TheFriendsOfMrCairo1FrontIntroduction

After the instant success of their first album “Short Stories” (1980) Jon Anderson and Vangelis continued their approach of spontaneous recording sessions to compose and create inspired songs, resulting in the release of their second album “The Friends Of Mr. Cairo” in July 1981. The title of the album is a reference to the American film “The Maltese Falcon”, a classic film-noir starring Humphrey Bogart, which (with other such film classics) formed the inspiration for Jon and Vangelis to write the title track.

Initial recordings took place for four days in Davout Studio in Paris, when the two had some time to spare. Sessions then continued in Nemo Studios in London. 

To promote the album Polydor released an advance 7” single ‘The Friends Of Mr. Cairo’ b/w ‘Beside’ in May 1981, together with a videoclip, followed by another 7” single ‘State Of Independence’ b/w ‘Beside’ in the UK in July 1981. Despite the promotion the album did not sell well. After the sudden success of “Chariots Of Fire” the record company asked Vangelis to do an additional song with Jon. Jon Anderson recalled: ‘So, I got a phone call from Vangelis, it was a rainy Tuesday afternoon. Vangelis said: ‘Jonny, you’ve got to come over to the studio, we got to write a hit record’ I said: ‘What?! Okay, I’ll come over’. He says: ‘I think I have something going’. So I started singing ‘You ask me where to begin... am I so lost in my sin’. And I just sang it, as if I had written it the day before. We finished it at about five ‘o clock, and long behold, within two hours we had written it, finished it, and done! And the following Friday we were on Top Of The Pops, Vangelis didn’t know what it was... Two weeks later, and it was a hit, everywhere in the world!’.

TheFriendsOfMrCairo2FrontPolydor released ‘I’ll Find My Way Home’ b/w ‘Back To School’ in November 1981, and its success resulted in a second release of “The Friends Of Mr. Cairo” album in January 1982, this time including the song ‘I’ll Find My Way Home’. 

Only one year after its original release, the ‘Queen of Disco’ Donna Summer recorded a cover of ‘State Of Independence’ with the help of producer Quincy Jones, which became a worldwide success and one of her greatest hits. Chrissie Hynde (of The Pretenders) sang a cover of ‘State Of Independence’, released as ‘Spiritual High’ by Moodswings in 1991.

In 2017 The Friends Of Mr. Cairo received a re-release which was personally remastered by Vangelis. Due to some added reverb on several tracks this version is a different listening experience compared to the original release, and opinions may vary on which version is the best master. After this one Jon and Vangelis released two more albums, i.e. “Private Collection" (1983) and "Page Of Life" (1991).

 

Tracklist and credits

 First release  Second release
  1. The Friends Of Mr. Cairo1
  2. Back To School Boogie2
  3. Outside And Inside3
  4. State Of Independence4
  5. Beside
  6. The Mayflower5

 
  1. I'll Find My Way Home
  2. State Of Independence4
  3. Beside
  4. The Mayflower5
  5. The Friends Of Mr. Cairo1
  6. Back To School2
  7. Outside Of This (Inside Of That)3

TheFriendsOfMrCairoSingleFront1 Voices by David Coker and Sally Grace.
2 Backing vocals by Carol Kenyon and Carol Hamill. Saxophone by Dick Morrissey.
3 Flute by Dick Morrissey.
4 Backing vocals by Carol Kenyon. Flute by Dick Morrissey.
5 Voice by David Coker.

  • Composed by Jon Anderson and Vangelis.
  • Lyrics and vocals by Jon Anderson.
  • Produced, arranged and performed by Vangelis.
  • Recorded at Davout Studio in Paris by engineers Roger Roche and Loic Richman.
  • Recorded at Nemo Studios in London by engineer Raine Shine.
  • Sleeve by Vangelis and Alwyn Clayden.
  • Photography by Veronique Skawinska.
  • Special thanks to Musicland Paris for providing several synthesizers, and to Francis Mandin, Frédéric Rousseau and Jean-Philippe Rykiel.

 

IllFindMyWayHomeNLDiscography

LP

First release (6 track edition)

  • 1981 Polydor, released worldwide.
  • 1981 Polydor POLD 5039 UK (promotional with embossed front cover)
  • 1981 Polydor 2383 609 Argentina (alternate cover with drawing on front cover based on the embossed UK promo) with Spanish track titles.
  • 1981 Polydor 2383 609 Greece (alternate cover)
  • 1981 Polydor LPR 16426 Mexico (alternate cover) with Spanish track titles.

Second release (7 track edition)

  • 1981 Polydor, released worldwide.

TheFriendsOfMrCairoCDFrontCD

  • 1983 Polydor 800 021-2 Germany
  • 1991 Polydor 800 021-2 United States, Canada
  • 1992 Polydor POCP 2112 Japan (6 track edition)
  • 1993 Polydor 800 021-2 Australia
  • 2004 Polydor UICY-9376 Japan (Rock Legend series remastered papersleeve edition)
  • 2017 UMC 478 941-0 Europe (Remastered by Vangelis)

7” single

  • 1981 Outside Of This (Inside Of That) / Beside (Polydor 2002 093) The Netherlands
  • 1981 Beside / Outside of this (inside of that) (Polydor 2002 175) Australia
  • 1981 The Friends Of Mr. Cairo / Beside (Polydor) released worldwide, such as Germany.
  • 1981 State Of Independence / Beside Polydor (POSP 323) UK
  • 1981 State Of Independence / State Of Independence part 2 (PS 8012) South Africa
  • 1981 I'll Find My Way Home / Back To School (Polydor) released worldwide, such as France and The Netherlands.
  • 1981 I'll Find My Way Home / Beside (Polydor PDS 2205) Canada

IllFindMyWayHomeMaxi12” maxi single

  • 1981 The Friends Of Mr. Cairo / Beside (Polydor POSPX 258) UK (promotional, in plastic film can)
  • 1981 The Friends Of Mr. Cairo / Back To School (Polydor PROS 163) Canada (promotional)
  • 1981 The Friends Of Mr. Cairo / State Of Independence (Polydor PRO 163) US (promotional)
  • 1981 I'll Find My Way Home / Back To School (Polydor 2141 499) Germany
  • 1981 I'll Find My Way Home / The Friends Of Mr. Cairo (Polydor 2812 108) France (promotional)

 

Recording studio

Recorded at Davout Studio in Paris by engineers Roger Roche and Loic Richman, and at Nemo Studios in London by engineer Raine Shine.

 

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