Vangelis - Chariots Of Fire (1981)

Note: this release was originally purchased as a LP, later replaced by a CD.

The choice of 1980s analog synths to score a movie set in the 1930s was an interesting one indeed. But not only did it work, both movie and score were a huge success. The original score also won the Academy Award in 1982, beating John Williams' famous theme to Raiders Of The Lost Ark.

Press of the time:

• Stereo Review: Recording of Special Merit
• Billboard: "the music here is absolutely stunning"
• CashBox: "a stunning example of synthesizer taste."

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #1 (4 consecutive weeks, April 17 - May 8, 1982)
• CashBox: #1 (5 consecutive weeks)
• CashBox CD: #25
• Rolling Stone: #1

Tracks: To be honest, I usually skip the first track (titled "Titles" but better known as simply "Chariots of Fire") because it is so overplayed and over-mocked. The other 6 tracks are hit or miss. The better tracks are Five Circles and Abraham's Theme. On the LP, the first 6 tracks were side 1; side 2 was a 20 minute suite that utilized the themes heard on side 1. I'm guessing this suite was created simply so the record could have a side 2 because there's not much new there. Strange since there's music in the movie that doesn't appear on the album, like the music accompanying this scene.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD:  Much like Blade Runner, this album is fantastic rainy day music. When I was 15 and just becoming to realize my addiction to music, this album was my introduction to synth-washed New Aged music. It would have been a totally different album if the exact same music had been scored for strings. Not many of my high school friends shared my appreciation for this album; in fact, one of them once told me, "My mom has that album."

In the summer of 1973, I spent 3 weeks in St. Andrews, Scotland, just a few hundred yards from the beach where the movie's famous opening scene was shot. Here's a photo my father took of that beach from one of the buildings on the campus of the University of St. Andrews. That narrow sliver of green between the buildings and the beach is the first tee of the famous Old Course, one of the oldest golf courses in the world. That summer, I played on the putting green of the Old Course and on the adjoining beach, although the North Sea was far to cold to enter. I was only 7, so I had no idea of any significance; I was just trying to entertain myself.

In 1982, saxophonist Ernie Watts recorded dance versions of a few of the tracks from this soundtrack along with other covers like Kenny Roger's Lady and Donnie Hathaway's Valdez In The Country. Produced by Quincy Jones. I don't think that album has ever been reissued on CD, but I still have a copy on vinyl. I would tell you that I bought it for the cover of Valdez In The Country, but I don't think you'd believe me.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Blade Runner (1994)

Vangelis - Blade Runner (1994)

From the CD liner notes:

Most of the music contained in this album originates from recordings I made in London in 1982, whilst working on the score for the film BLADE RUNNER. Finding myself unable to release these recordings at the time; it is with great pleasure that I am able to do so now. Some of the pieces contained will be known to you from the Original Soundtrack of the film, whilst others are appearing here for the first time. Looking back at RIDLEY SCOTT's powerful and evocative pictures left me as stimulated as before, and made the recompiling of this music, today, an enjoyable experience. -VANGELIS, Athens, April 1994

So it's not exactly a soundtrack. And check out the first word of the quote - "most" - which means some of this is original music? I don't get it and I'm not interested enough to figure out exactly what's what. There's also a long history involving contracts and the release of this music. If you have any interest in that, go check out the wikipedia entry. When some of this music was written in the early '80s, Vangelis had been recording for over a decade, but he was the hot new soundtrack composer due to his Academy Award winning score for Chariots Of Fire. This soundtrack is much moodier and dark than Chariots Of Fire (which suits the movie perfectly), but it's basically the same synth New Age noodling. Both soundtracks have been nominated by the AFI for their list of the 250 greatest film scores. Not bad for a self-taught musician who is musically illiterate (he can't read or write music notation). Since I haven't seen the movie in years, I don't think of this much as soundtrack music, but just good rainy day music.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks: It's all fairly slow and without much melody in an ambient kind of way. The Love Theme, with a saxophone solo, is what I remember from the movie and its good in a film noir-ish kind of way. There's a 1940's knock-off, One More Kiss Dear, which is (at least) one of the many cuts of the movie, but it is out of place on this album.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: When my friends and I saw this movie at the theater in 1982, we loved both the movie and this soundtrack. I worked at Burger King at the time would spend my earnings buying 2 to 3 LP's a week back then. Naturally, I sought out a Blade Runner soundtrack LP. Due to contract mess, the studio didn't release the Vangelis recordings, but instead, hired a group of musicians dubbed The New American Orchestra to record the official LP released at the time (below). That wasn't good enough for me, so I passed, but my friend Scott picked up a copy. I listened to it and was very disappointed. I made the right call on that one. Unfortunately, by the time I purchased this CD, my fascination with the movie had long passed.

The movie is set in 2019. I don't think we're on track for the 2019 depicted in the movie. Thankfully.