Brigitte Fontaine

✺ 2LP - Gatefold + Obi + LP Bonus + Booklet

Wewantsounds is delighted to reissue French pop icon Brigitte Fontaine’s landmark 1968 album Brigitte Fontaine Est Folle, originally released on the cult label Saravah and arranged by Jean-Claude Vannier. This special 2-LP edition, approved by the artist, features the original album, newly remastered from the original tapes, along with a second LP of demos, instrumentals, and a live rendition of “Il Pleut” recorded for France Inter/ORTF. The release also includes a 20-page bilingual booklet with introductions by journalist Jeremy Allen and Stereolab’s Laetitia Sadier, essays by Brigitte Fontaine’s biographer Benoît Mouchart and Benjamin Barouh, plus full lyrics and rare archival photos.

Brigitte Fontaine needs no introduction. An inspiring figure in French music since the 1960s, she has long been revered by a wide array of musicians—from Stereolab to Sonic Youth, Beck, and Jarvis Cocker.

Originally released in 1968 on Pierre Barouh’s cult Saravah label, Brigitte Fontaine Est Folle shattered conventions. Fusing Fontaine’s lyrical brilliance - tackling themes like death, social revolt, and female desire - with Vannier’s lush, funky arrangements, the pair created a work that was ahead of its time. The album has been newly remastered from the original tapes, recently rediscovered in the Saravah vaults by Benjamin Barouh, and is now reissued in a deluxe 2-LP edition featuring a wealth of bonus material.

The first LP presents the original album in stunning clarity, restoring every nuance of Fontaine’s cutting-edge songs alongside Vannier’s lush orchestrations. The second LP offers a selection of rare and previously unreleased recordings, including demos - recently unearthed by Benjamin Barouh – instrumentals showcasing Vannier’s skills, and a groundbreaking 1969 live rendition of “Il Pleut” recorded for France Inter/ORTF. This version features Malachi Favors on bass, forming a direct link to her next LP, Comme à la Radio, recorded with the Art Ensemble of Chicago (to be reissued in 2026.)

Also included is a 20-page bilingual booklet packed with rare archival photographs and documents. Featuring introductions by Stereolab’s Laetitia Sadier and journalist Jeremy Allen, as well as essays by Fontaine’s biographer Benoît Mouchart and Benjamin Barouh, the booklet offers rich context and fresh perspectives on the album’s legacy.

Rebellious, witty and timeless, Brigitte Fontaine Est Folle is a landmark work by an artist who not only redefined French pop but also expanded its boundaries on the international scene. This deluxe edition stands as a vital document of her enduring legacy and one of the most original voices in modern music.