Vanessa Paradis (album)

Vanessa Paradis is the third studio album and English-language debut by French singer Vanessa Paradis, released on 21 September 1992 by Remark Records. It contains the singles "Be My Baby" and "Sunday Mondays".

Background and writing

Lenny Kravitz, who was dating Paradis at the time, produced and co-wrote the album. Some editions of the album contain the extra track "Gotta Have It", which is a tribute to Kravitz and is co-written by Kravitz himself. This was omitted on the US release of the album.

The album is noted for being the first time Paradis took creative control over her music. It is also noted for being innovative in its use of instruments, and for its replication of the 1960s soundscape on virtually every song. A one-hour television special on the making of the album was recorded in 1992 and aired on 28 March 1993 on French channel Canal+.

Critical reception

The album was one of her most successful and most critically acclaimed, proving to be both popular in France and the UK. It spawned several successful singles, including one of her most recognisable songs "Be My Baby".

Track listing

Personnel

• Tony Breit – bass guitar (tracks 1, 2, 9, 11)
• Debbe Cole – backing vocals (track 4)
• David Domanich – engineer
• Greg Di Gesu – assistant engineer
• Jamal Haines – trombone (track 6)
• Henry Hirsch – bass guitar, engineer, harpsichord, mixing, organ, piano, string arrangement, Wurlitzer
• Judith Hobson-Mitchell – backing vocals (track 10)
• Huart/Cholley – design
• Michael Hunter – trumpet (track 9)
• Lenny Kravitz – backing vocals, bass guitar, drums, Fender Rhodes, guitar, harmonica, horn arrangement, Mellotron, sitar, string arrangement, tambourine, vocal arrangement
• Richard Mitchell – backing vocals (track 10)
• Jean-Baptiste Mondino – photography

• B.J. Nelson – backing vocals (track 4)
• Didier Pain – executive producer
• Vanessa Paradis – backing vocals, tambourine (track 6)
• Antoine Roney – saxophone (track 9)
• Craig Ross – guitar
• Angie Stone – backing vocals (tracks 2, 10)

String quintet (tracks 1, 4, 5, 7)

• Eric Delente – violin
• Soye Kim – violin
• Sarah Adams – viola
• Allen Whear – cello
• John Whitfield – cello

Charts

Certifications and sales

References