Le Grand Orchestre du Splendid is a French group formed in 1977 in Paris and composed of Philippe Adler, Jacques Delaporte, brothers Xavier and Frédéric Thibault among others….
It was Jean-Louis Foulquier, at the time on France Inter, who first noticed them as they performed some revisited hits from Duke Ellington and Ray Ventura.
He takes them with him on his show Saltimbanques where they will parody the time of a season of great French song titles. This is how they will become masters in the art of mixing with obvious talent many musical currents while infusing them with first-rate parody texts.
1979 was the year that revealed them to the general public when their first 45 Tours "Macao" was released. The title is a real success and the notoriety of the group soars.
But it was a year later, in 1980, that the real consecration arrived with the release of the huge title "La salsa du démon", taken from the album "Théatre de la Porte Saint-Martin". It’s a phenomenal hit and one of the biggest hits of that year. Almost 800,000 copies will be sold !
New success in 1981 with "Radio Pirate", certainly, without commonality with the previous one but success nonetheless.
Last major success on the single side but not for the group because the latter will rebound with two musicals that will bring them success and public recognition. First with "Tam tam au pays des noirs-blancs" in 1986 and then "Couac" in 1992.
Other albums were released in the 90s, but they were never able to provide a worthy successor to this piece of anthology which is now "La salsa du démon". A cult single that even 35 years after its release, still makes thousands of French people dance every Saturday night across France.
To discover or rediscover.
Discography (among others ...) :
Summertime 1978
Paris boogie 1978
Qu'est-ce qu'on attend pour être heureux 1978
Macao 1979
La salsa du démon 1980
Radio pirate 1981
Super Dupont 1982
La danse du bana 1984
Le grand lechant mou 1987
Y'a des hauts y'a des bas 1991
Amusez-vous ! 1996
Clips :
1978 ... a luxury revival of Georges Gershwin's cult title to launch the machine. A machine that will quickly get carried away ...
1978 ... at this stage, it is impossible to imagine the ultimate sequel looming on the horizon. The first tracks are of good quality, of course, but it misses like a slight grain of madness. Patience, patience ...
1978 ... the year of the revivals. This time, it is on another cult title that we owe this time to Paul Misraki. Song that will also make the heyday of a certain Ray Ventura before it is taken over by the Splendid ...
1979 ... sudden acceleration in the wacky side. The orchestra is gaining momentum and already shows a talent more than certain for excess and satirical excess ...
1980 ... but it is THIS title which will make them enter the legend. An incredible title, completely crazy and outrageous as you wish. The title literally sets fire to all the Dancefloor in France and Navarre. Undoubtedly one of the most festive pieces of the last 40 years. MAS-TER-FUL !
1981 ... how to compete with the previous gem...?? Impossible is not French but there, it is clear that the group does not manage to repeat the feat despite a title of certain quality
1982 ... limitless excess that feels good and doesn't eat bread as they say. It's festive, it's joyful and it's already not bad !
1987 ... the group becomes more and more rare over the years. Whatever it is, the spirit and good humor are once again at the rendez-vous !
1991 ... the group manages to maintain a minimum qualitative level, a level which allows him to attack the following decade with a certain confidence. Far from the pressure of the Top50 ...
1996 ... yet another rhythmic title as they know how to do so well. A unique group that will always have a special place in the hearts of the French !
Wiki :
Official Website :
Greatest Hits :
Discography :