Music for Supermarkets
Encyclopedia
Music for Supermarkets (Musique pour Supermarché) is a 1983 album of instrumental electronic music
by Jean-Michel Jarre. It is notable for having only a single copy pressed, and the subsequent, deliberate destruction of its master plates, effectively making the copy unique.
themed art exhibition, the Orrimbe show. Jarre agreed, recording Music for Supermarkets (Musique pour Supermarché) between February and May 1983. The exhibition, created by some young artists and friends of Jarre, ran at the Jean-Claude Riedel gallery between June 2 and June 30, 1983, and the works of art on display would be auctioned off afterwards. Inspired by this, Jarre decided that the music accompanying the exhibition could be a one-off piece of art as well, and thus, Music for Supermarkets would have only a single, unique copy pressed, to be auctioned for charity at Hotel Drouot
. After the exhibition had ended, master tapes and plates were destroyed, making this the only existing copy in the world. It instantly became one of the most expensive and collectible albums in history. In the inside cover, 11 polaroid
photos show the step by step creation of the disc, leaving one slot so that the final owner could add his photo with the album. The album owner was first kept anonymous, but later revealed to be a certain M. Gerard, who after a car crash woke up to the radio playing Jarre's track "Souvenir of China" (from the Concerts in China album); this album cost him 69,000 francs (10,500 euro
). As of 2007, the album has been sold two times, the second owner being a certain Ducroix; its current owner is unknown.
. Jarre launched the album with the words "Piratez Moi!" (Pirate Me), and bootlegs
of the radio broadcast do exist, although at a very poor quality (the radio station was an AM
station
). Some of the music, however, has been reworked into subsequent Jarre albums, so the music from the album is not completely lost for the public. The following tracks were reworked:
The above timing is approximately calculated from bootleg recordings, as the original record is not available.
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
by Jean-Michel Jarre. It is notable for having only a single copy pressed, and the subsequent, deliberate destruction of its master plates, effectively making the copy unique.
Production
In 1983, Jean Michel Jarre was asked to compose the background music for a supermarketSupermarket
A supermarket, a form of grocery store, is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments...
themed art exhibition, the Orrimbe show. Jarre agreed, recording Music for Supermarkets (Musique pour Supermarché) between February and May 1983. The exhibition, created by some young artists and friends of Jarre, ran at the Jean-Claude Riedel gallery between June 2 and June 30, 1983, and the works of art on display would be auctioned off afterwards. Inspired by this, Jarre decided that the music accompanying the exhibition could be a one-off piece of art as well, and thus, Music for Supermarkets would have only a single, unique copy pressed, to be auctioned for charity at Hotel Drouot
Hôtel Drouot
Hôtel Drouot is a large auction house in Paris, known for fine art, antiques, and antiquities. It consists of 16 halls hosting 70 independent auction firms, which operate under the umbrella grouping of Drouot....
. After the exhibition had ended, master tapes and plates were destroyed, making this the only existing copy in the world. It instantly became one of the most expensive and collectible albums in history. In the inside cover, 11 polaroid
Instant film
Instant film is a type of photographic film first introduced by Polaroid that is designed to be used in an instant camera...
photos show the step by step creation of the disc, leaving one slot so that the final owner could add his photo with the album. The album owner was first kept anonymous, but later revealed to be a certain M. Gerard, who after a car crash woke up to the radio playing Jarre's track "Souvenir of China" (from the Concerts in China album); this album cost him 69,000 francs (10,500 euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
). As of 2007, the album has been sold two times, the second owner being a certain Ducroix; its current owner is unknown.
The music today
Shortly after its sale, the album was played in its full length on Radio LuxembourgRadio Luxembourg (French)
Radio Luxembourg - 1933-1939 and 1951- is the name of a Long Wave commercial radio station that began broadcasting from the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in 1933 as a daytime and evening service in the French language from Monday to Saturday and until 12 Noon on Sundays.The station closed down at the...
. Jarre launched the album with the words "Piratez Moi!" (Pirate Me), and bootlegs
Bootleg recording
A bootleg recording is an audio or video recording of a performance that was not officially released by the artist or under other legal authority. The process of making and distributing such recordings is known as bootlegging...
of the radio broadcast do exist, although at a very poor quality (the radio station was an AM
AM broadcasting
AM broadcasting is the process of radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation. AM was the first method of impressing sound on a radio signal and is still widely used today. Commercial and public AM broadcasting is carried out in the medium wave band world wide, and on long wave and short wave...
station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
). Some of the music, however, has been reworked into subsequent Jarre albums, so the music from the album is not completely lost for the public. The following tracks were reworked:
- Music for supermarkets part 2: Used in "Fifth Rendez-vous part 3" on "Rendez-vous" (1986).
- Music for supermarkets part 3: Used in "Fourth Rendez-vous" on "Rendez-vous" (1986).
- Music for supermarkets part 4: Used in "Blah-Blah Café" on "ZoolookZoolookZoolook is the fourth overall mainstream studio album by Jean Michel Jarre, and released on Disques Dreyfus in 1984. It makes extensive use of digital recording techniques and sampling. It is considered by many fans as one of Jarre's most experimental albums to date...
" (1984). - Music for supermarkets part 6: Used in the second half of "Diva" on "Zoolook" (1984).
Track listing
- "Intro to Side A" - 0:51
- "Music for Supermarkets Overture" - 4:09
- "Music for Supermarkets 1" - 2:18
- "Music for Supermarkets 2" - 3:30
- "Music for Supermarkets 3" - 2:17
- "Music for Supermarkets 4" - 3:52
- "Intro to Side B" - 0:18
- "Music for Supermarkets 5" - 5:53
- "Music for Supermarkets 6" - 3:59
- "Music for Supermarkets 7" - 3:51
The above timing is approximately calculated from bootleg recordings, as the original record is not available.