The Friends Of Mr. Cairo

Vangelis, Jon & Vangelis

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Original Release Date: 1981
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Polydor
• ASIN: B000001F29
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #5,266 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A magical slice of Jon & Vangelis, May 25, 2000

By	joe_n_bloe (Ester AK USA) - See all my reviews

It's hard to believe that there is a musical foundation for Jon Anderson that fits better than Yes, but The Friends of Mr. Cairo suggests that such a foundation might exist, and his name would be Vangelis. The real standout on this album is the extraordinarily melodic and lyrical "Friends of Mr. Cairo." Vangelis creates a sonically lush yet notewise spare framework over which Jon Anderson lays a picture of movies, gangsters, and sentimentality. Absolutely stunning and worth the price of the album if you don't listen to anything else. Assuming you do get beyond it, though, you'll likely hear some other familiar melodies. "State of Independence," for example, whose Donna Summer cover is better known than the (quite good) original. It can be argued (and I'd be happy to) that no one has rendered Jon Anderson's ideas into music better than Vangelis, and it is almost impossible to imagine anyone else singing atop a Vangelis melody.

At least after The Friends of Mr. Cairo it is.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Quirky, atmospheric, and moving, February 10, 2002

By	Shaw N. Gynan (Bellingham, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I love this recording and have listened to it again and again. Donna Summer's cover of "State of Independence" is inspirational, anthemic, but the musicians here obviously have a lot of fun as well. The title song is a wonderful tip of the hat to forties films. The Spanish singer, Ana Belén,was moved by "I'll find my way home," a song which she covered on "Geminis." "Back to School" is silly and grating, but provides comic relief. For me, however, the most spectacular track is "The Mayflower," which beautifully captures the loneliness of human existence, the desperate need to leave the comfort of home, and the alienating effect of technology on our lives. A group of humans are marooned in space, unable to communicate with or return to Earth. Atmospheric music and the innocence of Jon Anderson's tenor are punctuated by a crackling of radio transmissions across vast distances. It is such a sad, beautiful work of art. For fans of Vangelis at his loveliest, there are a couple of other tracks sure to please, "Beside" and "Outside of This (Inside of That)." This twenty year old recording remains fresh and delightful.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lost count, July 6, 2005

By	Roger Randall "Aroundownunder" (Downunder) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have lost count how many times I have purchased this CD. I lend then to others and never see them again. It great.