EarthFrontIntroduction

“Earth” is Vangelis’ third solo album, after his debut soundtrack album “Sex Power” (1970) and the concept album “Fais Que Ton Rêve Soit Plus Long Que La Nuit“ (1972). While 1973 saw Vangelis working on all kinds of different projects, the most important one resulted in the release of "Earth". The album "Earth" is said to be inspired by ancient (pre-Christian) Greek or Dorian music, and the title a reference to the primitive roots of the album. In a 1974 interview Vangelis said "with Earth I've been able to do what I feel, it's healthy music with a very honest theme. The lyrics I've used are just very very simple." It would be Vangelis' last album made in Paris, before he moved to London to set up his own studio.

Apparently the album is the result of a concept project by the name of "Charge", which ultimately generated so much music that not all could be included on the final release. Songs such as "Friends", "The River", "Sunday In Central Park", "The Witches Are Out ", "Passer By" and “Female (La La La)” are included on a publishers list and most likely refer to leftovers from the recording sessions. Unfortunately these songs were never heard of again...

Main collaborators on his Earth-project were the Greek guitarist Argyris Koulouris, French singer and bassist Robert Fitoussi and lyricist Richelle Dassin (the step-daughter of Melina Mercouri). In 1974 a single was released by the name of “Odyssey” titled ‘Who’ b/w ‘Sad Face’, the first song written by Fitoussi and Dassin, which could suggest these songs are also leftovers from the “Earth”-album.

To promote the album a 7” single was released, ‘Come On’ b/w ‘He-O’, and Vangelis staged his first major concert as a solo artist at the famous L’Olympia hall in Paris on the 25th of February 1974 .

In 2017 the “Earth” album received a re-release which was personally remastered by Vangelis. This version is recommended for its outstanding sound quality.

 

EarthFrontUSATracklist and credits

  1. ‘Come On’
  2. ‘We Were All Uprooted’
  3. ‘Sunny Earth’
  4. ‘He-O’
  5. ‘Ritual’
  6. ‘Let It Happen’
  7. ‘The City’
  8. ‘My Face In The Rain’
  9. ‘Watch Out’
  10. ‘A Song’
  • Arranged and produced by Vangelis O. Papathanassiou.
  • Lead and background vocals by Robert Fitoussi.
  • Background vocals by Vangelis O. Papathanassiou and Argyris Koulouris.
  • All lyrics except ‘Come On’ by Richelle Dassin.
  • Narration on 'We Were All Uprooted' and 'A Song’ by Warren Shapovitch.
  • Engineers: Roger Roche, Didier Pitois and Didier Périer.

 

ComeOnFrontDiscography

LP

CD

7” single

 

Recording studio

The music of this album was recorded at Europa Sonor Studio “Poste Parisien” in Paris, France.

 

VangelisSuperStarFrontMore info

  • Argyris Koulouris is mostly known as the 'fourth' member of Aphrodite's Child, who re-grouped in France with the band just in time to work on their final album "666". After that he als contributed to Vangelis' albums "The Dragon" (1971), "Earth" (1973) and "See You Later" (1980), as well as Demis Roussos' album "Reflection" in 1984.
  • Robert Fitoussi is also known by his artist name "F.R. David", and made fame with the hit single ‘Words’ in 1981. Apart from his contributions to the “Earth” album, he also wrote the song ‘Who’, which was released in 1974 using the name "Odyssey". Robert and Vangelis met shortly after Vangelis broke up with Aphrodite's Child, in a music shop named "La Compagnie", where Vangelis had stored his equipment. Vangelis played something and Robert sang to it, they started working together and became friends.
  • Michael Haubrich has worked with Robert Fitoussi on many occasions, including the “Earth”-album. He confirmed to be the second voice singing with Robert Fitoussi on both ‘He-O’ and ‘Let It Happen’ (uncredited).
  • Richelle Dassin is the step-daughter of Melina Mercouri. She also worked as a lyricist with Vangelis on the songs that Vangelis recorded with Melina Mercouri that same year.

 

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