Posted by Fabio 19 November 2012
Équinoxe (English: “equinox”) was the second major-label album release by French musician Jean Michel Jarre, released on Disques Dreyfus in late 1978. The album reflects a day in the life of a human being, from morning to night.
Jarre had developed his sound, employing more dynamic and rhythmic elements, particularly a greater use of sequencing on basslines. Much of this was achieved using custom equipment developed by his collaborator Michel Geiss.
The release was followed by a concert on the Place de la Concorde, Paris on July 14, 1979. The concert attracted 1 million people, becoming Jarre’s first entry in the Guinness Book of Records for the largest crowd for an outdoor concert.
Two singles were released from the album, “Équinoxe Part 5” first, and then “Équinoxe Part 4”. Part of “Équinoxe Part 8” has been played live with different arrangements, including a version for an acoustic street organ, under the title of “Band in the Rain”.
The album reached #11 in the UK charts and #126 in the US charts.