After the commercial failures of the albums Play blessures in 1982 and Figure imposée in 1983, Bashung experienced success anew with the single "S.O.S. Amor" in 1984. The single helped him to give his career a new start.
In the wake of this success, he published this album, co-written by Boris Bergman, who was the main lyricist for his first three albums. The album features the singles "Malédiction" ("Curse") which was quite successful as well, and "L'Arrivée du tour" ("The Arrival of the tour"). Passé le Rio Grande was awarded the Best rock album of the year award at the Victoires de la musique awards in 1986, the first for Bashung. Record and sleeve are great