This week’s Album Cover Top Discover dives into an artist I’m almost certain you’ve never heard of. The name Chrisland might not ring any bells, nor might his many aliases: Christian Morigann, Chris Mick Davies, Christopher More, Chris Girard, or Patrick Girard. All of these belong to a French musician named Christopher Girard—or so I believe. 😊
What I do know for sure is that in 1977, he released a disco album in France under the name Chrisland. I stumbled upon it because it’s tied to some of the biggest names in French disco: Cerrone, Alec R. Costandinos, and especially Don Ray. And let me tell you, this album is… unusual. While it’s definitely disco, it leans more into disco-pop. The track that led me to it, “Angela Angel,” feels like a classic ’70s pop song—except it’s over 12 minutes long, with a strong four-on-the-floor beat.
As someone driven by curiosity (and a love of digging into musical mysteries), I couldn’t resist asking, Who is this guy? Despite my best efforts, I couldn’t uncover much about Christopher Girard’s life. There is a French parliament member with the same name who’s of a similar age, but that lead didn’t pan out. Still, piecing together his many aliases helped me outline the basics of his career.
The Journey of Christopher Girard
Christopher began his musical journey in the early 1970s, releasing pop singles under the name Christian Morigann. His first record, “Mariella,” came out in 1972, with his surname initially spelled as “Morigane.” Starting with his second release, the final “e” was swapped for an “n” (probably a marketing decision 😄). He was signed to Decca, a major label (now part of Universal Music), but despite four years of efforts, no album was ever produced. It seems the label tried to kickstart his career repeatedly but without success.
In 1977, Girard made a bold move to embrace the disco wave. At the time, France was a powerhouse for disco, with artists like Cerrone, Love & Kisses, Santa Esmeralda, Space, and Voyage dominating both European and U.S. charts. Even French pop stars like Claude François, Dalida, and Sheila were riding the disco trend. Christopher likely saw this as his chance to break through.
To make it happen, he signed with a new label and teamed up with Pamela Marion Forrest (writer of “Black Jack” for Baciotti and arranger of Sheila’s “Singing in the Rain”) and, most importantly, Don Ray.
The Don Ray Connection
Don Ray was a titan of French disco, having worked with Alec R. Costandinos and Cerrone. He produced Santa Esmeralda’s massive hits “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” and “House of the Rising Sun” and was renowned for his genius arrangements. Listening to “Angela Angel,” it’s easy to understand why he was so revered.
Unfortunately, the Chrisland project didn’t lead to the breakthrough Girard was hoping for. The album wasn’t even released in the U.S., the main disco market, and there was no follow-up. Girard wasn’t done trying, though. He adopted a new alias, Chris Mick Davies, and released a few tracks in 1979—again, with no significant success. Later, as Christopher More, he made another attempt, ending his career at Polydor, another Universal Music label. Sadly, it was another case of “close, but no cigar.”
What Went Wrong?
Looking back, Christopher Girard’s career feels like a series of near-misses. His singles often sounded like the era’s trends, but nothing truly stuck. Except, perhaps, “Angela Angel.” That track, with Don Ray’s exceptional arrangement, has stayed with me, though I can’t quite explain why.
So, here’s my suggestion: have a listen. Maybe you’ll find something in “Angela Angel” that resonates with you too. 🎶
I'm gonna have to check this one out. You know how I feel about Black Jack! 😀
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