The day the music died. Fortunately, music survives its creators. Recently, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of Don McLean’s “American Pie,” the rock anthem that commemorates the plane crash that took away four talented musicians far before their time. I was six when the song was released, so I didn’t listen much to Richie Valens or the Big Bopper. But now Vangelis has passed away, leaving behind a body of work that remains a big part of my adolescence.
Most remember Evangelos Papathanassiou for his only number one hit, the Oscar-winning instrumental smash theme song from “Chariots of Fire.” His memorable score for “Blade Runner” is another favorite. Or perhaps they recall the TV theme song from the original “Cosmos” series on PBS. Or “Hymne,” which played beneath a series of successful Gallo wine commercials. But for me and the fellow outcasts of Manheim Township High School’s class of ’83, it was an album that he did alongside Yes vocalist Jon Anderson that still stirs our souls.
The first time I heard “I’ll Find My Way Home” on our local top 40 station, it took my breath away. It was absolutely transcendental in its spirituality and technical presence. I dashed to the record store and picked up the album “The Friends of Mr. Cairo” and was completely blown away. The title track is a twelve minute love song, first to “The Maltese Falcon” and other black-and-white detective and gangster classics. Gradually the driving beat gives way to a romantic ballad as Anderson then begins singing about the girl with whom he watches these celluloid classics.
“Making music with Vangelis was always a simple pleasure, and then it became very successful,” Anderson said. “It was very spontaneous and very joyful.”
Jon and Vangelis eschewed commercialism in their music and aspired to artistic collaborations on three other albums. They vary in style, but most of them can best be classified as old-school New Age. They begin as one thing and often morph into something else, often within the course of a single track. The combination of Jon’s high vocals (which he himself describes as tenor-alto) and Vangelis’ imaginative orchestration is pure magic. In an interview in 1982, Vangelis stated “When I compose, I perform the music at the same time, so everything is live. Nothing is pre-programmed.” Indeed I remember Casey Kasem commenting that Vangelis didn’t even read music.
A week before Vangelis passed away at age 79, I rediscovered that all four albums had been digitally remastered by the composer himself, and I bought them all over again. They’re playing now as I type these words, and I’m instantly transported back some thirty odd years.
I wonder whatever became of Christine Reist, who sang “I’ll Find My Way Home” at our high school talent show, as I played piano behind her. I’m still in touch with a few of the old gang, and I plan to share my new recordings with my high school pal Mark when he comes down for a camping visit this fall.
Jon and Vangelis music is perhaps more personal to each of us because they’re so little known and played. It’s like these arrangements were created just for our little group, who likely number in the thousands but likely not millions. They hold up today as they did in the 80s because they were so far ahead of their time.
Evangelos Papathanassiou found his way home at age 79. Thank you, sir, for the wonderful sounds you’ve left behind.
