Jean-Michel Jarre announces 50th anniversary “Oxygène” edition with Steven Wilson mix

Jean-Michel Jarre is marking 50 years of “Oxygène” with a new edition of the album, due on 20 November via BMG Records, according to OndaRock. It features a remaster from the original tapes and a Dolby Atmos mix made with Steven Wilson and David Kosten. On 24 November, Thames & Hudson publishes his book “Machines: A History Of Electronic Music”.

“Oxygène” came out in France in 1976 and internationally the following year. Jarre made it in the kitchen of his Paris apartment using an eight-track recorder, a homemade mixer and a small set of synthesizers. Sales have passed 18 million copies, the Italian outlet writes. The Atmos mix is part of Distant Swimmer, the immersive-audio project of British producers Wilson and Kosten, and “Oxygène” is the first album developed under it. Jarre says the team went back to the original tapes to preserve the depth and movement of the sound rather than alter it.

The reissue comes as a 180-gram black vinyl with half-speed mastering by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios, a CD, a limited coloured eco-vinyl and digital versions. The fullest edition is a deluxe Blu-ray mediabook with the Atmos mix, a new 5.1 surround mix, the 2026 stereo remaster and archive material.

The book covers 130 instruments from Jarre's personal collection, from early electrified devices of the 20th century to AI algorithms. Before the two releases, on 21 October, he performs “Oxygene & Beyond: A Sonic Journey Celebrating 30 Years Of ADE” at AFAS Live during Amsterdam Dance Event; the show is sold out. He also takes part in three ADE Pro sessions.

Jarre is a French composer, performer and producer born in Lyon in 1948. He has released 24 studio albums, the newest being “OXYMOREWORKS” in November 2023. He had earlier returned to “Oxygène” with “Oxygène 7-13” in 1997, “Oxygène: New Master Recording” in 2007 and “Oxygène 3” in 2016.