Chariots Of Fire [Soundtrack]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
Most everyone is familiar with the romantic piano-and-synthesizer washes of the surprise instrumental hit "Titles (Main Theme)" from this 1981 film soundtrack. What is surprising is there's a lot more going on with this score. Greek keyboardist/composer had been recording albums for years before this soundtrack catapulted him into fame. He'd even been asked to join the prog rock band Yes at one point. He was wise to pass on the offer. Here you can hear the breadth of his talent at creating dreamy moods with synthesizers and classically inspired backdrops. Some of this music, however, doesn't quite hold its own without the visuals. Anyone looking for a stronger, more rock-like record by Vangelis should pick up Albedo 0.39. --Larry Crane

Amazon.com
One of the most memorable soundtracks of all time, Vangelis's Academy Award-winning Chariots of Fire is such a landmark, it's become the stuff of parody whenever someone wants to punch a hole through sloppy sentimentality. But just go back to this 1981 film to relive a perfect marriage of image and music. Vangelis captures the heroism, grandeur, and pain of this racing drama, from the opulent main "Titles" theme with its echoing snare drum and piano cadences to the electronically abstract setting of Sir Charles H.H. Parry's choral work, "Jerusalem." Vangelis's score hangs suspended between orchestral lushness and electronic mood, sweetness tempered by the underlying psychological themes of the film. Often forgotten on this album is the extemporaneous title suite that, in the days of LPs, took up the second side of the album. Here, Vangelis explores some of the film's music cues at length, weaving them into a minor keyboard symphony. --John Diliberto

Chariots Of Fire,Vangelis,Polydor / Pgd,New Age,Pop,Soundtrack,Soundtracks & Film Scores

Tracks:

Titles
Five Circles
Abraham's Theme
Eric's Theme
100 Metres
Jerusalem
Chariots Of Fire

Amazon.com essential recording

Most everyone is familiar with the romantic piano-and-synthesizer washes of the surprise instrumental hit "Titles (Main Theme)" from this 1981 film soundtrack. What is surprising is there's a lot more going on with this score. Greek keyboardist/composer had been recording albums for years before this soundtrack catapulted him into fame. He'd even been asked to join the prog rock band Yes at one point. He was wise to pass on the offer. Here you can hear the breadth of his talent at creating dreamy moods with synthesizers and classically inspired backdrops. Some of this music, however, doesn't quite hold its own without the visuals. Anyone looking for a stronger, more rock-like record by Vangelis should pick up Albedo 0.39. --Larry Crane

Amazon.com

One of the most memorable soundtracks of all time, Vangelis's Academy Award-winning Chariots of Fire is such a landmark, it's become the stuff of parody whenever someone wants to punch a hole through sloppy sentimentality. But just go back to this 1981 film to relive a perfect marriage of image and music. Vangelis captures the heroism, grandeur, and pain of this racing drama, from the opulent main "Titles" theme with its echoing snare drum and piano cadences to the electronically abstract setting of Sir Charles H.H. Parry's choral work, "Jerusalem." Vangelis's score hangs suspended between orchestral lushness and electronic mood, sweetness tempered by the underlying psychological themes of the film. Often forgotten on this album is the extemporaneous title suite that, in the days of LPs, took up the second side of the album. Here, Vangelis explores some of the film's music cues at length, weaving them into a minor keyboard symphony. --John Diliberto

Customer Reviews:

Richly deserving of the Academy Award it won in 1981.......2007-05-22

This is the album that put progressive electronic composer Vangelis on the map and brought him to a wider audience. In fact, Chariots of Fire (1981) was the first synthesizer score to win an Oscar and was dedicated to Vangelis' father (who happened to be a sprinter) who died just before Chariots of Fire was released. Although I am extremely fond of his work with Aphrodites Child and his solo albums from the 1970s, there is enough of the sweeping, sunlight-beaming-down-through-the-clouds analog synthesizer "thing" on this album to keep this hard core progressive rock/electronica fan extremely satisfied. In fact, this may very well be my favorite Vangelis album.

What I find most impressive about this album is the care with which Vangelis composed each piece - the arrangements are excellent, with skillfully crafted melodies and harmonies plastered throughout. The different voices of the analog synthesizers used on this album, e.g. ARP 2600 modular; Korg PSS3300; Moog Minimoog; Oberheim 4-Voice; Roland Jupiter 4; Sequential Circuits Prophet 5; Yamaha CP80 electric grand; Yamaha CS80 etc, are used very well, lending each piece a very symphonic feel. For those of you that are curious, the synthesizer tone colors are very warm and analog sounding - as an analog synthesizer fan, I enjoyed this album a great deal.

The seven tracks on the album range in length from 2'04" to the epic 20'41" Chariots of Fire suite and are very contemplative and at times quite gloomy. In the midst of this grey mist, there is a rousing and uplifting version of Jerusalem (an English hymn written by Blake and set to music by Parry) complete with the grandeur of a pipe organ and a choir. The theme on the opening track Titles, is restated in the closing piece Chariots of Fire, thus bringing all of the pieces together.

Well there you have it. This is an excellent album by Vangelis that stands as the first synthesizer score to receive recognition at such a high level. Very highly recommended along with Opera Sauvage (1979).

great theme--TERRIBLE score.......2006-09-26

People say wonderful things about this score, but in my experience they're almost always talking about the first track! We've all heard this track, and I'll be the first to agree that it is excellent, a 5 star track in my opinion. The rest of this album is atrocious. The whole thing can be summed up thus: synthesized droning. I've never seen an album that is so boring, completely lacking thematic beauty, and such a meandering waste of time as the rest of this album is. If you sincerely love the main theme and have to have it, then buy this album (or find it on a compilation disk, better yet). Otherwise, steer clear of this one--it reeks

Vangelis Puts Wings On Your Heels.......2006-01-21

'Chariots of Fire' is one of the most inspiring, heartfelt films of all-time, a true cinematic masterpiece. One of the major contributing factors in bringing this film to such lofty status is the incorporation of what is probably the most beautiful and emotionally moving soundtracks ever to accompany a film.

In 'Chariots of Fire' Vangelis has perfectly captured in these seven compositions the hopes and dreams of a generation that few of us are old enough to remember. His music exudes humanity and all the noble traits that are so lacking today; courage, commitment, determination and faith. Vangelis' soundtrack graces the listener with an interior vision of a simpler, nostalgic time and place where a few young men "seized the day" and ran their way to glory.

One of my favorite CDs.......2005-08-31

Chariots of Fire is one of my favorite CDs. I first listened to it in 1990, during a Christmas break in Washington DC.
It was also one of the first CDs that I have ever listened to. Earlier, there were no CDs, only vinyl records and audiotape.
Vangelis's music sounds really magical and dreamy.
If I'm irritated, it soothes my nerves and calms me down.
Highly recommended to all dreamers.

Blast from the Past.......2005-08-09

We recently heard one of the songs from the old movie Chariots of Fire (which we haven't seen or heard in years) and my husband really liked it so I bought the CD for him for his birthday. It's a very good easy listening piece and brings back images from the movie to your mind. We really enjoy it - especially at full volume! Now we need to buy the DVD if it's out on one!

Average customer rating:

Relive you movie experiences

The Ultimate Movie Music Collection
Erich Kunzel
Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000BFH26Y
Release Date: 2005-10-25

Tracks:

The Imperial March: The Empire Strikes Back
Main Theme: Jurassic Park
Main Title: Shakespeare In Love
Themes: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Main Title: The Last Of The Mohicans
Theme: The Godfather
Unchained Melody: Ghost
Theme: Goldfinger
We're Losing Him: Somewhere In Time
Space Camp
Opening And Closing Titles: Henry V
Theme: The Thorn Birds
Suite: Moonwalker
The Time Of Your Life: A Bugs Life

Tracks:

Batman Theme: Batman
Bicycle Chase: E.T. The Extra Terrestrial
Suite: Independance Day
Love Theme: Romeo & Juliet
Theme: Back To The Future
End Credits: Contact
Theme: Breakfast At Tiffany's
Main Theme: Star Trek
May It Be And Themes: Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Ring
Love Theme: Cousins
Sean's Theme: Minority Report
I Will Wait From You: The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg
Theme: Rocky
The Sand Volcano: The Mummy
The Raider's March: Raiders Of The Lost Ark

Tracks:

Theme: Mission Impossible
Casablanca Suite
Book Of Days: Far And Away
Love Theme: Superman
Tara's Theme: Gone With The Wind
Don't Mess With: Z
Main Title: The Mask Of Zorro
Finale: Victor / Victoria
Carol Ann's Theme: Poltergeist
Love Theme: Star Wars: Episode ll: Attack Of The Clones
Main Theme: Willow
Main Title: Star Trek ll: The Wrath Of Kahn
MAin Theme: On Golden Pond
Theme: A Summer Place
Theme: Chariots Of Fire

Tracks:

Iceberg!
Back To Titanic
Main Themes: Hook
Theme: Pink Panther
Lara's: Doctor Zhivago
Theme: Love Story
Right Stuff
Theme: Jaws
When You Believe: The Prince Of Egypt
Smile: Modern Times
The Apollo 13 Mission
Re-Entry And Splashdown: Apollo 13
Main Title: Beetlejuice
War: Pearl Harbor
Cavatina: The Deer Hunter
Throne Room And End Title: Star Wars: Episode lV: A New Hope

Customer Reviews:

Relive you movie experiences.......2006-01-24

This collection of movie themes, will allow you to relive the chilling experiences from practically all (4 CDs)of the great movies. Great movies would not be great without great music. The Cincinnati Pop with Eric Kunzel are unbeatable recordings. Every minute is more beautiful and inspiring to the next. If you love Pops music, this is the begin all, end all.

Average customer rating:

Moving, Spectacular - a true orchestral classic!!
By far one of the best movie soundtracks ever composed
A home run soundtrack! And I don't even like baseball.
Sweetly nostalgic, yet swingy and jazzy.
I love the music/inspirational and moving!

The Natural (1984 Film)
Randy Newman
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Natural (Director's Cut)

ASIN: B000002L6A
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Prologue 1915-1923
The Whammer Strikes Out
The Old Farm 1939
The Majors: The Mind Is A Strange Thing
Knock The Cover Off The Ball
Memo
The Natural
Wrigley Field
Iris And Roy
Winning
A Father Makes A Difference
Penthouse Party
The Final Game
The End Title

Amazon.com

Randy Newman's score for director Barry Levinson's 1984 adaptation of writer Bernard Malamud's baseball fable remains, like star Robert Redford's turn as the film's Roy Hobbs, somewhat mystic and decidedly larger than life. Newman's music flawlessly fuses overwrought Wagnerian grandeur with the more plaintive strains of Aaron Copland, arguably forming one of the film's most crucial narrative elements in the bargain. Perhaps because it's a score with a scale so broad and bold--the antithesis of Newman-the-songwriter's often terse, internalized musical monologues--the composer himself has since expressed reservations about the potent cues he's since dubbed "heromusik." Nonetheless, The Natural remains an impressive tribute to Newman's musical professionalism, even if his masterful craftsmanship produced something he's always seemed a bit wary of: a bona fide crowd pleaser. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

Moving, Spectacular - a true orchestral classic!!.......2005-08-10

Randy Newman? Wrote and performed "Short People" Part of Bachman Turner Overdrive if I recall..

However when put to the task of a soundtrack for a movie about a baseball "Natural" Mr. Newman pulled out all the stops. You'll hear the famous clips from this CD during a "best of" sports feature or maybe a biography of a great hero. It's a must have for a cinematic classical collector. The composition includes soft and pleasant textures like walking in a magnificient wheat field on a sunny day - some rinky dink 20's style jazz...a caliope rendition of "Take me out to the Ballgame".

Grab your favorite beverage or herbal remedy, get in your favorite easy chair, load the CD and crank it up.

You'll love it.

By far one of the best movie soundtracks ever composed.......2002-05-22

Randy Newman is known to the non-cinematically-obsessed public as the sourpuss composer and gravelly-voiced singer of the tart novelty hit "Short People," but here is the work for which he should have won his well-deserved Oscar (instead of for the trifle he composed for 2001's "Monsters, Inc.").

With "The Natural," which he not only composed but conducted, Newman manages the pretty neat trick of stepping into the enormous shoes left by Aaron Copland. Newman takes the perfectly American pasttime of baseball and melds it perfectly with the American penchant for youth, sunshine, nostalgia, and happy endings--all without a single instance of treacle or falsity. He sounds Coplandian here without sounding slavish. He soars on wings of his own making and utterly enriches the film "The Natural" with his music.

"Prologue 1915 - 1923" opens the soundtrack and deftly sketches the career Robert Redford's Roy Hobbs character had in the minors and then briefly in the majors, limning the energetic youth of the new baseball player followed by the slower, more minor-key weariness Hobbs experiences as he seems to lose his touch. With "Knock the Cover Off the Ball," Newman somehow captures a sparkly, sunstruck afternoon out in the middle of a baseball field, the fierce concentration needed to do the deed demanded in the title, and the gathering speed of the ball itself. In "Winning," the big band, swinging tune says it all. You need brass balls to survive this ball game, son, and the music handily underscores that rule without the aid of a single lyric.

Had Randy Newman never written another film score beyond 1984's "The Natural," he could easily and justly have rested on these fine laurels. We are lucky that he didn't.

A home run soundtrack! And I don't even like baseball........2000-01-28

This the most magical soundtrack I have every purchased! I personally think it is Randy Newman's best work and as far as soundtracks go I put it up there with anything by Nino Rota. The way Newman uses the strings and paces the songs one would swear he was the prodigal son of Aaron Copeland. Of course he isn't but like Copeland's operas he definitely knows how to compose music which feels Americana. You can almost see wheat fields blowing and you'll certainly want t a piece of Apple Pie after hearing the title song, "The Natural." A must for any lover of soundtracks.

Sweetly nostalgic, yet swingy and jazzy........1998-12-30

Great movie music! The main theme is sweetly nostalgic of a simpler time, and the "Majors" theme is swingy and jazzy. The slower parts are relaxing to listen to, and the faster parts are great to dance to. Highly recommended.

I love the music/inspirational and moving!.......1998-06-12

The music on this soundtrack is great. It is inspirational and moving, may take some time to grow on you. If you like the movie and have a taste for nostalgia and great instrumentals this is a great album. I listen to it all of the time.

Average customer rating:

Hooray for Hollywood!
Eh, It's Okay
We really enjoyed hearing all of the old movie themes
Outstanding Film Music
An Interesting and Gratifying Volume 1

Hollywood's Greatest Hits, Vol. 1

Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Beautiful Hollywood

ASIN: B000003CUW
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

20th Century Fox Fanfare
Overture From Captain Blood
Tara's Theme From Gone With the Wind
Parade Of The Charioteers From Ben Hur
Theme From Exodus
Lara's Theme From Doctor Zhivago
Theme From Lawrence Of Arabia
Love Theme From Romeo And Juliet
Theme From Goldfinger
Theme From Love Story
Theme From A Summer Place
Theme From Jaws
Theme From The Summer Of '42
Theme From Rocky
Theme From Terms Of Endearment
Main Theme From Out Of Africa
Theme From Chariots Of Fire

Customer Reviews:

Hooray for Hollywood!.......2007-07-22

I bought this CD to go with an Academy Awards/Hollywood Walk-of-Fame theme party that I did for work. It really lent that dramatic mood that I was looking for to usher in the theme as people entered that room on the first day after it was decorated.

Please also see my review for the CD Beautiful Hollywood.

Eh, It's Okay.......2007-04-24

For those that purchase soundtrack collages to have a variety of songs and themes, then this is good for you. Unfortunately, these tracks didn't have the signature Erich Kunzel version of the songs as he had on other soundtrack mix CDs. It was more like just that, a mix CD of different soundtracks and scores. However, it was a good buy in the fact that the tracks chosen had excellent sound quality and a sense of harmony.

We really enjoyed hearing all of the old movie themes.......2005-09-30

we put this CD in on a long road trip. We played a guessing game as to which one knew the movie. The music was excellent.

Outstanding Film Music.......2005-09-10

This is an outstanding collection of film music. The sound is qulity is very good. The selections cover a good range from various film genres and time periods. I like this CD.

An Interesting and Gratifying Volume 1.......2005-08-22

Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops' interpretation of film scores on this first tribute to Hollywood is somewhat a mixed bag. A SUMMER PLACE was beautifully executed and true to the nature of this sensitive film that was made during a time of innocence. The BEN HUR, CAPTAIN BLOOD and OUT OF AFRICA selections were good. The interpretation of GOLDFINGER was a rather bizarre and blatantly bombastic exercise in overkill. This is a good CD for me because of the A SUMMER PLACE selection.

Average customer rating:

Loved "Summon the Heroes"
Inspirational music during awards
Rousing but....
Enjoyable romp through Olympic Themes
One of the most uplifting and motivating albums!!!

Summon the Heroes

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00004WK4E
Release Date: 2000-08-29

Tracks:

Summon The Heroes - John Williams/Boston Pops Orchestra
Carmina Burana: O Fortuna - Tanglewood Festival Chorus/John Oliver
Bugler's Dream/Olympic Fanfare And Theme - John Williams/Boston Pops Orchestra
Canto Olympico: Ode To Zeus - Tanglewood Festival Chorus/John Oliver
Javelin - John Williams/Boston Pops Orchestra
Olympic Hymn - Tanglewood Festival Chorus/John Oliver
Festive Overture, Op.96 - John Williams/Boston Pops Orchestra
Conquest Of Paradise (Theme) - Tanglewood Festival Chorus/John Oliver
Ben Hur: Parade Of Charioteers - John Williams/Boston Pops Orchestra
Toward A New Life - John Williams/Boston Pops Orchestra
Chariots of Fire (Theme) - John Williams/Boston Pops Orchestra
The Olympic Spirit - John Williams/Boston Pops Orchestra

Customer Reviews:

Loved "Summon the Heroes".......2007-03-17

Great soul-stirring music! Highly recommended for anyone who loves Olympics orchestral and similar music.

Inspirational music during awards.......2007-01-22

I use the music on this CD as background when I give awards during track. It's very inspirational & uplifting to the athletes. They love it.

Rousing but...........2006-02-24

This CD, with John Williams at the baton, summons the heroes in a rousing manner with a wide range of Olympic as well as "heroic" (e.g., "Parade of the Charioteers" from "Ben Hur")selections. Three of the twelve tracks were written by Williams himself with his "Olympic Spirit" being recorded for the first time. The electrifying "Ode to Zeus" by Mikis Theodorakis is probably the single greatest selection.
In an amazing oversight, however, this CD does not include the Olympic Theme.

Enjoyable romp through Olympic Themes.......2005-09-01

In the US at least, John Williams is known more for his movie scores (Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark to name a few), but he has put his stamp on the Olympics with his several themes and fanfares for the Olympics. Dating back to 1984, Mr. Williams has composed many well known fanfares to the Olympics, and this compilation contains several of his fanfares in addition to music used in other Olympics. The original release for the disc was 1996, which makes it current through the Atlanta Games; if you're looking for the work that John Williams composed for the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics (2002), you have to go with American Visions (I believe that's the title).

On the whole, the music is well done, but I'm more used to the faster pace of the Parade of the Charioteers found on Eric Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops' Hollywood's Greatest Hits Vol. 1.
One other quibble (minor, really) is that people tend to think of the 1984 Olympic Fanfare as being always merged with the traditional Olympic Fanfare, but you can find it separately on By Request by John Williams and the Boston Pops. You'll also have to hunt around for the full composition of what people consider the traditional Olympic Fanfare on another disc, but that's a minor issue.

One nice item on the disc is The Olympic Spirit, which was composed for the NBC Broadcast of the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, but never used. My children really like that piece a lot, and usually request it to be replayed when it finishes.

One of the most uplifting and motivating albums!!!.......2005-07-19

When I first listened to this album, I was in awe of the beauty and grandness of the music composed/performed by John Williams. John can make composing music an exalted art. His music is purely genius and captures the ideas of the album in which the score is in. Back to the album . . . it is AWESOME! This includes many well-known songs but also many undiscovered treasures. Of the twelve songs, I especially enjoyed:
Track One-Summon the Heroes
Track Three-Bugler's Dream/Olympic Fanfare and Theme
Track Twelve-The Olympic Spirit
Bottom Line: BUY THIS ALBUM!!!!!!!! A TREASURE!!!!!

Average customer rating:

Disappointing
Enough with the damn compilations!
worth buying, has seven good Vangelis songs
Excellent Overview of Vangelis' Best Known Songs
Hip-O Records trying to make money from us

Odyssey: The Definitive Collection

Manufacturer: Hip-O Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Reprise: 1990-1999
Themes
Oceanic
Heaven and Hell
Voices

ASIN: B0000DHK5T
Release Date: 2003-11-04

Tracks:

Pulstar
Hymne
Main Theme From The 'Chariots Of Fire'
Main Theme From The 'Missing'
Love Theme From 'Blade Runner'
End Titles From 'Blade Runner'
The Tao Of Love
Theme From 'Antartica'
Theme From 'Cavafy'
Opening Titles From 'Mutiny On The Bounty'
Conquest Of Paradise
La Petite Fille De La Mer
L'Enfant
Alpha
Celtic Dawn
Movement 1 From 'Mythodea'
I'll Find My Way Home
State Of Independence

Album Description

18 remastered tracks including titles from 'Missing', 'Blade Runner', '1492 Conquest Of Paradise' & the Oscar-winning 'Chariots Of Fire', as well as 2 bonus tracks, 'I'll Find My Way Home' & 'State Of Independence'. Digipak. Universal. 2003.

Customer Reviews:

Disappointing.......2006-08-19

I like the music, but the sound quality is terrible. I bought this CD because it was released in 2003, but there is ZERO improvement in sound quality from previous older tracks.

Enough with the damn compilations!.......2005-06-11

First of all I like Vangelis very much. However I have had it with the way that his music is being released. We are consistently given compilation releases (usually of the same tracks that are on other releases). WHAT IS THE POINT????!!
All the more frustrating is that Vangelis has a ton of unreleased music that many fans like myself have been after for years. Sorry the bootlegs on Ebay just don't cut it.
Where's an official release of "Cavafy", "The Bounty", "Francesco", and "Bitter Moon". Where is all the still unreleased music from "1492", "Blade Runner", "Antarctica" and "Chariots of fire", yes he released soundtracks for these films but they were sadly lacking.
Unfortunately we will probably have to wait for Vangelis to demise before we ever get these tracks, if even then.

worth buying, has seven good Vangelis songs.......2005-05-25

Some may complain that this is not a definitive Vangelis CD. Nope, it is far from being that, but it has seven good songs on it that make it worth purchasing for less than $20. Those seven good songs are: Hymne, Alpha, Chariots of Fire, Missing, Pulsar, Petite Fille de la Mer, and L'enfant. Of course, those are just my personal favorites.

Excellent Overview of Vangelis' Best Known Songs.......2004-06-10

It's hard to keep track of the number of compilations of Vangelis. Off the top of my head, I can think of "The Best of", "Greatest Hits", "Themes", "Portraits", and "Reprise". But they never got it right, something was always off, or one period or another of his career was not covered. Now comes "Oddisey: The Definitive Collection". While it may be pushing your luck to proclaim anything as a Vangelis "definitive" compilation", given his prolific output over the years, I am here nevertheless to tell you that this compilation is as good as it will get.

"Oddisey: The Definitive Collection" (18 tracks, 78 min.) in my opinion truly does compile all of Vangelis' best know tracks and greatest hits. Most of the tracks on here will sound immediately familiar, many because they are movie themes (Chariots of Fire being the most famous of course, but also The Missing, Blade Runner, thankfully containing both the beginning and end titles, Mutiny on the Bounty, and others), and other that became well known in commercials (Hymne, L'Enfant, among others). There can be no denying the creativity and talents of Vangelis. There are 2 bonus tracks, "I'll Find My Way Home" and "State of Independence", the 2 best known tracks of Jon & Vangelis, a nice touch to the album.

I share my frustration with other reviewers here that there is tons of great Vangelis music out there that remains unreleased. To be sure, Vangelis deserves a box-treatment of rare and unreleased tracks. But if you are looking for a single-disk overview of his best known songs, look no further: "Oddisey" is it. Released in Fall, 2003, it is a nice way to commemorate Vangelis turning 60 (say it ain't so!).

Hip-O Records trying to make money from us.......2004-04-20

Hos this company dares to call this compilation definitive collection??? Bring something new and then I'll consider your work. Shame of you!!!

Average customer rating:

Great remaster of an old classic.
"Chariots Of Fire" Sounds Better Than Ever!!!
Any remastered Vangelis welcomed!
A pinnacle for Vangelis
VANGELIs. On This Album He Realy Show What He Can Do. Just Listen To It, .

Chariots of Fire
Vangelis
Manufacturer: Universal
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Music From Koreyoshi Kurahara's Film Antarctica

ASIN: B000JJ5G24
Release Date: 2006-11-13

Tracks:

Titles
Five Circles
Abraham's Theme
Eric's Theme
100 Metres
Jerusalem - The Ambrosian Singers
Chariots of Fire, Film Score

Album Description

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of one of the most successful British films of all time, Polydor and Universal Music Catalogue are proud to announce the release of a newly remastered edition of the classic Original Soundtrack by Vangelis. The album has been personally re-mastered by the maestro Vangelis at his home studio in his native Greece and really shines. The Chariots of Fire theme is surely one of the best-known film themes of all time. The soundtrack won its composer - the great Vangelis - an Oscar in 1981 and now, 25 years on, the music has been remastered and reissued on Universal Music to mark this important anniversary. 2006.

Album Details

2006 Issued 25th Anniversary of One of the Most Successful British Films of all Time. The Album Has Been Personally Remastered by the Maestro Vangelis at his Home Studio in his Native Greece and Really Shines. The Chariots of Fire Theme is One of the Best-known Film Themes of all Time and Former Aphrodite's Child Keyboardist Received an Oscar in 1981 for his Effort.

Customer Reviews:

Great remaster of an old classic........2007-05-07

I have the original on vinyl, and the first CD edition from the eighties. This latest remaster is a great edition and the clarity and bass that is present in it is a testimony to modern recording technology.

"Chariots Of Fire" Sounds Better Than Ever!!!.......2007-04-18

Vangelis's score for the 1981 Oscar winning film "Chariots Of Fire" is probably the Greek musician/composer's best known work. 25 years after its original release, the "Chariots Of Fire" soundtrack album is brought back to life once again with a stellar remaster by Vangelis himself.
The beauty and vibrancy comes through in every track and especially sounds great on a large sound system.
Composition-wise, Vangelis was definitely at a creative peak churning out melody after memorable melody not just with the well-known "Titles" theme but throughout the entire album. The biggest evidence of this can be heard in the dynamic "Eric's Theme" as well as the epic 20 minute title track which plays almost like a Tchaikovksy or Rachmaninoff piano concerto.
In addition to the solid remastered CD, the packaging of the anniversary edition is also stellar with stills from the film as well as a recent photo of Vangelis himself. The only minor drawback with this edition is that there are no bonus tracks or outtakes. The powerful sound of the original music no doubt makes up for this though.
With this said, this latest reissue of "Chariots of Fire" definitely eclipses every other edition of this album. This is one of Vangelis's finest efforts presented in its finest form yet.
Indespensible in every way possible!!!

Any remastered Vangelis welcomed!.......2007-03-25

While I'm not sure how much better this edition is than the remastered one from a few years ago, it definitely seems brighter and cleaner than the original CD release. This new edition and the earlier remaster are both very nice sounding issues, and each has unique collectable packaging. What may be the best thing about this 25th anniversary edition of Chariots, is that it's supposed to be the beginning of an expected series of remastered Vangelis CDs from the Polydor era. This is what I have heard rumored, so let's hope it's true. Bring on some previously unreleased bonus tracks, too!

A pinnacle for Vangelis.......2007-02-09

This version of Chariots of Fire, personally remastered by Vangelis, is a welcome edition to be sure. Many older editions, and especially vinyl records, were clearly mastered from tape reels that had a slight flutter. The sound quality of this recording is now to a level of perfection that I never imagined existed even on the original tapes.

During the late 1970's, Vangelis rose to prominence in Europe with his unique efforts to fuse "classical" styles---in particular the sweeping melodies characteristic of the Romantic period---with a minimalist style that was typified by repeating "ostinato" patterns played on electronic instruments. This approach reached a pinnacle, at least for its time, with the music for Chariots of Fire. The short but effective, and now world-famous, "Titles" track crystalizes this fabulous and absolutely unique fusion of styles, as if Vangelis had channeled Wagner (the original "movie music" composer) over an electronic minimalist continuo. Still one of the most remarkable examples of innovative musical style in the 20th century, and also commendable for its early effort to create much of the the sound of an orchestra using the rudimentary synthesizers of the period. Carrying the lead using an acoustic piano was perhaps the wisest choice of all for this piece.

Modern electronic composers can have little understanding of what efforts went into these multilayered tracks, when many synthesizers were still analog, and the ubiquitous Musical Instrument Digital Interface had yet to be developed. Tracks 2, 3, 4, and 5 show many interesting constructive features musically, which would have been very difficult to achieve at that time with the layering of synthesizers using analog multitrack tapes. The sixth track is not a Vangelis performance, but was included originally because it was indeed played in the film, and is rather nice to listen to anyway.

The piece de resistance of the whole affair is, ironically, a piece that does not appear in the film at all, so far as I know. The final track, exceeding 21 minutes in length, actually bears the title "Chariots of Fire," and should be regarded as Vangelis's effort to impart something of the flavor of the entire film through an extended orchestral suite with a piano lead and, naturally, an electronic minimalist backdrop framing the whole piece like bookends. Where "Titles" crystallizes the fusion of Romance and minimalism that became a Vangelis trademark, "Chariots of Fire" stretches out and explores the fusion in an extended format, with breathtaking results. While largely unsung in popular music writing about Vangelis, it is really this final track that makes the album one of the greatest in the Vangelis catalogue, and "Chariots of Fire" will one day deservedly take its place alongside the greatest music of the 20th century, even if today it is given short shrift.

VANGELIs. On This Album He Realy Show What He Can Do. Just Listen To It, . .......2007-02-08

A Fantastic Album, Bay It....

Reel Chill: The Cinematic Chillout Album

Average customer rating:

"cinema's main stay themes prevail ~ City of Prague"

Reel Chill: The Cinematic Chillout Album

Manufacturer: Silva America
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Reel Love: The Cinematic Romance Album
Classical Chillout
Classic Chillout, Vol. 2
Ultimate Movie Album
Cinema Choral Classics

ASIN: B0002IQGT4
Release Date: 2004-08-10

Tracks:

Sarabande [From Barry Lyndon]
Main Theme [From Midnight Cowboy]
Promenade Sentimentale [From Dive] - Mark Ayres
May It Be [From the Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the]
Women of Ireland [From Barry Lyndon]
Adagio for Strings & Organ [From Gallipoli [
Romeo/Love Theme [From Romeo & Juliet)
Balcony Scene [From Romeo + Juliet]
Main Theme [From Chariots of Fire] - Mark Ayres
Main Theme [From Bilitis] - Mark Ayres
Main Theme [From Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence] - Mark Ayres
Main Theme [From Cinema Paradiso]
Main Theme [From Once Upon A Time in the West]
Deborah's Theme [From Once Upon A Time in America]
Suite: The Mission/Gabriel's Oboe/On Earth as It Is in Heaven ... - City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, Crouch End Festival Chorus

Tracks:

Suite: Mountains and Sunsets/The Wedding/You Only Live Twice [From You
Heart Asks Pleasure First [From The Piano]
Agnus Dei [From Platoon] - Crouch End Festival Chorus
Vide Cor Meum [From Hannibal]
Adagietto from Symphony No. 5 [From DeAth in Venice]
Any Other Name/Dead Already [from American Beauty] - Rick Clark,
Into the West [From the Lord of the Rings: Return of the King]
Where Dreams Are Made [From Artificial Intelligence]
Main Theme [From Somewhere in Time]
We Have All the Time in the World [From on Her Majesty's Secret ...]
Electronic Battlefield [From Patriot Games]
Now We Are Free [From Gladiator]
Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana [From Raging Bull]
Cavatina [From the DeErhunter]
Main Theme [From Out of Africa]

Customer Reviews:

"cinema's main stay themes prevail ~ City of Prague".......2004-08-15

What a crowning achievement to bring "Reel Chill:Cinematic Chillout Album", released by Silva America and featuring The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and the Crouch End Festival Chorus ~ conductors are Mark Ayres, Paul Bateman, Rick Clark, James Fitzpatrick, Nic Raine and David Temple director of the chorus ~ one can only expect the highest quality of performances and quench the thirst of all "film-score-buffs".

Sit back and unleash the first disc with composers ~ Albinoni, Craig Armstrong, John Barry, Vladimir Cosma, Enya & Nicky Ryan, Handel, Francis Lai, Ennio Morricone, Sean O'Riorda, Nino Rota, Ryvichi Sakamoto and Vangelis ~ taking each film score cue "BILITIS", "CHARIOTS OF FIRE", "CINEMA PARADISO", "DIVA", "GALLIPOLI", "THE LORD OF THE RINGS:THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING", "BARRY LYNDON", "MERRY CHRISTMAS MR. LAWRENCE", "MIDNIGHT COWBOY", "THE MISSION", "ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA", "ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST", "ROMEO & JULIET" and "ROMEO + JULIET", with arrangements that soar and then simmer into pure meditation of grandeur ~ classic film music prevails, as orchestration comes to the surface with pure originality ~ one masterpiece after another is long last presented as it should have been, is cause for celebration ~ each cue is a distinctive gift for striking modernism, touching on the transition of the period in this planets history.

Second disc is waiting in the wings are composers ~ Samuel Barber, John Barry, Patrick Cassidy, James Horner, Mahler, Mascagni, Stanley Myers, Thomas Newman, Michael Nyman, Howard Shore, John Williams and Hans Zimmer/Lisa Gerrard ~ take a musical ride with "AMERICAN BEAUTY", "A.I. ARTIFICAL INTELLIGENCE", "DEATH IN VENICE", "DEER HUNTER", "GLADIATOR", "HANNIBAL", "THE LORD OF THE RINGS:RETURN OF THE KING", "ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE", "OUT OF AFRICA", "PATRIOT GAMES", "THE PIANO", "PLATOON", "RAGING BULL", "SOMEWHERE IN TIME" and "YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE" ~ our composers with passion and skill for exploring human emotions, coupled with a unique gift for striking exotic orchestral colors, make this with all it's splendor unforgettable ~ themes that ring with familiarity as each film comes to mind through music.

Silva America gives the collector a treasure of thirty film cues that any "film-score-buff" would die for ~ in the past James Fitzpatrick (producer), Reynold da Silva (executive producer), mastered by Rick Clark and David Stoner (release co-ordinator) have given us compilation with such expertise and this one is no exception ~ keep up the outstanding limited editions and deluxe package releases, with your signature tidbits for all film music fans that's in all of us...gotta love it!

Total Time: 2-CD-Set ~ Silva America 1161 ~ (8/10/2004)

Average customer rating:

Canadian Bagpipes American Brass
Not a Great CD

Canadian Bagpipes American Brass
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Altissimo Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Bagpipes & Brass
The Bagpipes & Drums of Scotland
Regimental Marches of the British Army, Vol. 2
Regimental Marches of British Army, Vol. 1
Highland Cathedral

ASIN: B00006RY82
Release Date: 2002-10-29

Tracks:

Olympic Fanfare
All The Blue Bonnets Are Over The Border
The Marines' Hymn
Pipe Major Sam Scott and Donald Maclean Of Lewis
Chariots of Fire
William's Lullaby
Glengarry Pipe Band, Lass O' Fyvie
The Gairloch And Loch Duich
Galician Jig
Killiecrankie And Battle of Waterloo
Amazing Grace
Battle Of The Somme And Vimy
Dead March From "Saul"
Flowers Of The Forest And Mingulay Boat Song
Green Hills of Tyrol
Going Home For the "New World Symphony"
Bugle Calls To The Colors and Retreat
Bugle Calls To The Colors and Retreat
Highland Cradle Song
The Star Spangled Banner

Album Description

Together on the same CD! The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's) Pipes & Drums and The Third Marine Aircraft Wing Band of The United States Marine Corps.

Customer Reviews:

Canadian Bagpipes American Brass.......2003-11-11

I recently ordered and have just received the above mentioned album.
THANK YOU........
I ordered it just to have a copy of "Amazing Grace" on bagpipes, but after listening to the album, I am completely blown away. It is perhaps the greatest piece of music I now own. Depending on the song, I can get lifted up, mellowed out, or layed back, again THANK YOU, for having this album. I'm a very satisfied customer.

Not a Great CD.......2003-11-07

This CD was originally longer with more titles. It seems the Altissimo! people after they acquired it from the Canadian Scottish cut out several titles and reduced the overall quality of the CD. Because of this and various other technical factors I would not recommend this CD at this inflated price.