------------------------------------------------------- AUGUST 1984 ------------------------------------------------------- Source: Progrography http://www.connollyco.com/discography/jon_and_vangelis/bestof.html Review: The Best of Jon and Vangelis By Dave Connolly The Best of Jon and Vangelis Arranged and Produced by Vangelis Released on August 1984 This is as compelling an argument for the existence of Jon & Vangelis as you’ll find, and given the sometimes uneven nature of their recordings together it was a point that needed making. The collection eases into the pair’s ethereal world with “Italian Song” and follows with two of their most swift and succinct tracks, “I’ll Find My Way Home” and “State of Independence.” What The Best of Jon & Vangelis does is create a self-sustaining world where the pair’s idiosyncratic sounds make sense; no heavy music that might poke holes in their gossamer-light arrangements, no directionless exercises that obscure the line between shapeless and pointless. Not that the selection here will draw in anyone not already attuned to the pair’s shared muse, but it does distill their music to its sweetest essence. In fact, I can’t think of any essential moment that’s missing, since “Horizons” would be too long for inclusion and “Love Is/One More Time” is best left for owners of Short Stories to discover. It would have been nice if somebody thought outside the box and slipped “So Long Ago, So Clear” in here, or made the bold suggestion that maybe (just maybe) the single edit version of “The Friends of Mr. Cairo” would suffice, but that a compilation was issued at all is a minor miracle (since we’re still waiting for one from Jon). If you need to buy an album of Jon & Vangelis music, here it is; beyond these comfy confines, you’re on your own. TRACK LISTING 1. ITALIAN SONG 2. I'LL FIND MY WAY HOME 3. STATE OF INDEPENDENCE 4. ONE MORE TIME 5. A PLAY WITHIN A PLAY 6. THE FRIENDS OF MR. CAIRO 7. OUTSIDE OF THIS (INSIDE OF THAT) 8. HE IS SAILING 9. I HEAR YOU NOW Music and lyrics by Jon and Vangelis CREDITS JON ANDERSON -- vocals VANGELIS -- all instruments, sleeve Carol Kenyon -- backing vocals (3) Dick Morrisey -- saxophone (3) Raine Shine -- engineer Raphael Preston -- engineer (4,5,9) Alwyn Clayden -- sleeve Greein Ink -- creative assistance Close Window YesInThePress.com For site comments, inquiries, corrections, or additions, contact yitp@yesservices.com