Jon and Vangelis

Jon and Vangelis was a collaborative effort between the singer Jon Anderson (the lead vocalist of the progressive rock band Yes) and the Greek synthesiser musician Vangelis. Together, as a duo, they released 4 successful albums, between 1980 and 1991.

History

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) 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 & See you later.

Then the two recorded their first album together, Short stories in 1979, producing the major hits "I Hear You Now" as well as One more time, Anderson wrote the lyrics and Vangelis composed the music. And in 1980, Jon left Yes and while he published his third solo album Song of seven in 1980, Vangelis did the same with See you later on which Jon sang two songs. And then the two got together again and recorded their second album as a duo Friends of Mr Cairo in 1981, producing the hit songs Friends of Mr Cairo, State of independence and Back to school. In 1983, Jon Anderson got back with Yes and they published their album 90125, and so did Jon & Vangelis with their own album Private collection the same year.

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 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.^[1] "Sing With Your Eyes" appeared in 1991, as a B-side on the CD single release of "Wisdom Chain" / "Page of Life".^[2] In 2011, Anderson approached Vangelis for a possible new collaboration but he did not receive a reply.^[3]

Discography

Albums

• Short Stories (1980)
• The Friends of Mr Cairo (1981)
• Private Collection (1983)
• Page of Life (1991) (re-released in 1998 with different tracks)

Compilation albums

• The Best of Jon and Vangelis (1984)
• Chronicles (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" / "(I want to go) Back to School (edit)" (Europe/UK 1981)
• "Outside Of This (Inside Of That)" / "Beside" (Polydor Netherlands 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)
• "Deborah" / "And When The Night Comes" (Polydor 1983)
• "And When the Night Comes" / "Song Is" (UK 1983)
• "Polonaise" / "Song Is" (France Mercury 1983)
• "State of Independence" / "The Friends of Mr Cairo" (1984)
• "Wisdom Chain (edit)" / "Wisdom Chain (Full Version)" / "Page of Life" / "Sing with Your Eyes" (Europe UK 1991)

References

• Jon & Vangelis Discography : https://www.discogs.com/fr/artist/95452-Jon-Vangelis