RaymondLefevreFrontIntroduction

Raymond Lefèvre (1929-2008, real name Raymond Louis Auguste Lefebvre) was a successful French pianist, composer and orchestra conductor. After studying at the Paris conservatory, Lefèvre started his career as a pianist and in the 1950s played in the orchestra’s of Frank Pourcel and Paul Mauriat. In 1956 he started his own orchestra and released his first album on the Barclay label. It is this orchestra that is often heard playing in the songs of French singer Dalida. In the 1960s Raymond Lefèvre conducted his orchestra four times at the European Song Festival.

The “Rose d'Or” is an international awards festival in entertainment broadcasting and programming, first organised by the European Broadcasting Union in 1961 in Montreux (Switzerland). In 1970 Raymond Lefèvre arranged a composition by Vangelis titled ‘Stephanie’ as the main theme for the “Rose d’Or” festival, held in Montreux from 24-27th of April. The instrumental track is included on Lefèvre’s album ”Concerto Pour Une Voix” (1970).

According to the liner notes of the Japanese LP, “Stephanie” is a new arrangement of an unreleased song by “Aphrodite’s Child”. Considering the timing that seems plausible, and makes me wonder what happened to Vangelis’ original arrangement... Anyway, Lefèvre arranged the song for his 'Grand Orchestre', including a big brass section, strings, drums, percussion and yes, an organ. Could it be Vangelis playing? We may never know for sure. A wonderful theme, very 1970s, varied, only two-and-a-half minutes long but fluid and lively until the end!

During his long career Raymond Lefèvre also worked as a composer for film, most memorable his music for the comedy films of Louis de Funès. His biggest international hit was "Soul Coaxing" in 1968, and he also had great success with "La Reine De Saba" (1969) in Japan, where his popularity took him to tour the country several times.

 

RaymondLefevreLabelTracklist and credits

  • 'Stephanie'

Composed by Vangelis Papathanassiou.
Arrangement by Raymond Lefèvre.
Performed by Raymond Lefèvre and his Grand Orchestre.

 

Discography

LP

  • 1970 Concerto Pour Une Voix... (Riviera 550.005) France. Also released in Canada, Japan and Turkey
  • 1970 Raymond Lefèvre Et Son Grand Orchestre No.12 (Riviera 521.146) France. Also released in Canada
  • 1970 Bridge Over Troubled Water And Other Great Hits (Riviera SRVL.933937) Australia
  • 1971 Variétés (Barclay 521146) UK

CD

  • 1989 Les Plus Grands Succes De Raymond Lefèvre Vol.4 (Victor VDP-1433) Japan
  • 1998 Je t'Aime Moi Non Plus / Concerto Pour Une Voix... (Riviera/Seven Seas VICP-60558) Japan
  • 2009 Raymond Lefèvre Et Son Grand Orchestre No.12 (Victor VICP-64620) Japan

 

Links

 RaymondLefevreAphroditesChildRaymond Lefèvre, Marcel Zanini and Aphrodite's Child