Chariots Of Fire: Music From The Original Soundtrack - Original Master Recording [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
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

Chariots Of Fire: Music From The Original Soundtrack - Original Master Recording,Vangelis,Mobile Fidelity,Pop,Popular Music,Soundtracks & Film Scores

Chariots Of Fire: Music From The Original Soundtrack - Original Master Recording [Soundtrack]

Average customer rating:

Richly deserving of the Academy Award it won in 1981

great theme--TERRIBLE score

Vangelis Puts Wings On Your Heels

One of my favorite CDs

Blast from the Past

Chariots Of Fire: Music From The Original Soundtrack - Original Master Recording
Vangelis
Manufacturer: Mobile Fidelity
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
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Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000000ITS
Release Date: 1995-04-14

Tracks:

Titles
Five Circles
Abraham's Theme
Eric's Theme
100 Meters
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

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!

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