Pre-Order 20/11/26 - Fontaine, Brigitte: Comme A La Radio: On Air

This item is available for pre-order only and will be dispatched on or around its release date (20/11/26)

Wewantsounds is delighted to present Comme à la Radio: On Air, a limited-edition 2-LP companion, limited to 2,000 copies worldwide to its expanded edition of Brigitte Fontaine’s landmark 1970 album Comme à la Radio. Featuring previously unreleased live recordings made for the French ORTF radio between 1969 and 1971 with Areski Belkacem and a host of outstanding musicians, the set is complemented by a second LP of unissued studio recordings, including two instrumental versions of the title track and the complete 10-minute take of “Leo.” Newly remastered from the original tapes, Comme à la Radio: On Air offers an unique insight into the making of one of the most groundbreaking works in French music. The package also includes a 4-page bilingual booklet featuring an essay by Brigitte Fontaine biographer Benoît Mouchart and an introduction by Saravah's Benjamin Barouh.

Following its acclaimed expanded edition of Comme à la Radio, Wewantsounds delves deeper into Brigitte Fontaine’s groundbreaking music with Comme à la Radio: On Air. Released as a limited-edition 2-LP set, this companion collection uncovers a remarkable selection of previously unreleased live and studio recordings dating from 1969 to 1971, offering an unprecedented insight into one of the most adventurous bodies of work in French music.

The first LP brings together a series of live recordings made for the French ORTF radio between 1969 and 1971. Captured in different settings and featuring Areski Belkacem alongside members of Paris's vibrant expatriate jazz scene, including Steve Potts, Robin Kenyatta and Ronnie Beer, these performances trace the evolution of Fontaine's repertoire—from the theatrical world of Les Enfants sont tous fous and Niok to the recording of the now legendary Comme à la Radio.

The second LP returns to the original Saravah studio sessions with a selection of previously unreleased recordings that illuminate the making of the album. Highlights include the original instrumental version of the title track alongside a previously unheard alternate take, revealing the extraordinary interplay between the musicians. Also included are the complete ten-minute take of “Leo” and an alternate mix of “Tanka II.” Together, these recordings offer a fascinating glimpse into the creative process behind one of the defining albums of the French avant-garde.

Completing the release is a 4-page bilingual booklet featuring an essay by Brigitte Fontaine biographer Benoît Mouchart and an introduction by Benjamin Barouh, placing these rare recordings in the context of Fontaine’s extraordinary artistic journey. Together with the expanded edition of Comme à la Radio this second set offers the most comprehensive insight to date into the making of Brigitte Fontaine’s landmark album and the boundless creativity that surrounded it.

1. Comme à la Radio - La Fine Fleur de la Chanson Française 1971
2. Tanka II - Niok 1969 - La Fine Fleur de la Chanson Française
3. Le Brouillard - Niok 1969 - La Fine Fleur de la Chanson Française
4. L'été L'été - Libre Parcours 1970
5. Le Goudron - Libre Parcours 1970
6. Le Noir C'est Mieux Choisi - Les Enfants Sont Tous Fous 1969
7. Les Beaux Animaux - Les Enfants Sont Tous Fous 1969
8. Ô Thèbes toi qui nourrit Sémélé - L'anti Fête 1969
9. Comme à la Radio - Inst. Version
10. Comme à la Radio - Alt. Inst Take
11. Leo - Complete Take
12. Tanka II - Alternate Mix