Jon and Vangelis - (1980) Short Stories

As much as I like Vangelis (and Jon), I can't give this album more than 2 stars. I bought it in '91 but it was obvious almost right from the start that it would be among the CD's I carry to second hand shops. Wonderful 'So Long Ago, So Clear' in Best of Vangelis had encouraged me to think I must enjoy Jon & Vangelis albums, but after all that stuff is better in small doses, amidst instrumentals. About Short Stories (I didn't see much 'stories' in lyrics), it has some tracks over 6 minutes with some progness - though 'rocking' it is only shortly in few places, and frankly, in an embarrassed way of synth & drum bursts. Otherwise it's sentimental and syrupy songs with an arrangement that makes you only miss a proper band (Raphael Preston plays ac. guitar on one track only). In Vangelis' best albums I never miss anything in sound; safe to say that judged as VANGELIS music this album is of the worse. I don't know about other Jon & Vangelis albums, but none of the tracks I've heard of them is on the level of earlier Vangelis tracks featuring Jon Anderson, not to mention newer output with guest vocalists, in Voices for example.

Surely I don't despise everything here: e.g. 'Each and every Day' and 'The Road' are pretty nice peaceful songs. But as a whole the album is just too sweet and synth-oriented to listen through. 'Love Is' is a real sentimental sugar overdose. If you're a die-hard Jon fan who needs also the (quite similar sounding) Christmas album Three Ships, go ahead.

Studio Album, released in 1980

Track Listings

1. Curious Electric (6:42)
2. Each and Everyday/Bird Song (3:43)
3. Bird Song (1:25)
4. I Hear You Now (5:13)
5. The Road (4:31)
6. Far Away in Baagad (2:50)
7. Love Is (5:13)
8. One More Time (6:18)
9. Thunder (2:14)
10. Play Within a Play (7:02)

Total Time: 53:12
Line-up/Musicians

- Jon Anderson / vocals
- Raphael Preston / acoustic guitar
- Vangelis / synthesizer, keyboards, instruments