Les Misrables

On your left is the booklet which comes with the LP reissue. The album features an insert with an interview by Gerry Bribosia. For more information about this release, email No Tyme Records for more information.

Original Issues:

Ooh Poo Pah Doo/Pourquoi: Jupiter 1965
Elle Me Dit/Vivre Avec Toi: Jupiter 1965
Delaisse/Je Vous Salut Madame: Jupiter 1966
Si Jamais/Toi Qui Es Jeune: Jupiter 1966
Chemises A Pois, Cravates A Fleur/C'este L'ete: Jupiter 1967
Western Union/Tu Peux Partir: Jupiter 1967
I Love You/Une Lettre: Jupiter 1967
Miserablement Votre/ : Jupiter 1967
Les Miserables LP: Jupiter 1967

Les Misrables began as a garage band in 1962. Most of their material was instrumental, paying homage to their heros, the Ventures. Their first gig was at their high school, Christophe Colomb, in downtown Montreal. Later on they played some teen dances and were working under the name Les Coronets. The line-up consisted of: Gerr Bibosa on lad guitar and occassional vocals, Michel Cavouto on rhythm guitar, Gregoire Buisson on bass and Aldo Marandola on drums. Jean-Marc Vanesse played sax. In 1963 Les Classels burst on the scene sporting white hairdos. Their gimmick became the rage, and Les Coronets died their hair blue. Les Excentriques ended up dying their hair pink, and of course, Tete E Blanche also sported Wayne Cochranesque white quiffs! Montreal was indeed a wildly fashionable place in the 60's!

Les Coronets were approached to record a single. To do this, they would have to change their name, since there was another group using Les Coronets. They chose Les Misrables after the famous Victor Hugo novel. The band recorded Jesse Hill's hit "Ooh Poh Pa Doo" along with their first original, a nice garage-pop tune called "Pourquoi?" or "Why?". The single didn't end up making too much headway for the band, so they changed their image and their clothes to a tuff mod look a la the Rolling Stones. Their second record "Elle Me Dit" was a cover of "Tell Me" and it put the band on Jeunesse d'aujord'hi and Jeunesse Oblidge teen dance shows. They were booked on a province wide tour supporting Jenny Rock and appearing along with Les Bel Air and Les Bel Canto which increased their popularity.

Les Misrables refused to follow the Quebecoise teen music scene by performing and recording mostly original material. Most bands at the time played covers of English language hits of the day. It took two more flops before "Chemise A Pois, Cravates A Fleurs" or "Polka Dot Shirts and Flowered Ties" scored a big hit for the band in 1966. The record label decided the band should record and album on the strength of this single. In 1967, the band played at the Garden Of The Stars during Expo '67 which was their only chance to play for an international audience. Two more singles spun off the LP, but Les Misrables did not become as popular as Jupiter would have liked. The band was pressured into a "beatles" look with matching suits and ties. Bibosia said "it was the beginning of the end". The band had given into the pressures of the business where they had once stood fast to their beliefs. They thought they had sold out. In the wake of their break-up, Les Misrables recorded their great punk masterpiece, "Misrablement Votre".

a complete and more detailed biography of Les Misrables along with photos of the group appear in Feline Frenzy #9 by Marc Coulavin.