Message, Le

Websites:  No
Origin: Montréal, Québec, 🇨🇦
Biography:

A fleeting moment captured on wax, the lone single from Le Message is a rare and revealing glimpse into the ambitious pop underground of 1960s Québec. Released in April 1968 on the boutique Sonore label, the disc showcases a young Laval band stretching beyond the garage-band formula into more orchestrated, soul-tinged territory. Though they never made it past this debut 45, both songs are fully original and far more musically advanced than most regional releases of the era.

Before Le Message, there was The Tamy—and before that, The Blue Birds. Formed in 1966 by Serge Vallée (guitar), Jacques Plourde (bass), and Daniel Turcotte (drums), the band changed names as quickly as it changed directions, eventually settling on Le Message when keyboardist Robert Prairie joined and expanded their sonic reach. With Prairie’s organ adding texture and drama, the group began crafting original material, fusing anglo rock influences with a French lyrical sensibility.

The A-side, “Une partie de son cœur,” is a tightly wound burst of emotional pop—driven by pounding piano, subtle horn flourishes, and a feverish vocal delivery that leans into soul without fully leaving behind its mod roots. The rhythm section locks in with urgency, while the mix (unfortunately a bit flat in its original pressing) buries the organ that once gave the track its enveloping depth. Despite the sonic limitations, the songwriting shines through. Co-written by Turcotte and Prairie, the piece was born from a simple piano riff and later completed with Robert’s lyrics—an inspired collaboration that still pulses with raw sincerity.

Flip it over, and “Lydia” takes a turn for the introspective. Co-written by Vallée and Turcotte, this melancholy ballad floats on Hammond organ and acoustic guitar, with a haunting clavichord melody that evokes something between chanson mystique and baroque psych. The lyrics are wistful, maybe even naïve: “Je connais une fille… elle se nomme Lydia. J’aime cette fille… mais elle ne le sait pas.” But it works, especially when paired with the track’s swelling arrangement and brief spoken-word coda: “Regarde-moi… j’te parle.” The blend of vulnerability and ambition is undeniable.

Neither side ever got a proper reissue or compilation slot—an oversight that’s all the more surprising given the single’s originality and charm. There’s no studio trickery here, no heavy effects or psych gimmicks—just a young band exploring the emotional contours of love, heartbreak, and performance with real heart. Their work might have vanished into the stacks of forgotten Quebecois pop, but thanks to drummer Daniel Turcotte’s recollections and surviving photos, the story of Le Message—and the message itself—still echoes.
-Robert Williston

Serge Vallée: guitar
Jacques Plourde: bass
Daniel Turcotte: drums, piano
Robert Prairie: organ