Beau Dommage
| Company type | Rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1972 |
| Headquarters | Montreal , Canada |
Area served | Quebec, France, Canada, Europe |
| Products | Albums, singles, live performances |
Beau Dommage was a rock ensemble originating from Montreal, Quebec, that gained notable popularity in both Quebec and France throughout the 1970s. Their musical approach featured intricate vocal harmonies blended with influences from folk and country music genres.
History
Established in 1972 as a spin-off from the theatrical troupe "La Quenouille Bleue," the founding members Pierre Huet, Robert Léger, and Michel Rivard were later joined by Pierre Bertrand, Réal Desrosiers, and Marie Michèle Desrosiers. The term Beau Dommage comes from Quebec French slang, roughly translating to "most certainly" or "why not."
Their initial album, Beau Dommage released in 1974, set new sales benchmarks. The subsequent release, Où est passée la noce? in 1975, reached Platinum certification on its launch day. Between 1975 and 1978, the group conducted successful annual tours across Europe while maintaining frequent concerts throughout Quebec and Canada.
Following their breakup in 1978, Beau Dommage reunited in 1984 for a pair of shows at the Montreal Forum, which led to two live album releases. Another reunion occurred in 1994 when they issued a second self-titled album and toured within Quebec during 1995. The band also performed at Montreal’s 2005 Francofolies festival, where they were honored by their peers.
On July 19, 2013, Canada Post commemorated Beau Dommage with a special stamp alongside legendary Canadian rock groups Rush, the Guess Who, and the Tragically Hip.
Members
- Pierre Bertrand – guitar, bass, vocals
- Marie Michèle Desrosiers – keyboard, vocals
- Réal Desrosiers – drums
- Michel Hinton – keyboard (joined 1975)
- Pierre Huet – lyricist
- Robert Léger – keyboard, flute
- Michel Rivard – guitar, melodica, keyboards, vocals
Discography
Albums
- Beau Dommage (1974), Capitol Records
- Où Est Passée La Noce? (1975), Capitol Records
- Un Autre Jour Arrive En Ville... (1977), Capitol Records
- Passagers (1977), Capitol Records
- Au Forum De Montréal (1984), Polydor
- Au Forum De Montréal Vol. 2 (1984), Polydor
- Leurs Plus Grands Succès En Spectacle (1988), Polydor
- Beau Dommage au Forum (1992), Capitol Records
- Beau Dommage (1994), Audiogram, L'Équipe Spectra
- Rideau (1995), Audiogram
Singles
- "Le Picbois" / "A Toutes Les Fois" (1974)
- "Tous Les Palmiers" / "Montreal" (1975)
- "Harmonie Du Soir A Chateauguay" / "La Complainte Du Phoque En Alaska" (1975)
- "C'est Samedi Soir" (1976)
- "Le Blues D'la Métropole" / "Assis Dans'cuisine" (1976)
- "Amène Pas Ta Gang" (1976)
- "Gisèle En Automne" / "Générique" / "Son Ancien Chum" (1977, EP)
- "Seize Ans En Soixante Seize" / "Contre Lui" (1977)
- "Tout Va Bien" / "Marie-Chantale" (1977)
- "Hockey" / "Le Coeur Endormi" (1977)
- "Berceuse Pour Moi Toute Seule" (1977)
- "Rouler La Nuit" / "Le Passager De L'Heure De Pointe" (1977)
- "Le Rapide Blanc" (1984)
- "Échappé Belle" (1994)
- "Tout Simplement Jaloux..." / "Grande Cheminée" (1994)
Compilations
- Les Grands Succès De Beau Dommage (1978), Capitol Records
- Plus De 60 Minutes Avec... Beau Dommage (1987), Capitol Records
- L'intégrale (1991), Capitol Records
- Le Meilleur De Beau Dommage (1990), EMI France
- Anthologie (1999), EMI Canada
- L'album De Famille (2009), EMI Canada
- Photos De Famille (2010), Musique EMI Canada
- Des Airs De Famille (2010), EMI Canada
- Icon (2013), Universal Music Canada
- Coffret 40e Anniversaire (2014), Universal Music Canada
Awards and nominations
- Contender: Most Promising Female Vocalist, Juno Awards of 1975
- Contender: Group of the Year, Juno Awards 1976
- Contender: Best Selling Album for Beau Dommage, Juno Awards 1976
- Recipient: Group of the Year, Félix Awards, 1995
- Contender: Best Selling Francophone Album for Beau Dommage, Juno Awards of 1996
External links
- Beau Dommage profile at CanadianBands.com
- Beau Dommage entry in The Encyclopedia of Music in Canada
- Beau Dommage featured in The Canadian Encyclopedia
- ProgQuebec: Beau Dommage