Index
This section lists, in reverse chronological order, all the Vangelis' Compilation albums released on CD, including notes on tracks not released on regular albums or tracks whose recording or edit is different from the one on its original album. recordings/edits.
This list does not pretend to be complete.
Light & Shadow (2013) Compilation album
A new compilation CD, released by Warner, selecting only from their own catalog, producing this CD without Vangelis' personal input or endorsement. Therefore: no new tracks, altered sound, improved production or edits and no special photographs or interesting liner notes. But a great selection of tracks, sold for a very accessible price. This could perhaps be a nice way to introduce people to the '90s era of Vangelis' work.
1. Conquest of Paradise
2. Voices
3. Blade Runner (Main Titles)
4. Tears in Rain
5. Rachel's Song
6. Ask the Mountains
7. Twenty Eighth Parallel
8. Light and Shadow
9. Song of the Seas
10. Memories of Blue
11. Theme From Bitter Moon
12. Dream in an Open Place
13. Monastery of La Rabida
14. Fields of Coral
15. Come to Me
16. Dawn
The Collection [2CD] (2012) Compilation album
To coincide with the Olympic Games in London, which extensively used Vangelis' "Chariots of Fire" theme during the Opening Ceremony and all medal ceremonies, Warner got Vangelis involved to produce a compilation album that was to be even more definitive than "Odyssey" was. They succeeded wholeheartedly.
Tracks were licensed from all eras of Vangelis' solo career including the Warner, RCA, Polydor, and Sony labels (except for some reason, the Direct album on BMG) and added the most popular Jon & Vangelis tracks for the finishing touches.
Fans may enjoy the inclusion of a B track from the "Conquest of Paradise" CD maxi single called "Line Open", while Blade Runner's Main Theme, for the first time included the actual opening of the movie. The set ends with a completely new and unreleased track called "Remembering".
The CD comes packed in an extra cardboard sleeve. The booklet includes new (well written) liner notes and four photographs of Vangelis.
CD 1
1. Conquest of Paradise 4:53
2. Titles From Chariots Of Fire 3:21
3. Blade Runner End Titles 4:40
4. Pulstar 5:45
5. Eternal Alexander 4:36
6. Anthem: Fifa 2002 2:57
7. Line Open 4:27
8. To The Unknown Man 5:42
9. Hymne 2:41
10. Voices 6:58
11. Up and Running 3:09
12. Blade Runner Main Titles 5:32
13. Tears In Rain 3:00
14. So Long Ago, So Clear 5:01
15. I'll Find My Way Home 4:29
16. State Of Independence 5:00
17. I Hear You Now 5:13
CD 2
1. Rachel's Song 4:47
2. Missing 3:55
3. Love Theme From Blade Runner 4:54
4. Ask The Mountains 7:53
5. Theme From Bitter Moon 3:42
6. Dream in an Open Place 5:50
7. Twenty Eighth Parallel 5:10
8. Memories Of Green 5:04
9. Petite Fille de la Mer 4:48
10. Song of the Seas 5:56
11. Memories of Blue 5:28
12. L'Enfant 4:53
13. Echoes 8:19
14. Remembering 6:29
Odyssey - The Definitive Collection (2003) Compilation album
The most recent Vangelis compilation, released quite unexpectedly by Universal. Compiled, re-mastered and slightly tweaked by Vangelis personally, and including two previously unreleased tracks. One consists of the opening titles of Vangelis' score for "Cavafy", the other is a completely new piece, the cheerful and upbeat "Celtic Dawn".
The selection of tracks has been licensed from all record companies that Vangelis has recorded for and spans the 30 most important years of his career, combining for the first time ever tracks from Mythodea all the way back to Apocalypse Des Animaux, and including two tracks recorded with Jon Anderson.
Although officially only re-mastered, Vangelis has slightly polished almost all tracks, for instance by adding a new base sound, layering some extra strings, or sometimes slightly fixing the mix of a track. Never is the character or true nature of the piece changed, but some tracks do sound a bit more full or warm, where others are just a bit more clear than before.
Also, some tracks have been edited slightly shorter, to fit within the album's concept.
The version released in the US and the UK includes the FIFA world cup Anthem, while another replaces the track for Vangelis' classic "Alpha". Packaging differs also, where the UK and US each had a slightly different digipak, the rest of the world got the CD in a good old jewel case, but with an extra sleeve to show off the art work.
International version
1. Pulstar 5:24
2. Hymn 2:43
3. Titles from "Chariots Of Fire" 3:31
4. Main Theme from "Missing" 3:57
5. Love Theme from "Bladerunner" 4:54
6. End Titles from "Bladerunner" 4:10
7. The Tao Of Love 2:19
8. Theme from "Antarctica" 3:52
9. Main Theme from "Cavafy" (previously unreleased) 2:49
10. Opening Titles from "Mutiny On The Bounty" 3:52
11. Conquest Of Paradise 6:08
12. La Petite Fille De La Mer 5:54
13. L'Enfant 4:57
14. Anthem - FIFA worldcup 2002 2:58
15. Celtic Dawn (new track) 4:06
16. Movement 1 from "Mythodea" 5:23
Bonus tracks:
17. I'll Find My Way Home - Jon & Vangelis 4:30
18. State Of Independence - Jon & Vangelis 4:59
USA / UK version: The same, but
14. Alpha
Label and catalogue: Universal 0602498119105
The Best of Vangelis (2003) Compilation album
The very latest in the endless line of compilation albums throwing a few old RCA tracks together. It's been long since they were this short, and in fact this is simply the second CD of the old 2CD version usually sold as "Greatest Hits". It's part of a Belgian series of low budget "Best of" albums for a great number of artists, mostly filled with oldies.
1. Spiral 6:55
2. Alpha 5:45
3. Albedo 0.39 4:22
4. A Way 3:35
5. Theme From the TV Series "COSMOS"
(Heaven and Hell, 3rd Movement) 4:03
6. So Long Ago, So Clear 5:03
7. Ballad 8:26
8. Sword of Orion 1:56
Label and catalogue: Paradiso PA787/2
The Best of Vangelis (2002) Compilation album
And one more in the line of "Best of" albums, this one features a tracklist not found elsewhere but it closely resembles the selection of "Gift". The tracks were chosen from the music currently in BMG's vault which spans the RCA era (Heaven & Hell, Albedo, Spiral) as well as the Arista tracks (Direct, Page of Life) since both labels were taken over by BMG in the past.
1. Spiral 6:58
2. Pulstar 5:48
3. Freefall 2:17
4. Sword Of Orion 1:57
5. Alpha 5:45
6. Ballad 8:27
7. To The Unknown Man 9:02
8. So Long Ago, So Clear 5:03
9. Shine For Me 4:12
10. Mare Tranquillitatis 1:48
11. Dervish D 5:16
12. Theme From The TV Series "Cosmos"
(Heaven & Hell 3rd movement) 4:04
13. 12 O'clock 5:33
14. Bacchanale 4:42
(Tracktimes are measured and not provided in the CD artwork)
Label and catalogue: CAMDEN 74321 939772
Cosmos (2002) Compilation album
Yet another compilation from BMG's good old RCA vaults with the exact same section of songs as the 2CD "Greatest Hits" albums from the past. Released in Belgium with new liner notes.
Be sure not to confuse this with the actual soundtrack CDs to Carl Sagan's Cosmos series, which also featured Vangelis tracks from the RCA era. The now rare 2CD version even featured an unreleased track Vangelis composed for the 1986 Comet Special Edition of the series, which is listed in this site's "on other releases" section.
CD 1
1. To the Unknown Man 9:02
2. 12 O'Clock 5:25
3. Bacchanale 4:38
4. Pulstar 5:48
5. Beaubourg (Excerpt) 10:35
6. Dervish D 5:13
CD 2
1. Spiral 6:55
2. Alpha 5:45
3. Albedo 0.39 4:22
4. A Way 3:35
5. Theme From the TV Series "COSMOS"
(Heaven and Hell, 3rd Movement) 4:03
6. So Long Ago, So Clear 5:03
7. Ballad 8:26
8. Sword of Orion 1:56
Reprise 1990 - 1999 (1999) Compilation album
A compilation with soft tracks from the East West albums released in the nineties, with two additional tracks that were never previously released. The Theme from Bittermoon is the opening theme of the film in a re-recorded version, while Psalmus Ode is a re-recording of the theme for the film "The Plague". Both originating from 1992.
The other tracks come from the usual East West albums: track 3, 4, 5, 7 and 11 come from "1492, Conquest of Paradise", track 1, 2 and 8 from "Oceanic", track 6 and 17 from "Voices", 16 from "the City", 13 from "Blade Runner" and 9, 10 and 14 from "El Greco" (where they used the names/numbers of the commercial release, not the original limited tribute album).
The tracks have been blended into each other, like earlier on a compilation like Portraits. For this a few little extra sound effects were added, like a few horns from "Bon Voyage" to "Dreams of Surf" and a short timpani roll to start "Monastry of La Rabida".
Both unreleased pieces have been re-recorded, or at least represent different recordings from the film versions. Bitter Moon is a variation on the opening titles theme and follows the structure of a piece somewhere in the middle of the film, a lot of the synths and strings originate from this scene, but a lead in Vangelis' recognizable cello sample has been replaced by new piano parts, and the whole piece is mixed differently with extra effects, synths and a crystal clear cymbal sample. The Plague is a variation on the end titles song, where a new bridge has been inserted between chorus and verse, most of the accompaniment has been re-recorded, changed to be more simple in the start and more full near the finish with even a very low male choir adding to the serenity but also the bombast of the piece.
1 Bon Voyage 2:15
2 Dreams Of Surf 2:39
3 Opening 0:56
4 Conquest Of Paradise 4:43
5 Monastery Of La Rabida 3:44
6 Come To Me 4:25
7 Light And Shadow 3:48
8 Fields Of Coral 3:35
9 Movement 5 3:40
10 Movement 6 4:44
11 West Across The Ocean Sea 2:55
12 Theme From "Bitter Moon" 3:42
13 Rachel's Song 4:22
14 Movement 4 6:30
15 Psalmus Ode 4:41
16 Dawn 4:43
17 Prelude 4:36
(Tracktimes are measured. They were not provided in the CD artwork)
The Label and number: East West 3984298282
Portraits {So Long Ago, So Clear} (1996) Compilation album
This major compilation album became a big hit on the European markets, selling over 2 million copies. It contains many well known tracks by Vangelis and "Jon and Vangelis" like "Chariots of Fire", "To the Unknown Man", "I'll find my way home" and "Conquest of Paradise". New are "Sauvage et Beau", recorded in 1984 for a Frederic Rossif film and a new version (rearranged and re-recorded) of the Vangelis classic "Hymne", now performed on modern synthesizers with a choir. This version is a variation to what was heard as finale at the Eureka concert in Rotterdam (1991), being edited slightly shorter and mixed slightly different.
1. To The Unknown Man 6:34
2. Italian Song 2:50
3. Pulstar 5:38
4. La Petite Fille de la Mer 5:49
5. Alpha 5:34
6. I Hear You Now 5:06
7. I'll Find My Way Home 4:25
8. State Of Independence 6:08
9. Himalaya 6:53
10. Conquest of Paradise 5:31 (incl. "Opening")
11. Hymn 5:06
12. Antarctica 3:44
13. Sauvage et Beau 3:18
14. Chariots Of Fire 3:21
15. So Long Ago So Clear 4:58
The tracks on the album are mixed into each other, often with small additions like wind chimes or other effects that make the change more smooth. "Alpha" has some small additional cues like a bass and a flangered synthesizer.
Gift... (1996) Compilation album
This compilation was released in the UK, containing tracks from all Vangelis' albums the people at BMG could pick from, which is not much. The tracks are selections from "Albedo 0.39", "Heaven and Hell", "Page of Life" (Jon and Vangelis) and "Direct".
1. Theme From The TV Series Cosmos 4:00
2. Pulstar 5:45
3. Page Of Life 3:16
4. Alpha 5:45
5. Sword Of Orion 2:05
6. The Motion Of The Stars 4:16
7. A Way 3:45
8. Suite: So Long Ago So Clear 5:00
9. Suite: Heaven & Hell part 2 (excerpt) 3:20
10. Suite: 12 O'Clock 5:12
11. The Will Of The Wind 4:42
12. Glorianna (Hymne A La Femme) 4:16
13. Metallic Rain 6:09
14. Shine For Me 3:50
15. Intergalactic Radio Station 7:52
The label and number: CAMDEN 74321-393372
Best in Space (1995) Compilation album
Just another "Best Of" album covering a few of the old albums, released in the UK and Germany. The track list is slightly different from most of the other RCA compilation albums (i.e. Beaubourg being included while Dervish D is left).
1. To the Unknown Man 9:02
2. Pulstar 5:45
3. Sword of Orion 1:56
4. 12 O'clock 5:25
5. Spiral 6:55
6. Alpha 5:45
7. A Way 3:25
8. Theme from the TV series "Cosmos"
(Heaven And Hell third movement) 4:03
9. So Long Ago So Clear 5:03
10. Ballad 8:26
11. Albedo 0.39 4:22
12. Beaubourg (Excerpt) 10:35
Space Themes (1995) Compilation album
Just another "Best Of" album covering a few old albums, released in Italy. It's part of the "All the Best" Series of releases.
1. Baccanale 4:25
2. Aries 5:38
3. Heaven And Hell 3rd Movement 4:03
4. So Long Ago Ago So Clear 4:55
5. Pulstar 5:40
6. Alpha 5:45
7. To The Unknown Man 9:00
8. Spiral 6:51
9. Ballad 5:25
10. Albedo 0.39 4:22
11. Beaubourg Excerpt 10:44
12. 12 O'Clock 5:25
13. A Way 3:35
Themes II (1995) Compilation album
A compilation album from France without any new music. Consists of some tracks from the "Greatest Hits" collections and tracks from Polydor that weren't already available on the first "Themes" compilation.
Confusingly there is also a wide spread bootleg with the same name. The makers apparently didn't notice the existence of this official Themes II album. The bootleg contains mostly music from Laserdiscs or videos of films, as well as a little part of the music of the legendary workprint of Blade Runner.
1. To The Unknown Man 9:01
2. Alpha 5:45
3. Albedo 0.39 4:30
4. Pulstar 5:45
5. Spiral 6:55
6. Apocalypse Des Animaux - Generique 1:25
7. La Mort Du Loup 3:00
8. L'Ours Musicien 1:00
9. Chromatique 3:24
10. Irlande 4:43
11. Menousis 6:37
12. Memory Of Antarctica 5:27
13. Multi-Track Suggestion 5:32
14. Eric's Theme 4:18
15. Kinematic 3:45
16. Deliverance 4:26
The Collection (1994) Compilation album
And another "Best Of" album with some of Vangelis' old hits dating back to the RCA period. The selection is a little bit different than usual, with Maire Tranquilities included, and even more unique the second part of Albedo's energetic "Nucleogenesis" outbirst of jazz rock fusion. The disk was sold in the UK over a brief period of time, but was manufactured in Germany where it never hit the shelves.
Be sure not to confuse this album with the new 2CD released by Warner in 2012. Or with a boxed set of 3 Vangelis albums from the same RCA era, sometimes listed on internet CD shops.
1. Spiral
2. Alpha
3. Freefall
4. Mare Tranquilities
5. To The Unknown Man
6. Pulstar
7. Dervish D
8. So Long Ago So Clear
9. Nucleogenesis part 2
10. Sword of Orion
Best Selection (1994) Compilation album
This Japanese compilation stands out because of its peculiar cover, using a tilted variation of the Spiral sleeve design to form the V of an imitation of Vangelis' signature, The track selection, its titles being presented both in English and Japanese, stems from all the albums in RCA's possession, being Heaven and Hell, Albedo 0.39, Spiral, Beaubourg as well as Direct and Page of Life.
1. Pulstar 5:46
2. The Motion Of The Stars 4:16
3. Bacchanale 4:39
4. Spiral 6:56
5. Jazzy Box 3:16
6. Albedo 0.39 4:23
7. Glorianna 4:21
8. Anyone Can Light a Candle 3:44
9. Genevieve 3:48
10. So Long Ago So Clear 5:02
11. First Approach 4:58
12. Page Of Life 3:16
13. Beaubourg (Excerpt) 10:36
The label and number: BMG Victor / RCA BVCP-2605
Chronicles (1994) / I Hear You Now (2000) Compilation album
Chronicles is a compilation album covering only the first 3 collaborative albums by Jon and Vangelis, presenting a different selection of songs than the former "Best Of Jon And Vangelis" compilation. The track "The Friends Of Mr. Cairo" is included in its much shorter single-edit. All other tracks are the original album versions.
A new version of the album was re-released a few years after, with a totally different cover, that more resembles the style of the artwork of previous J&V releases, most notably the Private Collection series (albums and singles). Then in 2000 another compilation album called "I Hear you Now" was released, obviously made from the same masters as the Chronicles album, featuring a cover slightly altered from the last Chronicles design, making them in essence the same albums.
1. I Hear You Now 5:10
2. He Is Sailing 6:46
3. Thunder 2:11
4. Beside 4:06
5. Birdsong 1:26
6. A Play Within A Play 7:01
7. And When The Night Comes 4:34
8. Deborah 4:52
9. Curious Electric 6:37
10. The Friends Of Mr. Cairo 4:18
11. Back To School 4:53
12. Italian Song 2:52
13. Polonaise 5:23
14. Love Is 5:45
Time are indicated on the "I Hear You Now" re-release only.
Best Of Vangelis [2CD] (1992) Compilation album
A Spanish compilation album with the cover of "Themes". It contains two CDs.
CD 1
1. Endtitles from "Blade Runner"
2. Main Theme From "Missing"
3. Opening Titles from "Mutiny On The Bounty"
4. L'Enfant
5. Hymn
6. Eric's Theme
7. Chung Kuo
8. Closing Titles from "Mutiny On The Bounty"
CD 2
1. Chariots of Fire
2. The Tao of Love
3. Love Theme From Blade Runner
4. Theme From Antarctica
5. La Petitte Fille de La Mer
6. Memories of Green
7. Mouettes
8. Five Circles
Greatest Hits [1CD] (1991) Compilation album
Dutch compilation album without any new music. All tracks originate from "Heaven and Hell", "Albedo 0.39" and "Spiral". It was re-released in 1996 with a new cover but exactly the same tracks.
1. To the Unknown Man 9:02
2. Pulstar 5:45
3. Spiral 6:55
4. 12 O'Clock 5:25
5. Bacchanale 4:38
6. Dervish D. 5:13
7. Alpha 5:45
8. Albedo 0.39 4:22
9. Theme From The TV-Series 'COSMOS'
(Heaven and Hell, 3rd Movement) 4:03
10. So Long Ago So Clear 5:03
11. Sword of Orion 1:56
12. A Way 3:25
13. Ballad 8:26
Greatest Hits [2CD] (1991) Compilation album
Basically this compilation is a CD version of the LP compilation with the same title (which is also known as Dutch compilation LP "Zijn Grootste Successen"). This 2CD has one track more than the 1CD version, which is an excerpt from the atonal "Beaubourg" album.
A Portuguese release with the same title and tracks appeared in 1997 with another completely new cover design. In Africa BMG opted instead to sell these CDs separately, as Volume 1 and volume 2. See images below.
CD 1
1. To the Unknown Man 9:02
2. 12 O'Clock 5:25
3. Bacchanale 4:38
4. Pulstar 5:45
5. Beaubourg (Excerpt) 10:35
6. Dervish D 5:13
CD 2
1. Spiral 6:55
2. Alpha 5:45
3. Albedo 0.39 4:22
4. A Way 3:35
5. Theme From the TV Series "COSMOS"
(Heaven and Hell, 3rd Movement) 4:03
6. So Long Ago, So Clear 5:03
7. Ballad 8:26
8. Sword of Orion 1:56
Themes (1989) Compilation album
A compilation album with the more famous tracks from the Polydor releases, with some additional previously unreleased material. It was the first time any of the "Blade Runner" music was released, in the shape of "Blade Runner Entitles" and "Blade Runner Lovetheme". Both have since however been released on the official soundtrack album. The Endtitles however are a different edit compared to the album version. Vangelis' original recording was 7 minutes in length, having appeared only on bootleg releases. The Themes and original Soundtrack versions each end with a different part cut from this long version.
Themes also contains the "Main Theme From Missing", a recording not featured in the actual movie, with a richer sound and orchestration. Other previously unreleased tracks are both the "Opening Titles" and "Closing Titles" from "Mutiny On The Bounty". The film was actually called simply "The Bounty" (1984 version starring Anthony Hopkins and Mel Gibson). Again these tracks were re-recorded by Vangelis. "Opening titles" differs only in small details, but the "Endtitles" track was completely rearranged, with new drums and a more lush flair, less " eighties synth pop" feel.
The "Petite Fille de la Mer" track has either been remixed, or processed. Much of the noise is gone, the instruments sound less bright but more warm, the stereo spacing is less extreme, and there is extra reverb to update the track slightly, compared to its original version on "l'Apocalypse des Animaux".
Finally the China album's "Chung Kuo" piece (which was titled "The Long March" on the original China LPs and singles) is featured in an altered version, with extra effects added to the opening and an altogether richer sound. "Tao of Love" from the same album has some extra reverb.
1. Endtitles From "Blade Runner" 4:57
2. Main Theme From "Missing" 3:59
3. L'Enfant 5:00
4. Hymn 2:45
5. Chung Kuo 5:29
6. The Tao Of Love 2:45
7. Theme From "Antarctica" 3:55
8. Love Theme From Blade Runner 4:55
9. Opening Titles From "Mutiny On The Bounty" 4:16
10. Closing Titles From "Mutiny On The Bounty" 4:58
11. Memories Of Green 5:42
12. La Petite Fille De La Mer 5:51
13. Five Circles 5:18
14. Chariots Of Fire 3:31
The Best Of Jon And Vangelis (1984) Compilation album
This compilation contains selections from the first three Jon and Vangelis albums. Notable is the fact that "State of Independence", "He is Sailing" and "I Hear You Now" are the shorter single edits. The track "The Friends Of Mr. Cairo" is almost completely included except that a few bars in the beginning have been cut, giving it a duration of 11:49.
1. Italian Song
2. I'll Find My Way Home
3. State Of Independence
4. One More Time
5. Play Within A Play
6. The Friends Of Mr Cairo
7. Outside Of This (Inside Of That)
8. He Is Sailing
9. I Hear You Now
The Best Of Vangelis (19??) Compilation album
The first RCA compilation album, originally released on LP in 1978, later reissued on CD compiles a few tracks the "Heaven and Hell", "Albedo 0.39", "Spiral" and Beaubourg albums, Vangelis' entire repertoire on that particular label at the time.
1. Pulstar 5:50
2. Spiral 7:00
3. To the unknown man 9:09
4. Albedo 0.39 4:25
5. Bacchanale 4:40
6. Aries 5:43
7. Beaubourg excerpt 10:34
8. So long ago so clear 4:58
Compilation albums on LP
There were a number of important compilations on vinyl, but none of those ever featured tracks that were otherwise unreleased or hard to find.
Among the famous compilations is the Dutch "Zijn Grootste Successen" (often mistaken for German for no apparent reason), which had great linear notes about synthesizer equipment, and its place in music culture of those days, as well as a text about Vangelis, "Child of Aphrodite". Its artwork later became the cover of RCA's "Greatest Hits" CD, released in 1991.
Another famous LP is the early eighties compilation LP "To the Unknown Man" that reacted to the success of "Chariots of Fire", visible on the artwork that was made by Vangelis' regular designers, featuring athletes at work in their typical style of those days. This compilation was later split up and extended with more tracks, to form a volume one and a volume two, sold separately.
A remarkable Italian compilation on LP from 1989 featured Vangelis music on the B side and works by German electro pop group Kraftwerk on the A side. A very rare item for collectors of both camps.
Notable are also the "Superstar" LPs for Vangelis and for Aphrodite's Child. Actually, the Vangelis LP isn't really a compilation as most of the albums from this series were, but it's the Earth LP repackaged with an extensive booklet, texts in Italian and a number of never before seen pictures from the 70s and 80s.
