sidewalk. The album, recognizable by Muller’s name written on the boxes, was thus recovered. However, it would be more than four decades before the album finally saw the light of day.
The release of this album today is due to the effort of a passionate fan, already responsible for the complete album released in 2020. His tenacity made it possible to find these almost forgotten titles and share them with the world. Notable tracks include “Parlez-moi d’amour” and “Le canal,” which demonstrate the artist’s bold musical evolution.
At the time, Marie Laforêt surrounded herself with promising young talents, notably a certain Gilbert Montagné, adding a special touch to this album.
Marie Laforêt singer Music
