Jon and Vangelis
Encyclopedia
Jon and Vangelis is the collaborative effort between the singer Jon Anderson
(the lead vocalist of the progressive rock
band Yes
) and the Greek
synthesizer
musician Evangelos Papathanassiou who is usually known as "Vangelis". Together they released a number of successful albums in the 1980s.
In 1974, Vangelis was considered as a replacement for Rick Wakeman
as keyboardist in Yes, and although the job went to Patrick Moraz
, it led to several collaborations with Anderson, who contributed vocals to Vangelis' Heaven and Hell (1975), harp
to Opera Sauvage
(1979), and vocals to See You Later
(1980).
Anderson left Yes between 1980 and 1983, and during this time the collaboration with Vangelis began in earnest. The two recorded several albums between 1979 and 1991, producing the major hits "I Hear You Now" (UK
#8), "I'll Find My Way Home" (UK #6) and "The Friends of Mr. Cairo" (Canada #1). Anderson wrote the lyrics, and Vangelis composed the music.
In 1986, Jon & Vangelis made a few attempts at writing a new album, but much of this work was never officially released under the Jon & 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 re-work Page of Life, which was released in 1998 in the United States only with nine tracks. Vangelis did not approve this, and it is cited as the reason for the dissolution of their collaboration. "Sing With Your Eyes" appeared in 1991, as a B-side
on the CD single release of "Wisdom Chain" / "Page of Life".
Jon Anderson
Jon Anderson is an English singer-songwriter and musician best known as the former lead vocalist in the progressive rock band Yes...
(the lead vocalist of the progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
) and the Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
musician Evangelos Papathanassiou who is usually known as "Vangelis". Together they released a number of successful albums in the 1980s.
In 1974, Vangelis was considered as a replacement for Rick Wakeman
Rick Wakeman
Richard Christopher Wakeman is an English keyboard player, composer and songwriter best known for being the former keyboardist in the progressive rock band Yes...
as keyboardist in Yes, and although the job went to Patrick Moraz
Patrick Moraz
Patrick Philippe Moraz is a progressive rock keyboard player. He is best known as the keyboardist for the progressive rock band Yes, from 1974 to 1976, and the Moody Blues from 1978 to 1991...
, it led to several collaborations with Anderson, who contributed vocals to Vangelis' Heaven and Hell (1975), harp
Harp
The harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
to Opera Sauvage
Opera Sauvage
Opéra sauvage is a 1979 album, by Greek composer and artist Vangelis, of the score for the nature documentary by the same title by French filmmaker Frédéric Rossif. The album sleeve design is by Vangelis himself....
(1979), and vocals to See You Later
See You Later
See You Later is a 1980 album by the Greek artist Vangelis. It breaks quite violently with the style he had employed in the late 1970s, relying much more on vocals and being more experimental and returning to his early 1970s work....
(1980).
Anderson left Yes between 1980 and 1983, and during this time the collaboration with Vangelis began in earnest. The two recorded several albums between 1979 and 1991, producing the major hits "I Hear You Now" (UK
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#8), "I'll Find My Way Home" (UK #6) and "The Friends of Mr. Cairo" (Canada #1). Anderson wrote the lyrics, and Vangelis composed the music.
In 1986, Jon & Vangelis made a few attempts at writing a new album, but much of this work was never officially released under the Jon & Vangelis name. Twelve tracks were compiled on 1991's Page of Life
Page of Life
Page of Life is the fourth studio album by Jon and Vangelis. It was released in 1991 by Higher Octave, and is, as of 2011, their last studio collaboration as a duo...
, 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 Bruford Wakeman Howe (album)
Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe is the self-titled album by four alumni of the progressive rock group Yes: Jon Anderson, Bill Bruford, Rick Wakeman, and Steve Howe.- History :The project began in 1988...
. Anderson ultimately took it upon himself to re-work Page of Life, which was released in 1998 in the United States only with nine tracks. Vangelis did not approve this, and it is cited as the reason for the dissolution of their collaboration. "Sing With Your Eyes" appeared in 1991, as a B-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
on the CD single release of "Wisdom Chain" / "Page of Life".
Albums
- Short StoriesShort Stories (Jon & Vangelis album)Short Stories is the debut album by Jon and Vangelis, the collaborative effort between Jon Anderson of the prog rock band Yes and electronic music pioneer Evangelos Papathanassiou. Although this was not the first time that the two had worked together; Vangelis had auditioned to be Rick Wakeman's...
(1980) - The Friends of Mr. CairoThe Friends of Mr. CairoThe Friends of Mr Cairo is the second album by Jon and Vangelis.There are two editions of this album, with different sleeves. Both versions were released in 1981 within a few weeks of each other. The title track, "The Friends Of Mr Cairo", peaked at #1 for 5 consecutive weeks on the Canadian...
(1981) - Private Collection (1983)
- Page of LifePage of LifePage of Life is the fourth studio album by Jon and Vangelis. It was released in 1991 by Higher Octave, and is, as of 2011, their last studio collaboration as a duo...
(1991) - Page of Life (1998) - re-release with different tracks
Compilation albums
- The Best of Jon & Vangelis (1984)
- ChroniclesChronicles (Jon & Vangelis album)-Track listing:# I Hear You Now # He Is Sailing # Thunder # Beside # Birdsong # Play Within a Play # And When the Night Comes # Deborah # Curious Electric # Friends of Mr...
(1994)
Singles
- I Hear You Now / Thunder (1979)
- One More Time / The Road (USA 1980)
- The Friends of Mr Cairo (edit) / Beside (1981)
- State of Independence (edit) / Beside (1981)
- I'll Find My Way Home / Back to School (edit) (Europe/UK 1981)
- I'll Find My Way Home / I Hear You Now (USA 1982)
- He is Sailing (edit) / Polonaise (1983)
- He is Sailing / Polonaise / Song is (1983)
- And when the night comes / Song is (UK 1983)
- State of Independence / The Friends of Mr Cairo (1984)
- Wisdom Chain (edit) / Page of Life / Sing with your eyes (1991)