One of the hits of the summer of 1975 is undoubtedly "Le Sud", by Nino Ferrer. But before climbing to the top places in the charts, this title had a somewhat complicated history. After three years in Italy, Nino Ferrer returned to live in France from 1971. He then moved to Rueil-Malmaison, in the western suburbs of Paris, in a large white house in the colonial style. "La Martinière", as it is called, reminds him of Italy and New Caledonia, where he spent part of his childhood. And it is precisely in this house, where he moved, that he composes "Le Sud".
For the melody, he draws inspiration from American country music which he appreciates a lot, and particularly Neil Young. As on this music, lyrics in English adapt better, he decides at the start to write it in English under the title "South". Her text already speaks of her new house and its environment in the midst of large trees, flowers and greenery.
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Nino Ferrer's label refuses a song in English
This first version was recorded in November 1973, at Trident Studios, London. We also find in this first recording all the influence of Anglo-Saxon productions of the time with a lot of reverberation and strings, as in the Beatles or T.Rex discs.
Nino Ferrer envisages that "South" will be the first title of a new album that he is preparing with his new partner, an American dancer and actress Radiah Frye (yes, Mia Frye's mother). Only problem: Nino Ferrer's contract with the Label Barclay expires in 1974. As his previous albums did not work well, the record company is in no hurry to extend his contract with the artist. And when Nino tells them that his new album, Nino and Radiah, will be exclusively in English, they flatly refuse to take the risk of publishing it.
Nino Ferrer then decides to leave Barclay and sign a new contract with CBS. At the insistent request of his new Label, Nino Ferrer agreed, after much discussion, to record a French version of South which became Le Sud. For writing the lyrics in French, Nino starts from a real story: in the spring of 1973, he decided to start gardening and ordered 300 roses delivered in cases of ten.
"Here time lasts a long time"
But only a month later, despite the interest in this new passion, no rose had yet been planted. When friends came to his house and saw the hundreds of roses sprouting in boxes, they always asked Nino why he didn't put them in the ground. To this, Nino responded with this pretty formula full of poetry, which he will also put in his song: "Don't worry, here, time lasts a long time."
Having the reputation of being a perfectionist, more than ten versions of the song "Le Sud" will be recorded between Olympic Studios in London and Studio CBE on rue Championnet, in Paris. When taking voice, at CBE, Nino Ferrer will even go so far as to physically fight with his lifelong accomplice, sound engineer Bernard Estardy, who had also started his career accompanying Nino on the organ. A disagreement at the start for some
notes in the musical introduction and for the number of verses in the song. Nino thought that Estardy's recording was far too varied. But Bernard Estardy will not give in and will finish the song.
Never mind, Nino Ferrer then decides to pay himself a new recording in London, with the arranger of the first albums of Elton John. Finally, still not satisfied with this umpteenth version, Nino agrees to publish that of Estardy. The 45 rpm disc was released in spring 1975 and sold over a million copies during the summer.