April 2nd, 2021 saw the release of Sheila's long-awaited album entitled "Venue d'Ailleurs" by Warner/New Chance.
Venue d'Ailleurs is available in several formats (CD, CD/DVD (limited edition), Cassette, Vinyl) and on the major online platforms (including Spotify, Deezer and iTunes/Apple Music).
Click here to buy a copy of the album or to download it.
Information on the Discogs database: Sheila - Venue D'ailleurs | Références | Discogs
French chanteuse Sheila will celebrate her 60th anniversary as a recording artist next year in November 2022. In the 1960s and 1970s, the yé-yé girl scored hit after hit in her homeland. Among her chart-toppers were "L'École est Finie" (1963), "Vous les Copains" (the French cover version of Manfred Mann's "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" in 1964), "Petite Fille de Français Moyens" (1968) and "Les Rois Mages" (the cover of "Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum" originally performed by Middle of the Road in 1971). Her success helped her producer Claude Carrere to launch his own record company in 1967.
Between 1977 and 1980, Sheila's career reached another level. She updated her bubblegum repertoire by performing disco tracks sung in English. Three American backup singers/dancers (Dany Mac Farlane, Freddy Stracham and Arthur Wilkins) known as B. Devotion were hired to accompany her. Sheila & B. Devotion conquered the record charts all over the world. Their most successful singles were "Love Me Baby" (1977), "Singin' In The Rain" (a disco cover of the Gene Kelly classic from late 1977), "You Light My Fire" (1978) and "Spacer" (1979).
Overview of Sheila's disco years (1977 - 1980): All About LUV' (past, present, future and more): Spotlight on Luv's former label mates: Sheila & B Devotion!!! (luvgirlgroup.blogspot.com)
The release of the iconic LP entitled "King Of The World" (including Spacer) on June 27th, 1980 was a milestone in Sheila's career. This opus was written and produced by the one and only Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers of the American R&B band Chic (who also worked with Sister Sledge, Diana Ross, Debbie Harry, Madonna and Duran Duran). Last year, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of this legendary album, Warner Music France reissued it in three Deluxe formats. King Of The World was also available on the major online platforms.
Read my article about the 40th anniversary of King Of The World: All About LUV' (past, present, future and more): 40th anniversary of King Of The World by Sheila & B. Devotion (Luv's former label mates) (luvgirlgroup.blogspot.com)
The Luv' ladies (Patty Brard, Marga Scheide & José Hoebee) were the label mates of Sheila & B. Devotion at Carrere Records. Both groups appeared on the same popular European TV shows (including Musikladen in Germany, TopPop in Holland, Top Club in France and Aplauso in Spain). In October 1979, Luv' signed an exclusive and lucrative record deal with CNR (a label affiliated with Carrere). Prior to this contract, Luv's previous label Philips/Phonogram already licensed the rights for some records (including You're the Greatest Lover, Trojan Horse and With Luv') to Carrere in Germany. Ooh, Yes I Do by Luv' came out practically at the same time as Spacer by Sheila & B. Devotion in November 1979 (see news posted on November 10th, 2019).
Luv's signature with CNR/Carrere on October 7th, 1979 - first row above (from left to right): Arranger-conductor Piet Souer, Carrere Netherlands director Bart van der Laar, CNR director Ruud Wijnants and Luv's manager Pim ter Linde - second row below (from left to right): José Hoebee, Marga Scheide and Patty Brard
Venue d'Ailleurs by Sheila is a masterpiece of French pop music and is considered the artist's musical autobiography. The album is eclectic and very contemporary. It includes emotional tracks like "La Rumeur" (about a terrible rumour that spoiled a great part of Sheila's life), "Cheval d'amble" (dealing with the unexpected death of her son four years ago), uptempo songs like "Law Of Attraction" (written by Nile Rodgers) and "Tous Yéyé" as well as "7ème Continent" (about ecological issues).
7ème Continent
Tous yé-yé
La Rumeur
In addition to her collaboration with Nile Rodgers on one of the above-mentioned songs, Sheila had the honour to work again on two tracks with the legendary record producer Keith Olsen (Pat Benatar, Santana, Scorpions...) before his passing: "Ooh La La" and "It's Not Over" (a duet with Jason Scheff of Chicago). In 1981, after the Disco Sucks movement in the USA, Sheila chose a pop-rock style and recorded an album entitled Little Darlin' (produced by Olsen and featuring a single of the same name which peaked at #49 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the USA). It was her last successful international project.
Sheila took four years to release Venue d'Ailleurs and wanted the crème de la crème of session musicians, songwriters and producers. The album was recorded at the ICP studios in Brussels, Belgium and The Echo Bar recording studios in North Hollywood, CA for the songs produced by Keith Olsen. French bestselling author and film director Yann Moix wrote the liner notes for the CD booklet.
In April and May, the songstress went on a hectic promo tour in the French media (radio (RTL, Europe 1, France Info, France Bleu, Sud Radio), television (France 2, BFM TV, CNews, Culturebox, KTO) and the press (Le Parisien, Libération, La Voix du Nord, La Nouvelle République, Télé 7 Jours, Télé Poche, Nous Deux).
Venue d'Ailleurs received positive reviews. On April 3rd, it entered the French SNEP Albums chart at #11 and stayed 5 weeks on this list. On April 10th, it peaked at #4 on the Walloon Ultratop chart in Belgium (its current position is #168). On April 11th, it stayed at #25 on the Swiss hit parade (Alben - Schweizer Hitparade) for one week.
We ❤️ Sheila and are proud of her most ambitious project!!!
Source: Sheila's official website and social media, Wikipedia, YouTube, Luv' weblog archives, Lescharts.com
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