Music for Supermarkets

Music for Supermarkets

Music for Supermarkets (Musique pour Supermarché) is a unique and extraordinary album by Jean-Michel Jarre, created in 1983 as a statement on the commercialization of art. The album was specially composed for an art exhibition in Paris, organized by Galerie Daniel Templon. This exhibition focused on artworks that had only one existing copy, mirroring Jarre’s concept for the album: only one physical copy would be made, and it would never be reissued or reproduced.

Concept and Philosophy

Jean-Michel Jarre intended Music for Supermarkets to make a bold statement about the growing consumer culture and the way art was being treated as a commodity rather than a unique form of expression. The album’s title is symbolic: it references the trivialization of art and music, as if it were a disposable product found on supermarket shelves. With this project, Jarre questioned the value of art in an era dominated by mass production and reproduction. By producing only one copy of the album, Jarre turned the album itself into a unique artwork, much like the paintings and sculptures exhibited at the gallery.

– Music for Supermarkets –

Recording Process and Music

The album consisted of entirely original music, composed by Jarre in his signature electronic style. The recordings were made in his home studio in Paris. The music bore strong similarities to his earlier works such as Oxygène and Équinoxe, with flowing synthesizer sounds, atmospheric soundscapes, and rhythmic sequencers typical of Jarre’s style in the 1970s and 1980s. Although the exact tracklist of the album has remained unknown to the public, it is believed to contain eight tracks, ranging from ambient-like pieces to more rhythmic and melodic compositions.

Auction and Destruction of the Master Tapes

After completing the album, Jarre decided to create only one physical LP. This was auctioned on July 6, 1983, for a price of 69,000 French francs (approximately €15,000). The buyer remained anonymous, and the album has since disappeared into private hands. To complete the statement, Jarre publicly destroyed the master tapes of the album, ensuring it could never be reproduced or re-released. This act only added to the album’s legendary status and further underscored the idea of art as a singular, non-repeatable event.

– Auction and Distruction –

Radio Broadcast and Mythology

Before the auction, Jarre allowed the album to be played once in its entirety on the French radio station Radio Luxembourg. Many fans attempted to record the broadcast on cassette, resulting in a small number of bootleg recordings of varying quality. These recordings have since circulated among collectors and fans, contributing to the mystique surrounding the album. However, the original LP has never been officially released or made commercially available, and the sound quality of the bootlegs remains inferior compared to the original recording.

Artistic and Cultural Impact

Music for Supermarkets remains one of the most fascinating and controversial projects in music history. The work reflects Jean-Michel Jarre’s artistic vision and his continued experiments with both music and the perception of art in the modern world. Although only a handful of people have ever heard the original recording in its entirety, the album has become a symbol of creative autonomy and the value of art in an era of mass consumption.

The Story

The story of this album has sparked endless speculation and discussions over the years, frequently surfacing in conversations about avant-garde art, the boundaries of music production, and the role of technology in distributing art. For Jean-Michel Jarre, Music for Supermarkets represented a pinnacle in his career as a visionary artist, someone unafraid to challenge the status quo.

– Music for Supermarkets Vinyl –

Influence on Later Works

Although Jarre later released albums that became major commercial successes, such as Zoolook (1984) and Rendez-Vous (1986), Music for Supermarkets holds a special place in his oeuvre because it is an intimate and rebellious work that reflects his deep thoughts on art and commerce. The creation of this album emphasized his desire to make music that was not only heard but also felt and understood on a deeper level, as a form of art that remained resistant to mass production.

Music for Supermarkets Tracklist

The full tracklist and exact playtimes for Music for Supermarkets remain largely unknown due to the album’s limited release. However, based on the available information, there is a general understanding of the track names and approximate durations, which were disclosed during its brief radio broadcast on Radio Luxembourg in 1983. The album is believed to have contained eight tracks, though some bootleg versions may differ slightly. Here is the widely circulated tracklist with estimated playtimes:

Side A:

1. Intro to Side A – 0:50
2. Music for Supermarkets Part 1 – 4:02
3. Music for Supermarkets Part 2 – 2:23
4. Music for Supermarkets Part 3 – 3:46
5. Music for Supermarkets Part 4 – 1:27
6. Music for Supermarkets Part 5 – 3:42

Side B:

1. Intro to Side B – 0:17
2. Music for Supermarkets Part 6 – 5:43
3. Music for Supermarkets Part 7 – 4:35
4. Music for Supermarkets Part 8 – 2:48

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Unfortunately we can’t play the music from this album here. You can listen to Jarre’s other official releases.

Used Instruments

– Studio Setting –

Synthesizers and Keyboards:

• ARP 2600: A semi-modular analog synthesizer that Jarre regularly used for his signature sounds and sequences.
• EMS Synthi AKS: This compact, portable synthesizer is known for its unique tone and ability to create experimental sounds. Jarre often used it for sound effects and soundscapes.
• Moog Modular: A large modular system used for complex bass lines and sequencer patterns. The Moog Modular was one of the pioneers of analog synthesizers.
• Sequential Circuits Prophet-5: A popular polyphonic synthesizer from that time, beloved for its warm and rich tones.
• Roland Jupiter-8: A powerful polyphonic synthesizer with a wide range of sounds. Jarre frequently used the Jupiter-8 for melodies and harmonies.
• Yamaha CS-80: A legendary polyphonic synthesizer, famous for its expressive tone, and used by Jarre for string-like sounds and pads.
• Fairlight CMI: One of the first digital sampling synthesizers, which helped Jarre create unique and innovative sounds by using recorded samples.

Sequencers:

• Matten & Wiechers Custom Analog Sequencer: Jarre often used custom-built sequencers to create complex rhythms and arpeggios.
• Oberheim DS-2 Digital Sequencer: This sequencer was frequently used in combination with other synthesizers to capture rhythmic patterns and melodies.

Drum Machines and Percussion:

• Roland TR-808: The legendary drum machine known for its deep bass drums and crisp hi-hats. Though the TR-808 became popular in the 1980s, Jarre used it early on in his productions.
• LinnDrum: A digital drum machine that enabled realistic drum patterns and was often combined with analog synthesizers for a futuristic sound.

Effects and Studio Equipment:

• EMS Vocoder 1000: A vocoder Jarre used to create distorted vocal sounds and robotic effects.
• Reverb and Delay Units: Jarre frequently used reverb and echo effects to make his sounds more spatial and atmospheric. He likely used devices such as the Lexicon 224 or Binson Echorec for his delay effects.
• Eventide Harmonizer: This device manipulated the pitch of sounds, helping create the dreamy, spatial soundscapes that are characteristic of Jarre’s music.

Other Equipment:

• Acoustic and Electric Piano: In addition to synthesizers, Jarre sometimes used acoustic or electric pianos to incorporate more organic sounds into his productions.
• Custom-built equipment: Jarre was known for using custom-built devices, developed by engineers like Michel Geiss, to create unique sounds that were not possible with standard equipment.

Although the exact instruments for Music for Supermarkets are not documented, it is very likely that Jarre worked with a setup similar to his other albums from the same period. This combination of analog and digital synthesizers, drum machines, sequencers, and effects helped him create an innovative and distinctive sound that likely characterized this album as well.

Curious about the iconic instruments Jarre has used?
Visit the Instruments page now!

Music, Art, and Commerce in Music for Supermarkets

With Music for Supermarkets, Jean-Michel Jarre successfully questioned the relationship between music, art, and commerce, and the album lives on as a legendary and almost mythical work in the history of electronic music.

Want to explore all of Jean-Michel Jarre’s albums?
Visit the discography page now!

– Music for Supermarkets –