M&J

M&J is the debut album of popular French singer and model Vanessa Paradis. It was released in 1988 and featured the hit single "Joe le taxi".

M&J
Studio album by Vanessa Paradis
Released	15 August 1988
Studio	Local Studio (Rueil-Malmaison)
Genre	Pop R&B
Length	49:29
Language	French
Label	Polydor PolyGram Barclay
Producer	Bertrand Châtenet Franck Langolff Philippe Osman
Vanessa Paradis chronology
M&J (1988) Variations sur le même t'aime (1990)
Singles from M&J
"Joe le taxi" Released: April 1987 "Marilyn & John" Released: June 1988 "Maxou" Released: November 1988 "Coupe coupe" Released: March 1989 "Mosquito" Released: September 1989

Background

The album's lead single was the song "Joe le taxi". The song became a hit in France, where it charted at number one, and in the UK, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, and Norway, reaching the top 10.^[1] The album's other acclaimed single was the tribute to Marilyn Monroe titled "Marilyn & John".

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]

The album marked the start of a collaboration between Vanessa Paradis and composer Franck Langolff that lasted until his death in 2006.

Track listing

All songs written by Étienne Roda-Gil (lyrics) and Franck Langolff (music)

1. "Marilyn & John" 5:48
2. "Maxou" 3:50
3. "Le bon Dieu est un marin" 4:28
4. "Mosquito" 4:21
5. "Soldat" 5:41
6. "Joe le taxi" 3:56
7. "Coupe coupe" 5:21
8. "Chat ananas" 3:47
9. "Scarabée" 6:25
10. "Marilyn & John" [English Version] 5:46

Personnel

Daniel Adjadj - backing vocals Patrick Bourgoin - saxophone Ann Calvert - backing vocals Bertrand Châtenet - arranger, engineer, mixing ("Le bon Dieu est un marin") Joshua D'Arche - bass guitar, keyboards, programming & synthesizer ("Joe le taxi") Freddy Della - harmonica Jacques Denjean - string quartet arrangement ("Scarabée") Jean-Luc Escriva - backing vocals Carole Fredericks - backing vocals Alain Ganne - saxophone Katherine Hibbs - photography Yvonne Jones - backing vocals

Christophe Josse - bass guitar, keyboards, programming & synthesizer ("Chat ananas") Kiwi Concept - design Franck Langolff - arranger, guitar, harmonica Thierry Leconte - assistant mixing ("Le bon Dieu est un marin") Alain Lubrano - assistant mixing ("Le bon Dieu est un marin") Bruno Mylonas - mixing Philippe Osman - arranger, bass guitar, keyboards, guitar, programming & synthesizer François Ovide - guitar Anne Papiri - backing vocals Patrick Rousseau - percussion ("Joe le taxi") Patrice Tison - guitar

• Mixed at Studio Guillaume Tell, Suresnes

Charts

Chart performance for M&J

Chart (1988)	Peak position
European Albums (Music & Media)[3]	58
French Albums (SNEP)[4]	13
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[5]	61

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[6]	Gold	50,000^
France (SNEP)[7]	Platinum	300,000*
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[8]	Gold	25,000^
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.