line up 1 (1964-69)

- Alain Blanchard -- guitar, bass 

- Normand Brouillard -- drums, percussion

- Simon Brouillard -- lead vocals 

- Serge Lambert -- guitar

- Yvan St-Onge -- guitar 

  line up 2 (1969-70)

- Alain Blanchard -- guitar, bass 

- Normand Brouillard -- drums, percussion

- Serge Lambert -- guitar

- Yvan St-Onge -- guitar 

- Les Luths

Genre: garage

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Les Lutins

Company: Carrousel

Catalog: CR 5401

Year: 1966

Country/State: St-Hyacinthe, Quebec

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: French lyrics

Available: 1

Catalog ID: not yet listed

Price: $80.00

1960s French-Canadian rockers are something new to me, though a quick search of the internet shows there were dozens of these acts, some of them apparently quite good and successful (at least in their native Quebec and in France).

Can't say I know much about this five piece.  They were apparently from the small town of St-Hyacinthe, Quebec.  With a line up consisted of guitarist Alain Blanchard, brothers Normand  and Simon Brouillard (drums and vocals respectively), and guitarists Serge Lambert and Yvan St-Onge, they came together in late 1964, playing school dances, eventually attracting the attention of the small local Ideal label.  The Ideal deal resulted in the release of one 45:

- 1965's 'Petite Fille' b/w 'Trop Jeune Pour AImer' (Ideal catalog number ID-1942)

Returning to the club circuit in 1967 the band was finally picked up by the larger Carrousel label.  They subsequently scored a local hit with their first Carrousel release: 1967's 'Je Cherche' b/w 'Elle n'a Rien Compris' (Carrousel catalog number CR-1).  As was standard marketing procedure, the single's success led the company to rush the group into the studio to record a supporting LP.  I'm offering up a copy of their 1966 debut "Les Lutins".  Musically this set's quite impressive.  While the lyrics are all in French, tracks such as the earlier single 'Je Cherche ('I'm Searching'), 'Pretty Girl', 'Laissez-nous Vivre' (I think it translates roughly as 'Let Us Live') and 'Donne-moi Raison' ('Give Me a Reason') offer up a series of scorching garage rockers.  Strong melodies, snotty vocals (courtesy of Simon),  searing fuzz guitars ... if these guys had sung in English they would have been massive stars!  Sure, the set isn't perfect. Tracks such as 'Dany' and 'Alice Blanche' were lightweight, throwaway pop that was probably intended to get them on the Quebec record charts, but this LP's better than 75% of their Anglo competitors.  Add to that the fact hearing real rock with the French lyrics is actually kind of cool.  This is one we've consistently played (CD-R) for the last year.

Carrousel tapped the LP for two follow-on singles:

- 1967's 'Laissez-nous Vivre' b./w 'Dany' (Carrousel catalog number CR-8)

- 1967's 'Loin de Moi' b/w 'Je Suis de Bois' (Carrousel catalog number CR-18)

"Les Lutins" track listing:

(side 1)
1.) Elle n'a Rien Compris   (Serge Lambert - Normand Brouillard - Murphy) - 

2.) Je Suis de Bois

3.) Elle

4.) Je Cherche    (Serge Lambert - Normand Brouillard - Murphy - Pierre Laurendeau) - 

5.) Dany

6.) Pretty Girl

(side 2)

1.) Laissez-nous Vivre

2.) Donne-moi Raison

3.) Demain ça Ira

4.) Loin de Moi

5.) Alice Blanche

6.) Souvenirs d'Enfance

Genre: garage

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Les Lutins En Orbit, Vol. 2

Company: Carrousel

Catalog: CR 5402

Year: 1968

Country/State: St-Hyacinthe, Quebec

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: French lyrics; small amount of writing next to song listing on back panel

Available: 1

Catalog ID: not yet listed

Price: $100.00

In spite of the French lyrics, 1968's Pierre Laurendeau produced "Les Lutin En Orbit, Vol.2" is even better than the debut.  Exemplified by material such as 'Petit Joe', 'Girl' and the blazing 'Les Yeux Fermés' their sophomore album was full of snarling, fuzz guitar powered rockers.  Simon Brouillard had one of those great voices that was capable of handling a wide range of styles, though he was at his best on the raunchy, up tempo stuff.  Admittedly some of their pop stuff wasn't bad either; 'J'ai Besoin de Toi' and the harmony rich 'À Motocyclette' sounding like Monkees outtakes.  Personal favorite - the sterling 'Mon Jour de Chance'. Sure there are a couple of missteps.  Sporting some goofy robotic sounds the lead off track 'Monsieur le Robot was a throwaway slice of pop, while 'La Jeunesse d'aujourd'hui' (built on a child's nursery rhyme), was a needless slice of MOR-pop.  Still, the overall result was a great LP and you can't but help feel these guys would have been mega stars had they been able to tap into an Anglo-audience.

"En Orbit, Vol. 2" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) Monsieur le Robot   (Jacques Michel) - 

2.) Petit Joe   (Serge Lambert - Brouillard) - 

3.) À Motocyclette   (Laurendeau - Brown) - 

4.) Girl   (Serge Lambert - Brouillard) - 

5.) La Jeunesse d'aujourd'hui   (Laurendeau - Brown) - 

6.) Les Yeux Fermés   (Serge Lambert - Brouillard) - 

(side 2)

1.) Roquet Belles Oreilles   (Jacques Michel) - 

2.) C'est toi ma Princesse   (Serge Lambert - Brouillard) - 

3.) A-t'on le Droit?   (Laurendeau - Brown) - 

4.) J'ai Besoin de Toi   (Serge Lambert - Brouillard) - 

5.) Mon Jour de Chance   (Serge Lambert - Brouillard) - 

6.) La Junglomanie (instrumental)   (Laurendeau) - 

Following the LP's release, vocalist Brouillard quit the band in pursuit of a solo career.  The rest of the band stuck together, shortening their name to Les Luths.  They released a pair of singles, before calling it quits in 1970.