Mademoiselle Babette – Joyeux, 1982

🎤🌴🕺👩🏾💿 It wasn’t until the age of almost thirty-five, in 1982, that Eric Joyeux finally recorded his first album, a little 45 rpm arranged by no less than Roland Louis himself. The Guadeloupe native had worked his way up in his youth, and had dabbled in music-hall and chanson, particularly in Marseille. Under the simple name of Joyeux, not yet de Cocotier – but that’s not far off – he signs two tracks, including Mademoiselle Babette, a disco-tinged beguine in homage to the woman who inspired and pushed him from the start. On the flip, Jamaica takes centre stage with a well-crafted Reggae Family.