Lobster Causing Leg Pain

After Ski / Jacques Crevier Illustration 1971


Après Ski is the genesis of Funk Quebecers. Before 1971, there were a few 45s, but say it is the first album made by musicians Funk Quebecers. Still wonder what kind of famous first album was made for nothing less than an erotic film. Here is the story of a musical style born in vice.


Jacques Crevier is a character who over time gave rise to all sorts of speculation. We told him he was a French who worked only briefly in Quebec; that his name was the nickname of the group Chicago. The truth is probably less dramatic . The

only mystery to me is the name of Diana Huggan on the center of the disc label. This name does not match any musician, songwriter, singer known or listed. Probably a history of nominees from the producer to cash royalties. Finally. To my knowledge Crevier was a composer / arranger unknown who worked mostly in the shadows of several singers / waitresses Pop. Only include: Jacques Boulanger, Pauline Julien, Anne Renee, Holly Valance and Tony Romano.


****************************** THE NEW ******************************
My colleague Felix Garage Sale just made a discovery . It seems that all of Jacques Crevier was none other than the Montreal band Illustration .

RICHARD TERRY-BASS GUITAR-
GARRY BEATTIE
JOHNNY RANGER-CLAUDE ROY
ORGAN BATTERY
LEDSTER BILLY GLENN HIGGINS
-VOICE-TENOR SAXOPHONE
NORMAN BURGESS-Baritone Saxophone
Roger Homefield
TROMBONE-BENOIT-PERREAULT TRUMPET TRUMPET-
BILLY SHIEL

In an interview with Felix Garage Sale, the leader named John Ranger says he composed all the pieces except one, and minimizes the role of Jacques Crevier:

" Jacques Crevier did" nothing. He Is A Fake. He Took All the Credit, goal I Did All the writing. "
****************************** NEW ******************************

Probably collectors Quebecers can not believe that someone who have composed a disk as good as the soundtrack of the movie "After Ski" would have ended there. But that would be unfamiliar with the cultural history of Quebec. There are so many gifted artists (in comics, movies, literature ...) who, for whatever reason geo-cultural stop after 2-3 masterpieces. Even the most talented do not always have a long career here.

Both its rarity as for its quality, Après Ski fact many collectors salivate. The soundtrack of this film has become the Holy Grail of Quebecers Funk, Funk ambassador abroad. It is the origin of the genre but still unbeatable (after all these years), atop the short list of the best Funk album Quebecers. List would include (depending Psyquébélique) Jeremiah Lee Gagnon (1973), The second album from Ville Emard Blues Band (1975), the album brown Luc Cousineau (1976) and Ovila of Ovila Blais (1976).

Title After Ski course, stems from the term referring to the social side of this Nordic sport. A pub Pepsi pub dating from 1988 shows a little sense.



In fact, this film by Roger Cardinal was adapting the novel by Philip Blanchont published in 1966. In endo reads:

"A novel based on true stories of sexual freedom that takes place under the guise of sport in our Canadian resorts."

film to him when, following the vein and tells the stories "in love" with a few ski instructors including Mark (played by Donald Pilon). After frolicking with his students, Mark ends up falling in love with Terry Lopez (Celine Lomez). To be nice, I would describe the scenario of "light". Coincidence or not, twenty years later, a film strangely similar to the concept was released in the United States: Ski School (1991) .

In 1971 in Quebec, the film is in full sexual revolution since Valerie (1968). A wave of erotic film sometimes called "the Quebec undress," or "Maple Syrup Porn" rages. Around this core, orbits the most talented artists of the time (musicians, illustrators). But this method is far from unanimous.



several First Team member of Après Ski disowned the film after it is released in theaters (including Donald Pilon and screenwriter Peter Brousseau). Finding the film bad, they prétextèrent have participated for purely financial reasons. Then a pastor of St. Roch party anti-porn crusade against "After Ski" and "Batteries or Tails". The case turned into a mini scandal. Because of a petition addressed to the Ministry of Justice, the film reels were saisient Quebec. The Association of Directors manifested against this back to censorship. The position of Minister Choquette did not unanimity within the Liberal caucus of Robert Bourassa. The story was settled by the Prime Minister. He personally intervened in the matter following a meeting with members of the association of directors. The film

had nevertheless a great success, the priest's crusade Lavoie gave quite a boost advertising Après Ski. Like many erotic films here, it aroused curiosity in English Canada. He was doubled and distributed under different names abroad: Winter Games (CAN), Sex in the Snow (UK), Meta to ski (Greece) and Snowballin '(U.S.). Scenes "hard" had been added by the distributor in the U.S. version.


What's funny with hindsight, too, is the artist roster of "respectable" which is played in this erotic movie: Rene Angelil, Janine Sutto Francine Grimaldi and Raymond Lévesque (to mention only a few).

But back to music. Side 1 of the album contains mostly walks of pop star snorting the time. Mark Hamilton (As she is beautiful girls), Mariette Lévesque (Sleep with me), and a walk instrumental (The Lovers). Celine sings the theme Lomez (Apres Ski).


Oddly, a version of this theme was played by the then organist young (too young "legally speaking" to have seen the movie), Maurice Desjardins. With much less budget and instruments (drums, guitar and organ) he managed to make an adaptation frankly more rhythmic than the original. Not bad for a 12 year old boy! This version is available on the website of my colleague Garage Sale .


Now let's get serious, the music of Funk Side B. The name of John Crevier Ranger is almost not visible and registered only endo . It's still ironic in hindsight to see what the best age for this soundtrack is what almost hid at the time.

The Funk was originally used in action films African-American but became, over time, synonymous with porn music. After films like skiing has certainly contributed. Year of Release After Ski (1971) coincides with the beginning of the wave of Blaxploitation films in U.S. (1971 Shaft, Super Fly 1972 ... etc). The sound

parts Crevier Illustration is typical of the best soundtracks of the time. An orchestra led by the brass and percussion. A mixture of the soundtracks of late 60's secret agents (solemn brass), but with a touch of Funk 70's (brass more libidinous, addition of organ, guitar and bass wah). Somewhere between porn and crime series.

parts Crevier illustration called "The frantic race," "The sweet fox", "The great Mark", "burning eyes" are pure gems. "The frenzied race" is the last piece of the Face 1. Too Short (1:03), a kind of geuleton before the main course. It almost sounds of Afro-beat early.

The best play is clearly "The sweet fox" (though the intro and conclusion s'éternissent slightly). This piece was part of the compilation "Canadian Racer" (2002) but was misidentified. The combination of heavy wind instruments (baritone sax) and acute (trumpet) energize the horn section.

The play "The great Mark" is a catchy funk and circular. The omnipresence of the organ apart from other rooms. "Soul of Fire" is a play strictly jazz. The muted trumpet is in the spotlight, but is supported by a heavy brass section which gives it a certain prestige. "The burning eyes" entered the album beautifully. Similar to the play "The sweet fox" but more down-tempo.


Notice to interested parties in 2007 Equinox distributor Films has reissued the film on DVD (and changed the cover of white snow after skiing in turquoise ?!?).









Furthermore, very recently (in 2009), a group called Erotic PQ formed. They have aimed to pay tribute to film soundtracks erotic Quebecers. On stage, he reinterpreted a selection of the best parts. They have a Myspace page and an extract from the spectacle Off Summer Festival of Quebec ( available on Youtube), it can mean "burning eyes" taken from Apres Ski.

Finally this soundtrack is a masterpiece of musical forgotten. Like any other hard Funk Quebecers Après Ski is still not reissued on CD. The few remaining copies of this disc, are likely mostly abroad. The sad part about this is that a whole generation of musicians Quebecers are unaware of its existence and draw their inspiration from American artists, or French. When you know how this soundtrack is wanted in the United States and France is even more ironic. There is never a prophet in his own country!


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