 Introduction
Released in 1980, their first album "Short Stories" marks
the start of the successful collaboration between Jon Anderson and Vangelis.
Already recorded in 1979 in only three weeks time, both Vangelis are Jon are
prompt to admit that the album actually consists of a series spontaneous
recording sessions. Performing as "Jon and Vangelis" the duo quickly
makes it into the European charts with their instant hit-single "I hear you
now".
Tracklist and Credits
- Curious Electric
- Each and Everyday
- Bird Song
- I hear you now
- The road
- Far away in Baagad
- Love is
- One more time
- Thunder
- A play within a play
Composed by Jon Anderson and Vangelis
Arranged and produced by Vangelis
Vangelis: all instruments
Jon Anderson: vocals
Design: Vangelis
 Discography
LP
1979 Polydor 2383 565 West-Germany/Italy/Greece/Spain/Portugal/Israel/Brazil/New Zealand/Austria
1979 Polydor 2442 169 Holland/France/ South-Africa
1979 Polydor PD-1-6272 United States/Canada
1979 Polydor United Kingdom/Japan/Argentina/Yugoslavia/Mexico
Single
1979 I Hear you now / Thunder Polydor 2059 196
West-Germany/Holland/Belgium/France/Italy/Spain/Brazil/Australia
1979 I Hear you now / Thunder Polydor POSP 96 United Kingdom/Ireland
1979 I Hear you now / Thunder Polydor United States/Canada/Japan/South Africa
CD
Polydor 800 027-2 West-Germany/France/Canada/United States
Polydor POCP 2111 Japan
Recording Studio
Recorded at Nemo Studios, London, England in 1979.
Miscellania
 | According to an anecdote by Jon Anderson, Jon and Vangelis meet for the
first time in 1974 in Paris, |
| Jon first appears on Vangelis' album "Heaven and Hell" in 1975,
singing his lyrics to the song "So long ago, so clear", |
| Although
denied by both artists, some people still believe to hear Vangelis' hand in
Jon's first solo-album "Olias
of Sunhillow" (1976). Personally I really don't believe that Vangelis
actually plays on this album, especially since Jon thanks Vangelis for his
"energy" in the liner notes of the album. Likely it was not
more than that. |
| A
similar argument as for "Olias of Sunhillow" is heard for Jon's
demo-recording bootlegged under the name "The
sky and his shadow", however there is absolutely no proof whatsoever that Vangelis
is involved in that recording. |
| In 1981 Jon and Vangelis release their second album "The
Friends of Mr. Cairo". |
| In 1983 Jon and Vangelis release their third album "Private
Collection". |
| In 1991 Jon and Vangelis release their fourth album "Page
of Life". |
Lyrics
For all the lyrics of this album, go to Jon and Vangelis lyrics:
Short
Stories
 Review
This
album is the first in a series of four Jon & Vangelis albums after Jon
Anderson sang the one song on the 1975 album 'Heaven
and Hell'. It's also the freshest of the lot, the two friends evidently
relishing the chance to finally work together on a full album with Jon
temporarily having left Yes.
Improvisation is the word here, with Vangelis wandering through many short
musical ideas and Jon Anderson making up lyrics, or short stories, along the way
it seems. He is one of those lyricists who hardly ever make any sense (read no
further than 'Thunder') but do manage
to make their lyrics sound good. Anyway, it's his voice that counts, an easy
high-pitched voice that works wonderfully well with Vangelis' electronics, which
on this album retains some of that nature-inspired 'China' feel. The album gives the impression of having been made in
just a few sessions without any messing about with it afterwards, an impression
which is confirmed in a number of interviews they gave at the time about their
work together.
The pair scored a minor hit with 'I Hear
You Now' and other highlights include 'Love
Is', 'One More Time' and 'A Play
Within A Play' (with its surprising outburst in the middle) but the overall
quality of the music is consistently good. Maybe the only dud is the limp 'The
Road', a failed attempt at a sing-along campfire-song.
Some will find it all overly sweet and lovely and it must have presented a
complete opposite to the punk and new wave movements of those days. But it makes
for some nice easy listening, there is a lot of genuine inspiration to be found
and anyway the "positive vibes" are clearly meant sincerely.
Review by Ivar de Vries
Movements |
