Les Irrésistibles
Encyclopedia
Les Irrésistibles were a boy band during the late 1960s and early 1970s, whose members were Americans
living in France
. The lineup consisted of lead singer Jim McMains on keyboards and rhythm guitar, his identical twin brother Steve McMains on bass, Tom Arena on lead guitar, and Andy Cornelius on drums.
. They developed a following among the local American community by playing cover version
s of contemporary hits. They came to the notice of recording scouts, and eventually signed with CBS
, who marketed them as Les Irrésistibles. The arrangement included British carmaker Triumph
as a corporate sponsor, and the company's TR5
roadster featured prominently in the group's first video
and early publicity photos.
The band's first release and biggest commercial success was "My Year is a Day" (written by William Sheller
), which came out as a single
in 1968. The song spent several weeks at number-one on the French pop charts, and a French version by Dalida
appeared as "Dans la Ville Endormie". The notes on the record jacket contained a fictional account of their origins, claiming that the band formed in Los Angeles
with the name The Beloved Ones, of which Les Irrésistibles was the French equivalent.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
living in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The lineup consisted of lead singer Jim McMains on keyboards and rhythm guitar, his identical twin brother Steve McMains on bass, Tom Arena on lead guitar, and Andy Cornelius on drums.
Origins
The band formed in 1966 as The Sentries, when the members were teenage classmates at the American School of ParisAmerican School of Paris
The American School of Paris is a private, coeducational day school located in Saint-Cloud, a suburb of Paris, France. It was founded in 1946 shortly after the end of World War II by the combined efforts of the American Embassy and the American Express Company...
. They developed a following among the local American community by playing cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
s of contemporary hits. They came to the notice of recording scouts, and eventually signed with CBS
CBS Records
CBS Records is a record label founded by CBS Corporation in 2006 to take advantage of music from its entertainment properties owned by CBS Television Studios. The initial label roster consisted of only three artists; rock band Señor Happy and singer/songwriters Will Dailey and P.J...
, who marketed them as Les Irrésistibles. The arrangement included British carmaker Triumph
Triumph Motor Company
The Triumph Motor Company was a British car and motor manufacturing company. The Triumph marque is owned currently by BMW. The marque had its origins in 1885 when Siegfried Bettmann of Nuremberg initiated S. Bettmann & Co and started importing bicycles from Europe and selling them with his own...
as a corporate sponsor, and the company's TR5
Triumph TR5
The Triumph TR5 was built for a 13 month period between August 1967 and September 1968 by the Triumph Motor Company in Coventry, England....
roadster featured prominently in the group's first video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
and early publicity photos.
The band's first release and biggest commercial success was "My Year is a Day" (written by William Sheller
William Sheller
William Sheller is a French classical composer and singer.-Biography:William Sheller was born William Hand in Paris.He left school at 16 to study composition with teacher Yves Margat and later harmony, fugue and counterpoint at the Paris conservatoire. He turned to pop music after hearing the...
), which came out as a single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
in 1968. The song spent several weeks at number-one on the French pop charts, and a French version by Dalida
Dalida
Dalida , born with Italian name of Iolanda Cristina Gigliotti, was a world-famous singer and actress born in Egypt with Italian origins but naturalised French with the name Yolanda Gigliotti. She spent her early years in Egypt amongst the Italian Egyptian community, but she lived most of her adult...
appeared as "Dans la Ville Endormie". The notes on the record jacket contained a fictional account of their origins, claiming that the band formed in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
with the name The Beloved Ones, of which Les Irrésistibles was the French equivalent.
Singles
- 1968: "My Year is a Day"
- 1968: "Lands of Shadow"
- 1969: "Dreams of Dolls"
- 1969: "Why Try to Hide"
- 1969: "Girl I Love You" / "Universe of Love"
- 1970: "Peace of Love"
- 1971: "Baby I Need You Back Again"
- 1972: "Christmas Bells Will Ring (Petit Papa Noël)"