Introduction
This is the story of three young friends, who travel from Greece to
France in search of a better creative environment. Back in 1968 a military
regime has taken over the government in Greece and just as many other Greek
artists, Vangelis Papathanassiou, Demis Roussos and Lucas Sideras decide to
leave their country. A fourth friend, Argyris Koulouris has to stay behind to
fulfil his army duty. Although aiming to travel to England, Vangelis, Demis
and Lukas first get in trouble as they are not allowed to enter the UK due to their
work-permits, and then get stuck in Paris due to a transportation strike. By
that time they decide to stay in Paris, and sign up with the Mercury record
label as the band "Aphrodite's Child", with the help of Pierre Sberro.
Their first single "Rain and tears", released in May 1968,
immediately strikes gold and becomes a huge hit worldwide. The song plays in
France during the student riots, and is an instant success in France and other
countries in Europe. Due to the success of the single it is time to record a full
album "End of the world". The title song of the album, released
in October 1968, becomes the
second single of Aphrodite's Child. A third single "Valley of sadness"
is also shortly issued in France, but later quickly withdrawn.
Tracklist and Credits
- End of the world
- Don't try to catch a river
- Mister
Thomas
- Rain and tears
- The grass is no green
- Valley of sadness
- You always stand in my way
- The shepherd and the moon
Day of the fool
All songs composed by E. Papathanassiou.
All lyrics written by Boris Bergman.
Additional credits, as printed on the cd
Discography
LP
1968 Mercury 138 350 France/Greece/Holland/Spain
1968 Mercury 20140 SMCL UK
1969 Mercury SLP 66.001 Brazil
1969 Mercury 131.103 Chile
CD
1996 Mercury 532 866-2 Greece
2004 Mercury UICY-9371 Japan
Single
1968 Rain and tears / Don't try to catch a river Mercury 132 501 MCF France/Belgium/Holland/Greece/West-Germany/Italy/Spain/Norway/Turkey
1968 Rain and tears / Don't try to catch a river Mercury 4124 Greece
1968 Rain and tears / Don't try to catch a river RTB S53531 Yugoslavia
1968 Rain and tears / Don't try to catch a river Mercury Australia/Brazil/UK/Peru/South
Africa/Rhodesia
1968 Rain and tears / Don't try to catch a river Philips 40549 Canada/USA
1968 Rain and tears / Don't try to catch a river Philips SFL-1178 Japan
1968 Rain and tears / Don't try to catch a river Lacsea Disques 68124 Cambodia
1969 End of the world / You always
stand in my way Mercury 132 502 MCF France/Belgium/Holland/West-Germany/Italy/Spain/Turkey/Denmark/Singapore/Chile
1968 End of the world / You always
stand in my way Mercury Greece/UK/Peru
1968 End of the world / You always
stand in my way Philips 40587 Canada/USA
1968 End of the world / You always
stand in my way Philips SFL-1202 Japan
1969 Valley of sadness / Mister Thomas Mercury 132 503 MCF (withdrawn)
1970 Valley of sadness / Funky Mary Mercury 6033010 Portugal
EP
1968 Rain and tears / Don't try to catch a river / The other people /
Plastics nevermore Mercury 74250 CXE France (Cassette)
1968 Rain and tears / The other people / Plastics nevermore / Don't try to catch
a river Mercury P 26 003 Portugal
1968 Rain and tears / Don't try to catch a river / End of the world / You always
stand in my way Litratone 74208 Israel
1970 Rain and tears / Don't try to catch a river / Marie Jolie Mercury
6234002 Portugal
1968 End of the world / The shepherd and the moon / You always stand in my way /
Mister Thomas Mercury P 26 008 Portugal
Any of the LP's will be quite difficult to find. The cd is still available in
Greece, so you might have better luck there.
Recording Studio
The music for this album is recorded in Studio Polydor in Paris.
Miscellania
