Jean-Michel de France is a lesser-known yet intriguing figure in the world of orchestral music, active primarily in the late 20th century. While detailed biographical information about him is scarce, he is recognized as an orchestra leader and arranger, most notably for his 1980 album Orchestra 80.
Released on vinyl, this work features orchestral renditions of popular hits, including ABBA classics like “Money, Money” and “Chiquitita,” showcasing his talent for transforming pop melodies into lush, instrumental arrangements. Produced by Jean Baudlot and Paul De Senneville, the album reflects a blend of contemporary flair and traditional orchestration.
Likely French in origin, given his name and the production context, Jean-Michel de France operated within the easy-listening and orchestral pop genres, a popular style during the 1970s and 1980s. His work aligns with the era’s trend of adapting chart-topping songs for broader audiences through sophisticated arrangements.
Though he did not achieve the widespread fame of contemporaries like James Last, his contributions remain a footnote in the niche of orchestral covers. Little is known of his personal life or later career, leaving Orchestra 80 as his primary legacy.
79 recordings by Jean-Michel de France you can hear at Instrumentals Forever:
13 jours en France • A comme amour • Adagio (Albinoni) • Amours d’été • Anastasia • Angel Eyes • Anna Maria Conti • Au-de là des nuages • Autumn Leaves • Ave Maria (Bach_Gounod) • Ballade pour Adeline • Born To Be Alive • California Dreaming • Central Park • Chiquitita • Coup de coeur • Dancing Queen • Days Of Pearly Spencer • Dolannes mélodie • Don’t Cry For Me Argentina • Eagle • El Condor Pasa • Eloise • Exodus • Feelings • Friday On My Mind • Fruit Of The Loom • Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) • Good Night • Good Vibration • Guantanamera • Guernica • Happy Together • I Started A Joke • I’ll Be There • La désespérance • La Luna • La mer • La Notte • L’amour naufrage • Lara’s Theme • Le coeur au bout des doigts • Les adieux • Les violons de l’automne • Lettre à ma mère • L’Océan • Locomotion • Love Is Blue • Love Serenade • Massachussetts • Memory • Michelle • Mister Lonely • Money Money • Nocturne • Notre Dame • One Last Look • Passion Story • Quelques notes pour Anna • Rêve d’amour (Liszt) • Rock Me • Romance • Sérénade pour deux amours • Sous le ciel de Paris • Souvenirs d’enfance • Stars • Stranger In Paradise • Strangers In The Night • Summer Night City • The Name Of The Game • Un amour d’été • Un homme et une femme • Vaya Con Dios • Voulez-vous • We Are The World • Where Do I Begin • Woman In Love • Xanadu • You Are My World •
