Jon and Vangelis

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Jon and Vangelis
Jon Anderson and Vangelis, 1981
Jon Anderson and Vangelis, 1981
Background information
OriginGreece
United Kingdom
Genres
Years active1979–1991
LabelsPolydor Records
Arista Records
Higher Octave Records
Past membersJon Anderson
Vangelis

Jon and Vangelis was a music collaboration between British rock singer Jon Anderson (lead vocalist of the progressive rock band Yes) and Greek synthesiser musician Vangelis. The duo released four albums between 1980 and 1991.[1]

History[edit]

In 1974, Vangelis was considered as a replacement for Rick Wakeman as keyboardist in Yes,[1] and although the job went to Patrick Moraz, it led to several collaborations with Anderson, who contributed vocals to Vangelis' Heaven and Hell (1975) on the song "So Long Ago, So Clear", harp to Opera Sauvage (1979) on "Flamants Roses" and finally vocals to See You Later (1980) on "Suffocation" and "See You Later".

They recorded their first album together, Short Stories, in 1979,[1] producing the major hit "I Hear You Now" as well as "One More Time". Anderson wrote the lyrics and Vangelis composed the music. In 1980, Anderson left Yes and released his second solo album, Song of Seven. Vangelis released his See You Later album the same year, with Anderson contributing vocals to two songs. The two reunited to record their second album, The Friends of Mr Cairo, in 1981, including the songs "Friends of Mr Cairo", and "State of Independence". Later pressings of the album included the UK top 10 hit "I'll Find My Way Home".[2] In 1983, Anderson rejoined Yes and they released the album 90125. Jon and Vangelis released their own album, Private Collection, the same year.[1]

In 1986, the duo made a few attempts at writing a new album, but much of this work was never officially released under the Jon and Vangelis name. Twelve tracks were compiled on 1991's Page of Life, while other songs from these sessions appeared in later works, including "Let's Pretend", the last song on the 1989 album Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe. Anderson ultimately took it upon himself to rework Page of Life, which was released in 1998 in the United States only with nine tracks. In 2011, Anderson approached Vangelis for a possible new collaboration but he did not receive a reply.[3]

Vangelis died on May 17, 2022.[4][5][6][7]

Discography[edit]

Albums[edit]

Studio albums[edit]

Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
UK
[8]
AUS
[9]
AUT
[10]
CAN
[11][12]
GER
[13]
NL
[14]
NZ
[15]
SPA
[16]
SWE
[17]
US
[18]
Short Stories 4 65 18 30 1 125
The Friends of Mr Cairo
  • Released: July 1981
  • Label: Polydor
  • Formats: LP, MC
6 9 8 2 13 3 35 64
Private Collection
  • Released: May 1983
  • Label: Polydor
  • Formats: LP, MC
22 31 18 78 27 15 45 10 24 148
Page of Life
  • Released: 26 August 1991
  • Label: Arista
  • Formats: CD, LP, MC
  • Re-released in 1998 with different tracks
37
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Compilation albums[edit]

Title Album details Peak chart positions
UK
[8]
GER
[13]
NL
[14]
The Best of Jon and Vangelis
  • Released: 30 July 1984
  • Label: Polydor
  • Formats: CD, LP, MC
42 52 42
Chronicles
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Singles[edit]

Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
UK
[8]
AUS
[9]
BE (FL)
[23]
CAN
[24]
GER
[13]
IRE
[25]
NL
[26]
SWI
[27]
SPA
[16]
US
[18]
"I Hear You Now" 1979 8 3 69 12 9 58 Short Stories
"One More Time"[A] 1980
"The Friends of Mr Cairo" 1981 99 1 The Friends of Mr. Cairo
"State of Independence"
"Back to School"[B]
"Outside of This"[C]
"I'll Find My Way Home" 6 22 3 6 2 2 1 51 Non-album single[D]
"And When the Night Comes" 1983 87 Private Collection
"He Is Sailing" 61
"Deborah"[E] 22
"Polonaise"[F]
"State of Independence"[G] 1984 67 The Best of Jon and Vangelis
"Wisdom Chain" 1991 Page of Life
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Notes:

  1. ^ Released in the US
  2. ^ Released in Canada
  3. ^ Released in the Netherlands
  4. ^ included on the Second Edition of "The Friends of Mr Cairo"
  5. ^ Released in Spain and Brazil
  6. ^ Released in France
  7. ^ Re-release

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Paul Simpson. "Jon & Vangelis | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  2. ^ "JON & VANGELIS | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  3. ^ "Interview: Jon Anderson". hit-channel.com. 23 April 2012.
  4. ^ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (19 May 2020). "Vangelis, composer of Chariots of Fire and Blade Runner soundtracks, dies aged 79". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  5. ^ "Vangelis: Chariots of Fire and Blade Runner composer dies at 79". BBC. 19 May 2022. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  6. ^ "Vangelis Papathanasiou: Oscar-winning composer passes away at the age of 79". OT.gr. 19 May 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2022. Vangelis died at hospital in France on Tuesday, where he was being treated for Covid-19
  7. ^ Limbong, Andrew (19 May 2022). "Vangelis, famed film composer and synth pioneer, dead at 79". NPR. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  8. ^ a b c "JON & VANGELIS | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  9. ^ a b Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 160. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  10. ^ "Das österreichische Hitparaden- und Musik-Portal". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  11. ^ "Image : RPM Weekly". www.bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  12. ^ "Image : RPM Weekly". www.bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  13. ^ a b c "Suche - Offizielle Deutsche Charts". www.offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  14. ^ a b "Dutch Charts - dutchcharts.nl". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  15. ^ "charts.org.nz - New Zealand charts portal". charts.nz. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  16. ^ a b Salaverri, Fernando (2015). Sólo éxitos 1959–2012 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 978-84-8048-866-2.
  17. ^ "swedishcharts.com - Swedish Charts Portal". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  18. ^ a b "Jon & Vangelis - Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 4 June 2012. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  19. ^ "Dutch certifications – Jon and Vangelis" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 16 May 2022. Enter Jon and Vangelis in the "Artiest of titel" box.
  20. ^ a b c "British certifications – Jon and Vangelis". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 16 May 2022. Type Jon and Vangelis in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  21. ^ "Kent Music Report No 453 – 28 February 1983 > Platinum Albums 1982 (Continued)". Retrieved 26 December 2022 – via Imgur.com.
  22. ^ a b "Canadian certifications – Jon and Vangelis". Music Canada. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  23. ^ "ultratop.be - ULTRATOP BELGIAN CHARTS". www.ultratop.be. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  24. ^ "Image : RPM Weekly". www.bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  25. ^ "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  26. ^ "Dutch Charts - dutchcharts.nl". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  27. ^ "Die Offizielle Schweizer Hitparade - hitparade.ch". swisscharts.com. Retrieved 16 May 2022.

External links[edit]