Paul Mauriat - Piano Ballade (2026)

Released in July 1984 on Philips Records, Piano Ballade is a studio album by French orchestra leader Paul Mauriat that showcases his signature easy-listening arrangements of mid-1980s pop hits. The 12-track collection features Mauriat's lush orchestral style applied to contemporary chart-toppers, including Lionel Richie's "Hello," Phil Collins' "Against All Odds (Take a Look At Me Now)," Elton John's "Sad Songs (Say So Much)," Laura Branigan's "Self Control," and the love theme from the film Footloose, "Almost Paradise". The album also includes original compositions by Mauriat, notably the title track "Piano Ballade," which is based on a theme by Frédéric Chopin, along with "You" and "Stringfield". Directed, arranged, and produced by Mauriat himself, the recording was released internationally across multiple formats.