the cougars?

[chas]

Although it would be slightly off topic, you should start a new thread on 'banned records' Dave - I'm sure it would throw up some more interesting songs and the sometimes incredulous reasons for them being banned...!
Chas.

[Mikey]

I became friends with a member of a band called The Roulettes in the mid 60's.

Would that be the same band who backed Adam Faith for a while? I liked "The First Time" and "We Are In Love" and still play it on CD.

[chas]

Hi Mike, yes the same Roulettes.
When Adam Faith decided a change in style was needed to compete with the emerging 'Liverpool sound' & vocal groups in general with their then 'current' sound, the Roulettes were recruited along with songwriter Chris Andrews - who I also got to know at the same time as Pete Thorp (Roulettes). Strangley, after I got to know Chris I discovered he used to live (unbeknown to me) down the other end of the road I lived in!
The Roulettes were a superb band and their singles (often with instrumental 'B' sides - though not Shads style) and their one and only album (Stakes and Chips - on Parlaphone) a really well worth a listen....they deserved to be much bigger than they were.
Chas.

[Didier]

In 66, Michel Polnareff's song "l'amour avec toi" was banned from the ORTF (the French equivalent of the BBC) because it was saying "j'aimerai simplement faire l'amour avec toi" (I'd like to just make love with you).

Didier

[Arpeggio]

Very interesting Didier. Where there ever any Instrumentals banned in France for any similar (ridiculous!!) reasons such as the UK bans already described - ie: likely to incite teenagers to fight / riot (!!) - "Rumble", likely to frighten nervous people - "Night Of The Vampire", insulting to the memory / dignity of classical composers (the Cougars, Nero & The Gladiators) etc.??

Amicalements - Rob

[dave robinson]

In 66, Michel Polnareff's song "l'amour avec toi" was banned from the ORTF (the French equivalent of the BBC) because it was saying "j'aimerai simplement faire l'amour avec toi" (I' like to just make love with you).

Didier

After visiting France in 1966 on a tour that included an appearance at The Olympia Paris on the Little Richard Show, we had worked with Polnareff and bought his records, eventually performing 'L'amour Avec Toi' and 'La Poupee Qui Fait Non' in our show here in the UK. May I say that they were surprisingly well received - probably because they were strong melodies, it certainly wouldn't have been our pigeon French interpretation . . . . .

[Didier]

Very interesting Didier. Where there ever any Instrumentals banned in France for any similar (ridiculous!!) reasons such as the UK bans already described - ie: likely to incite teenagers to fight / riot (!!)

Can't remember any intrumentals being banned in France, but apart for "L'amour avec toi" a few other songs were, besause they were considered either licencious or subversives.

Didier

[Arpeggio]

Many thanks Didier. Sensibly, the French were always much more liberal I think. The BBC establishment / hierarchy was very 'stuffy' - almost right up to the end of the 1960s.

Rob

[Didier]

Many thanks Didier. Sensibly, the French were always much more liberal I think. The BBC establishment / hierarchy was very 'stuffy' - almost right up to the end of the 1960s.

Rob

Things changed a lot in France after 1968. While Polnareff's "L'amour avec toi" was banned in 66, Serge Gainsbourg's "Je t'aime, moi non plus" wasn't banned in France when it was relesased in 1969 (but was in Italy) despite being far more licencious !

Didier

[Mike Honey]

apologies for 'off topic' but Chas' mention of the Roulettes bought back a lot of memories. in about '64 i was staying with my Nan in Bridlington where she worked at the 'Spa' Hall. she wangled me a backstage pass to meet Adam Faith and the Roulettes, where I spent most of the time talking to the lead guitarist as he was nearest to my age. He was Russ Ballard who later joined Unit 4 plus 2 and was responsible for that fabulous solo on concrete and clay. He is now a songwriter of some fame. I think Pete was the rhythm guitarist at the time. Great band!

mike