Friday, November 28, 2008

I Hear You Now

It'll probably come as no surprise to discover I'm a fan of Jon & Vangelis. I like Yes, I'm not averse to Vangelis, but together they're mighty.

I was minded to think of them when Donna Summer's majestic version of their State Of Independence popped up on the ipod; now there's a forgotten gem from the Eighties if ever there was one.

Their I'll Find My Way Home always reminds me of waking up really early one morning just before Christmas, 1981.

My parents were back from the Middle East where they lived at the time. I was home from school. A ring at the doorbell woke me up. It was still dark, on the cusp of turning lighter. It was our old postlady Hazel*, popping into say hello. We were no longer on her round, seeing as we'd moved the year before, but she hadn't forgotten us. The delight in my mother's voice was palpable. From downstairs, the sounds of Jon & Vangelis were drifting languidly out of the radio. At that moment, I've never felt so Christmassy.

But I can't really explain why. So my love of J&V started right there.

But you've got to admit, The Friends Of Mr Cairo is a top album.

Enjoy:



*She wrote a fictionalised account of her round. She sent it to my dad in weekly instalments to cast a critical eye over. It was rubbish.

13 comments:

Matthew Rudd said...

I absolutely love I'll Find My Way Home, though it was tarnished just recently when some young jock played it on the radio and mispronounced Vangelis' name.

Jon Peake said...

What, Van-jelis?

Matthew Rudd said...

Yep.

Chris Hughes said...

I think Mr Norman once described this record as being "great, in a driving home with your dad in the dark" kind of way, which is absolutely right.

Mondo said...

It's a bit too ' not any sound you'll hear on a record before or after the eighties' for me

Have you checked out Aphrodite's Child with Van on keys and Demis 'man-mass' Roussos on vox- it's Greek Garage rock

Aphrodite's Child Magic Mirror

Jon Peake said...

Oh yes, PM, I'm well acquainted with them. Rain and Tears is a classic.

Phil absoultely spot on, Chris, as usual.

Cocktails said...

Boy F-C, I'd forgotten all about that song, I haven't heard it in years.

Carrying on in PM's vain, it reminds me of 'I won't let you down' by PhD in its distinctively early 80s feel.

Chris Hughes said...

I've just noticed the bit about Hazel's fictionalised account of her postround. I'd love to know more.

Jon Peake said...

It was all the stories of all the families on her round. You know, family who had child dying of leukaemia, couple getting divorced, the day she found a baby in a dustbin, that sort of thing. Poor lamb, it was never really a goer. She's dead now.

Did you find the Saxone pillars, Chris?

Bright Ambassador said...

Great song.
What I love about Jon Anderson is that he before he started wearing spangly capes and singing about space goblins sailing intergalactic galleons in Yes, he was a milkman in Accrington.

A Kitten in a Brandy Glass said...

Nothing to do with J&V, but as an appreciator of period interiors, I thought you'd enjoy this article...

Louis Barfe said...

An Accrington-born mate of mine nearly ran over Jon Anderson. So, has anyone heard the Waitresses on the radio yet, or is it too early?

Jon Peake said...

That is indeed fabulous, Kitten.I'm definitely having the bistro walls done that purple. Perhaps just the bar area though.

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