Chapter 2: A Bride Abattue

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The LP is released in 1984 with the title "A bride abattue". A single is excerpted with their main tune "Toutes les nuits" (a rock'n'roll lament by a sleepwalker's fiancée) on the A-side and their only English self-composed song "Behind Your Sunglasses" (the story about a barmaid whose love is eventually rewarded) on the B-side.

The LP's nine tracks include, apart from the two mentioned above, some covers in English ("The Kids Are Alright", "With A Boy Like You", and the irresistible dance-machines "You Can't Sit Down" and "Teach Me How To Shimmy") entangled with original songs by the three from Burgundy: "Le supermarché", about a tour at the supermarket as the only fun when you're young and at a loose end, or "Nicolas", the portrait of a teenager whose implacable mistress at the last line turns out to be his guitar.

The cover is illustrated with a series of charming vintage looking black and white pictures, as a subtle reminder of the Calamités' 60's music style.

As soon as their record is released, Les Calamités are seen on TV: in the show "Jour J", hosted by Michelle Duncan and Christophe Bourseiller. Their vinyl masterwork is greeted by the press and even the cultural magazine Télérama reviews it.

While guests of Jacky's show " Platine 45" (another TV show on music for youth, viewed on Wednesday afternoons on the French channel Antenne 2), our three friends even paint their noses in red to celebrate the wine-tradition of their home region. "And what do you study?" they are asked by the host.
"Foreign languages" Caroline says. "Medicine" Odile adds. "Literature" Isabelle answers.
"And why did you call your album A bride abattue?" he asks.
"Because of that" says Odile, as she pulls down the upper part of Isabelle's sweater sleeve and unveils a totally nude shoulder with no strap on.

The American label Posh Boy, who distributes their LP in the U.S. under licence by New Rose, never took that hint. They found the correct translation of "à bride abattue" as "ride like the wind" but obviously ignored that the word for word translation ("with the bridle down") could as well be understood as "all straps down". They eventually put no title on the LP sleeve and change the group's name into The Calamities, to avoid mispronunciation.

A second record comes soon, with only four tracks : "Pas la peine" and "C'est embêtant", classical Calamités songs about clinging boyfriend and party gossip, as well as a cover of "Boy from New York City " and its French adaptation by Augier-Petit-Repolt, entitled " Le garçon de New York". In the latter are to be found the following admirable lines:
 

    Quand tu m'as dit "Je t'aime" (When you said "I love you")
    Ce fut la fin du Carême (It was the end of Lent)
    Depuis que tu es mon amant (Since you have been my lover)
    C'est tous les soirs le Ramadan (It's Ramadan every night).

Still in 1984 they sing the back vocals on "Down at Lulu's", a track by the Dogs, a band from Rouen that has been in the forefront of French rock stage since the 70's. A tit for tat, since Dominique (the singer of the Dogs) played the harmonica on "Behind Your Sunglasses". Les Calamités themselves become a must of the French rock stage, as its only nation-wide (and even internationally) recognized girl group. The French touch often provokes a snigger abroad. But it is, especially for them, characterised by French lyrics much more reader-oriented than their English counterparts, as well as a both raw and light style of performance.

Ever more in demand on stage since their album was released, les Calamités give however a limited number of concerts , including one at the Rex Club in Paris on 27th April 1985.

But soon comes the time to drop the guitars and go back to college.