Les premières années

Les premières années (English: "the early years") is a French-language compilation album by Canadian singer Celine Dion, released in France by Versailles on 10 January 1994. It features eighteen rare songs recorded between 1982 and 1988, including the Eurovision-winning "Ne partez pas sans moi". In France, Les premières années was certified Gold. The album was also released in Belgium, reaching number twelve on the chart in Wallonia.

Les premières années
Compilation album by Celine Dion
Released	10 January 1994 (1994-01-10)
Recorded	1982–88
Genre	Pop
Length	63:55
Label	Versailles
Producer	Didier Barbelivien Urs Peter Keller Eddy Marnay Romano Musumarra Rudi Pascal Atilla Şereftuğ
Celine Dion chronology
The Colour of My Love (1993) Les premières années (1994) À l'Olympia (1994)

Background and content

After the success of "Un garçon pas comme les autres (Ziggy)", which reached number two on the French Singles Chart in 1993, Versailles issued Les premières années on 10 January 1994, a compilation of Dion's early and rare recordings from the '80s. In addition to the singles, it also includes album tracks and singles B-sides ("En amour", "Comment t'aimer").

Critical reception and commercial performance

AllMusic gave the album two and a half out of five stars.^[1] Thanks to the success of D'eux, Les premières années has eventually sold 180,000 copies in France and was certified Gold in November 1995. After being also released in Belgium, it entered the Wallonia Albums Chart in June 1995 and peaked at number twelve in November 1995.

Track listing

Les premières années track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"D'amour ou d'amitié"	Eddy Marnay Jean Pierre Lang Roland Vincent	Marnay Rudi Pascal	4:00
2.	"Visa pour les beaux jours"	Marnay Christian Loigerot Thierry Geoffroy	Marnay Pascal	3:25
3.	"En amour"	Marnay Loigerot Geoffroy	Marnay	3:20
4.	"Les oiseaux du bonheur"	Marnay André Popp	Marnay Pascal	3:39
5.	"Tellement j'ai d'amour pour toi"	Marnay Hubert Giraud	Marnay Pascal	2:57
6.	"La religieuse"	Didier Barbelivien	Barbelivien	3:27
7.	"C'est pour toi"	Marnay François Orenn	Marnay Pascal	4:01
8.	"Ne partez pas sans moi"	Nella Martinetti Atilla Şereftuğ	Urs Peter Keller Şereftuğ	3:07
9.	"Mon ami m'a quittée"	Marnay Loigerot Geoffroy	Marnay Pascal	2:59
10.	"Avec toi"	Marnay Loigerot Geoffroy	Marnay Pascal	3:27
11.	"Mon rêve de toujours"	Marnay Jean-Pierre Goussaud	Marnay Pascal	4:18
12.	"Du soleil au cœur"	Marnay Jean Claude Massoulier Popp	Marnay Pascal	2:42
13.	"À quatre pas d'ici"	Marnay Peter Sinfield Andy Hill	Marnay Pascal	3:54
14.	"Un amour pour moi"	Marnay Loigerot Geoffroy	Marnay Pascal	3:18
15.	"Billy"	Marnay Patrick Lemaitre	Marnay	3:05
16.	"Comment t'aimer"	Marnay Romano Musumarra	Musumarra	4:00
17.	"Je ne veux pas"	Marnay Musumarra	Musumarra	4:06
18.	"C'est pour vivre"	Marnay Popp	Marnay Pascal	4:10
Total length:				63:55

Personnel

Adapted from AllMusic.^[2]

• Didier Barbelivien – composer
• Céline Dion – primary artist, vocals
• Thierry Geoffroy – composer
• Hubert Giraud – composer
• Jean-Pierre Goussaud – composer
• Andy Hill – composer
• J.P. Lang – composer
• Patrick Lemaitre – composer
• Christian Loigerot – composer
• Eddy Marnay – composer
• Nella Martinetti – composer
• Jean Claude Massoulier – composer
• Romano Musumarra – composer
• Francois Oren – composer
• André Popp – composer
• A. Sereftug – composer
• Peter Sinfield – composer
• R. Walt Vincent – composer

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for Les premières années Chart (1995) Peak position Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[3] 12

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for Les premières années Chart (1995) Position Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[4] 66 Belgian Francophone Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[5] 24

Certifications and sales

Certifications and sales for Les premières années

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
France (SNEP)[6]	Gold	100,000*
* Sales figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release history for Les premières années

Region	Date	Label	Format	Catalog
France	10 January 1994	Versailles	CD	VER 474653 2