"Love on the Beat" is a studio album by French singer and songwriter Serge Gainsbourg. It was released in 1984 and marks a significant departure from Gainsbourg's earlier work as he fully embraced electronic music for this project.
The album is considered a mixture of pop, rock'n'roll, jazz, and electronic music. It features Gainsbourg's signature style of provocative lyrics, with themes centered around romance, passion, and sexuality. Many tracks on this album are seen as controversial due to their explicit content.
One of the most notable tracks in the album is "Lemon Incest", a duet with his then 13-year-old daughter Charlotte Gainsbourg. The song caused a scandal upon its release in France due to its provocative lyrics and undertones, but nonetheless, it reached the top of the French singles chart.
The production of "Love on the Beat" was handled by Philippe Lerichomme and the album was recorded at a studio in New York with several American musicians. This includes famed jazz drummer Billy Cobham and bassist Stanley Clarke, adding a distinctive funky and jazzy vibe to the album.
Despite initial controversy and mixed professional reviews, "Love on the Beat" has had a lasting impact and is often considered one of Gainsbourg's most influential works. Its unique blend of styles and provocative content has cemented it as a staple in Gainsbourg's discography and an important part of French pop music history.
