Greek synthesizer legend Vangelis has recently overseen a CD box set of some of his most celebrated albums for release next year.
Delectus features 13 Vangelis albums released between 1973 and 1985 for the Vertigo and Polydor labels. This includes studio creations like Earth (1973), China (1979), See You Later (1980), Soil Festivities (1984) and Mask (1985) plus soundtrack albums like the nature documentaries L'Apocalypse des animaux (1975), Opera Sauvage (1979) and Antarctica (1983) and the Oscar-winning dramatic score to 1981's Chariots of Fire. The box also includes all three albums recorded with Yes vocalist Jon Anderson (as Jon and Vangelis), released between 1979 and 1983.
Four bonus tracks are included in the box: See You Later features sides of a 1980 non-LP single plus the previously unreleased track "Neighbors Above," while Jon and Vangelis' Private Collection (1983) includes a non-LP B-side. All 13 albums have been newly remastered under the supervision of Vangelis himself.
"I always welcome remastering my old work, for two basic reasons," Vangelis said in a press release. "Firstly, I get the opportunity to bring the sounds to today's standards. Secondly, it gives me the chance to go through the experiences and memories of the time."
The Delectus packaging includes two die-cut gatefold cases to hold the discs plus a booklet of rare photos and essays.
Look for the box on February 3 in the United Kingdom, and February 10 in the United States. Amazon links are available below!
Vangelis, Delectus (Polydor/UMC 5368207, 2017) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Disc 1: Earth (Vertigo 6499 693, 1973)
Disc 2: L'Apocalypse des Animaux (Polydor 2393 058, 1975)
Disc 3: China (Polydor POLD 5018, 1979)
Disc 4: Opera Sauvage (Polydor 2473 105, 1979)
Disc 5: See You Later (Polydor 2421 149, 1980)
Includes bonus tracks "Neighbors Above" (previously unreleased outtake included on some test pressings), "My Love" and "Domestic Logic 1" (Polydor single 2001 973, 1980)
Disc 6: Chariots of Fire (Polydor 2421 161, 1981)
Disc 7: Antarctica (Music from Koreyoshi Kurahara's Film) (Polydor 815 732-1, 1983)
Disc 8: Soil Festivities (Polydor 823 396-1, 1984)
Disc 9: Mask (Polydor 825 245-1, 1985)
Disc 10: Invisible Connections (Deutsche Grammophon 415 196-1, 1985)
Disc 11: Jon and Vangelis, Short Stories (Polydor 2383 565, 1979)
Disc 12: Jon and Vangelis, The Friends of Mr. Cairo (Polydor 2383 609, 1981)
Disc 13: Jon and Vangelis, Private Collection (Polydor 813 174-1, 1983)
Includes the bonus track "Song Is" (B-side to "And When the Night Comes" - Polydor 813 106-7, 1983)
DJ Dust says
Fingers crossed for a remastered "Best Of Jon And Vangelis" too... 🙂
Stephen Bieth says
This collection will be amazing as long as they remaster right. The versions out now are really old masters. Too bad no 5.1 but if it was up to me everything would be in 5.1 (LOL). The second part of "Friends of Mr. Cairo" (the piano segment that was not released on the single) would sound amazing, again, with good remastering. I guess no chance for a SACD version of this box set.
Håkan says
" release next year"? 😉
Ben Ward says
Yes, a real shame that at least some of these aren't in multichannel, as surely Vangelis' music is tailor-made for surround. Still, well remastered stereo can be a marvel, although hi-def would be preferable (I would imagine that many of Vangelis' fans are audiophiles, rather than the general music fan.)
plasquatch says
I'm a bit hesitant. I was looking forward to the Heaven and Hell remaster, and it was absolutely awful.