Wow, what an interesting, eclectic and surreal 40s/80s crime dream, transporting me from Hollywood to the Middle East and back...masterfully presented as usual by these 2 legends... Thanks for watching! 🥰

What a lovely surprise to hear this music again after so many decades. Such imagination, such musicality. I simply don't hear anything remotely as interesting on the radio anymore.

@retroreactions....

7 ай бұрын

Oh, so nice that you haven't heard it in so long. A flashback for you I'm sure! Yes, music from today couldn't come close to the 4-500 songs I've had here on the channel. There's a reason my musical tastes mostly stop around 1999.. Thanks so much for watching 🙂

Jon Anderson THE VOICE. THE MASTER. FOREVER YES❗️❗️❗️🎤🎤🎤 Love and Light❤🌟

@retroreactions....

7 ай бұрын

Yes! I think he literally is incapable of a bad or average delivery! Thanks for stopping by. Many blessings to you!!

@jeffschielka7845

7 ай бұрын

@@retroreactions.... 👍🎅🏻😎

Jon at the end is just perfection. What a nostalgic trip this song is.

This aptly adjudged masterpiece cradles Jon's most sublime channeling, when he sings: "One on one to talk to you Like film stars they get close to you You've mirrored his appeal He wants you so, he wants to be beside you Then you pass by giving him the other side of you Like the mystics do So that every time he moves, he moves for you."

What a beautiful song. I always loved "The Mayflower" from the same album, which is even more beautiful.

I think I've heard this song a trillion times. I still get a kick out of it, like it's day one every time.

@retroreactions....

7 ай бұрын

The mark of a brilliant and timeless song. I'm getting a lot of early Christmas presents lately! Thanks for tuning in...

I remember listening to it as a kid on a family roadtrip, on a tape dad bought, and being mesmerized by it. And still today I love The Friends of M. Cairo. I’m so glad you listened to it and loved it.

Wow! So many synchronicities these days! Believe it or not I just got off a Zoom with Jon and he talked pretty extensively about the recording of this tune. Vangelis was playing something Jon thought sounded like old time movie music & the lyrics came to him right then. Incredible how easily and quickly they wrote and recorded these masterpieces; it was totally the opposite of YES who would hash out a 30 second part for days. He also said Vangelis played at his daughter's Christening, and she had a psychic reading recently where she heard someone say he was her God Father (Vangelis referred to her as his God Daughter). She asked his name and he said "Angel" and said to tell her father that Heaven is better than even he can imagine. Thanks Brandon! Best to you and your listeners~

@retroreactions....

7 ай бұрын

Haha, I'm telling you the telepathy is strong here! So cool about their recording process on this one. Thanks for sharing all that. What an amazing story if you believe in that stuff. I mean V-angel-is....chill inducing and I believe him about heaven!...All the best to you as well my friend....😇🙏

I am in Canada ( Montreal), CHOM FM our rock station used to and still play this and everyone I knew had the album. State of Independance is also a great one from the same album.

@retroreactions....

7 ай бұрын

Nice! Not sure how big they got in the US. I will add SOI to my list. Thank you so much!

@robertcartier5088

7 ай бұрын

_The Spirit of Montreal_ ;-]

@whodat3700

7 ай бұрын

It was huge here in Edmonton too.

This whole album gets a chef's kiss. 👩‍🍳💋I don't even know what my favorite part is, because there is so much I love about this song. 💙🎵🎶🎶

My favorite Jon and Vangelis song is "Love is\One more time"

When I 1st heard this song a while back, I wasn't expecting this at all. This pair pulls it off perfectly.

@retroreactions....

7 ай бұрын

Yes, not nearly what I was expecting for some reason. Delightfully surprised throughout of course! Thanks for watching..

I live in Toronto, Canada and would hear this song on the radio all the time in the summer of 1981. It became a huge it for them. But the thing is, radio stations would only play the first have of the song and stop it when it slowed down for the second half. I didn't get to hear the whole track until I bought the album, which was well worth it! Vangelis was one of the most amazing composers of the latter half of the 20th century. And he hadn't lost his touch, even on his last album, _Juno To Jupiter,_ released in 2021. And of course, what can you say about Jon Anderson? The man is a living legend.

Yes,BRANDON BEST REACTION EVER MY FRIEND, YOU REALLY FEEL DEEP INSIDE YOUR SOUL AND HEART EVERY SOUND,RHYTHM, MELODY,HARMONY, VOICE OF THE SONG....👏👏👏👏🌷🌷

I am from Edmonton in Canada and it was big. So big they played the full length song on the radio. Usually only Stairway to Heaven got that kind of love.

Love this song! So glad to see it get some attention!

I’m so glad you reacted to the full version of this wonderfully atmospheric song, from the album of the same title that I bought the week it was released. I love the whole thing, but I find the second half so moving, particularly the final lyrics. It just shows you can make memorable and beautiful music that doesn’t fit to a particular genre. Well done, young man. From the same album, I strongly recommend State Of Independence and also I’ll Find My Way Home 👍 PS: The fluttering noise you heard was the sound of a film projector (of course), and the unique voice at the end (and in the first part too) was (an imitation of) the actor Peter Lorre, who starred as a baddie in The Maltese Falcon and Casablanca among other films. Peter Lorre also gets referenced in the lyrics of Al Stewart’s Year Of The Cat (“You go strolling through the crowd like Peter Lorre contemplating a crime”).

@retroreactions....

7 ай бұрын

Nice, didn't know there was a shorter version out there. I have added your votes for the 2 songs to my list, thanks. Thanks for watching and for the additional song info!

Ha! That ending was ASMR before we knew it was gonna be a thing! ;-] The flickering sound that was often heard in the background was a film projector.

@retroreactions....

7 ай бұрын

Haha, my first channel was ASMR, so that niche is near and dear to my heart! Thanks for letting me know what that sound was. And thanks for watching!!

So few people know of this album. THE STATE OF INDEPENDENCE is another great song from it that I love. I got my copy in 1981 but I was already a Jon fan thanks to YES and was already aware of Vangelis as far back as "Chariots OF Fire". The BEST OF JON AND VANGELIS album has a few more good ones too, especially the gem "HE IS SAILING". I'm sure you can find a copy of the latter track if you search KZread for it.

The eerie voice at the end was (an impersonator doing) Peter Lorre (pronounced "Lorrie"). He was always a creepy little character. He appeared in "Casablanca," "The Maltese Falcon," and "Passage to Marseille"; he played a very unsettling child killer in "M," and a loony doctor in the BRILLIANT film "Mad Love" - totally a must see! He's one of my favorite actors ever.

@retroreactions....

7 ай бұрын

I've long heard the name mentioned on TV, and I did see Casablanca 1 time, so I have seen a Peter Lorre film then! I would have assumed he was a leading man type, but sounds like I'm way off! Thanks again..

@TheRKae

7 ай бұрын

@@retroreactions.... Perhaps I should also point out: Peter Lorre's character in "The Maltese Falcon" was indeed... Mr. Cairo!

@ChrisKrueger-re3uw

7 ай бұрын

Right on the Peter Lorre reference. There's about four different movie references from 30s and 40s... The flickering noise you mention that begins near the middle is the sound of a movie projector with the end of the film coming off the feed and flapping against the projector. I bought the vinyl the week the album came and later the CD.... Jon & Vangelis did some incredible work. Great review... thank you for sharing and keeping the memory alive.

One of my all time favorites. As a classic film buff, it never fails to makes me tear up during the last part. And to have it end with the film breaking and the film edge flapping on the spinning reel is truly inspired. That last voice was (appropriately) an imitation of Peter Lorre as Joel Cairo in "The Maltese Falcon" (not Igor - not a bad guess though). FYI - the short version (single/radio edit) fades as the tempo slows down for the next segment. The last thing you hear on that single version is the James Stewart voice talking to Mary (from "It's A Wonderful Life") - on the fade.

Cool Brandon, I’m glad you discovered one of the most intriguing collaborations ever. Ironically, I was just getting deeper into Yes’s discography and Vangelis music back in ‘82, right before I even realized that those two brilliant musicians had joined forces to release this amazing album. And at the time, I had no idea that “ Friends “ was actually their 2nd release. But the title track blew me away because it’s,concept was so unique for either of these artists. Listening to this stylish tune throughout the ‘80s would inevitably convert me into a fan of 1940s mob movies😎. Speaking of which, I love the cover shot you used for this episode. Nicely done !!

@retroreactions....

7 ай бұрын

Yes, between this and the other 2 I've heard from them, I'm hooked! Would love to have seen your face when you first realized they had a collaboration album! Nice, I haven't seen many of those movies, but they are definitely intriguing and of course timeless cinematic gems. Thanks, you know I just had to find some kind of film noir backdrop to accompany this great song... thanks for watching..we ain't no chumps or wise guys...we's know great music when we hear it!! 😎

@vinsgraphics

7 ай бұрын

J&V released four albums plus a “Best Of” compilation. The fourth album, “Page of Life,” wasn’t released in the US initially. Later, Jon decided to rerelease PoL with changes to the track lineup, without Vangelis’ input. That didn’t go over well with the Maestro, and they never worked together (and possibly never spoke) again.

@stevecowder4774

7 ай бұрын

@@vinsgraphics Wow, I never knew that. It's too bad they had a falling out. But that's the music industry for you. It's a rather strange business. 🤔

Thanks for reacting to this.... I remember when this came out and always thought it never got all the play it deserved.

Takes me back... I was running (in your terms) a Real Estate franchise in a large department store at that time. There was also a music/record sales franchise there and they played tracks off this album 'reel to reel' for days on end. Usually 'Find my way home' and 'State of Independence'. Good to start with, but drove me mad after days of it!

@retroreactions....

7 ай бұрын

Haha, thanks for sharing that memory. I supposed hearing it over and over could be a bit much! At least you had a nice break before hearing it again today 🙂

This did get lots of airplay in Canada! We could all recite the story. The second half of the song brings back such forgotten memories, singing along with Jon. “Fantasy would fill my life, and I love fantasy so much”. I think I just shed a tear. LOL. Another epic song from this album is State of Independence (Also a reminder about Yes’ Wondrous Stories 😉)

Beautiful, Genius. Sensational. 🎶❤️🎶

Excellent mind Escape✌

@retroreactions....

7 ай бұрын

There you go! I hope the whole album has this vibe... thanks!

Genius

Jon & Vangelis made a lot of great music together. Glad you enjoyed this one. Check out "He Is Sailing" or "Curious Electric" next time.

Interesting theatro-pop. If you would like an early formative Vangellis experience, pure chill psychedelic Greek - try 1972’ recording We Were All Uprooted , off the Earth Album by Vangellis O. Pappathanassiou (then using his full name after splitting from Aphrodite’s Child. Great song and album. I’d call it Haight Ashbury meets Byzantium.

@retroreactions....

7 ай бұрын

Hello. Thanks so much for watching and for the suggestion. I have added it to my list!

great reaction !! this one of my fav songs

@retroreactions....

7 ай бұрын

Thank you so much! I can see why...it's so original, eclectic and powerful. Thanks for watching!

That background of the running figure in a tunnel is reminiscent of the opening titles of the film noir tv show, The Fugitive, starring radio noir character, Richard Diamond, David Janssen. The theme is by jazz composer, Pete Ruggulo; another musician you gotta hear.

This always makes me want to sit down and watch some old b/w movies with Jimmy Stewart and Dirk Bogart. The fluttering sound was the film rattling through the gate of the projector. At the end the film breaks or runs out and it rattles as the spool rotates.

Excellent!!! A masterpiece of the genre. 💿💿? I totally agree with you. And Jon, what a beautiful, emotional voice! As a result, I can only suggest listening, on the same album ('The Friends Of Mr Cairo', 1981), to the song "State Of Independance" (rhythmic mix of rock, reggae and dance)... which was covered by Donna Summer (version that I am not affecting and if you listen to it, you will suspect why). We recognize a strong influence from the 80s period of YES. Thanks. [NB: 'The Maltese Falcon' novel (by Dashiell Hammett, 1930) and movie (directed by John Huston, 1941) --> ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐]

@retroreactions....

7 ай бұрын

Nice, we have the same rating! His voice gets me every time... Added your vote for SOI. Thank you as always...

@sagitt1856

7 ай бұрын

@@retroreactions.... Thanks, Brandon! If I didn't offer you the wonderful song "I'll Find My Way Home", it's because it is so well known that I suspected that you and your followers had already heard it many times ...maybe even too many times.

I love your reactions and I would love to see your reactions on Vangelis improvisation called “The Parting”. composition “Through the Night Mist” also Silent Portraits movement 1, EL Greco movement X epilogue and Nocturnal Promenade. 😊

I've always liked this & the movie too! 🤗

@retroreactions....

7 ай бұрын

Great! Thanks for stopping by and for being first today! 🥇

Love it! That was fun!!!

@retroreactions....

7 ай бұрын

For sure! First time?

Fantastic song. From the very start to the projector at the end. A work of genius ❤ I always felt that Jon’s love of gangster movies was a little incongruous with his spiritual side. But then he was once a milkman and almost semi-pro football player ❤

@retroreactions....

7 ай бұрын

Glad you love this one Matt! Man, it would be amazing to sit and chat with Jon for HOURS....

@mattleppard1964

7 ай бұрын

@@retroreactions.... There’s a recent and very good interview by Alec Baldwin with Jon. Worth it if you have the time 👍 It’s on KZread

@mattleppard1964

7 ай бұрын

@@retroreactions....That “flickering/flicking” sound is the sound of celluloid film playing on a pre-digital movie projector. Note that it comes in during the main refrains as if to mark the cinematic references. At the end, it’s the Maltese Falcon playing, and the projector slows and stops and the film slows and burns through. I believe it’s Peter Lorre’s voice but I’m no expert ❤❤ It’s such a stunning ending on many levels. Movies, stories, music, life…

Got the album. Not heard this track for ages. Its deff a headphones track with all the special effects going off . One to test your stereo set up out on for sure. Pretty much perfection . Long track but not boring in any way.

@retroreactions....

7 ай бұрын

Glad I could help you relive this great song again! Appreciate you stopping by for it...all the best to you..

😍🤩😍

SWEET!!! This really took me back to my college days! I listened to this album sooo much back then. This is really an album you should consider listening to the songs in order as you react to them. This entire album is just a masterpiece! You were thinking of the Peter Lorre voice that reminded you of Igor.

@retroreactions....

7 ай бұрын

Nice!! You were quite spoiled musically in your youth! I will keep that in mind. The pair only made 3 albums together right? It should be pretty easy to get through their discography! OK, so Peter played Igor in some film right? Now I just gotta see what movie Igor is from lol... My first guess is Frankenstein but not sure...(runs to Google...) 😊

@retroreactions....

7 ай бұрын

OK, I'm wrong. Looks like Peter did not play Igor but Igor was from Frankenstein LOL...

@drmagic60

7 ай бұрын

Actually….in the original Frankenstein movie Dwight Frye played Frankenstein’s assistant named Fritz, not Igor. I’m not really sure when Igor originated.

@retroreactions....

7 ай бұрын

Igor first appeared in "Son of Frankenstein", played by Bela Lugosi!

8:05 second part ....OMG....

This is your second reaction within a few days to songs/albums that I found "meh" at their original release and didn't buy them. They felt like walking into a pizzeria and finding out that they only serve burgers, which may even be very good, but were not what you expected when you came in and what you were in the mood to eat. On rare occasions, this works fabulously, as was the case when U2 did a 180º turn and reinvented themselves brilliantly in "Zooropa", a masterpiece as great as the previous "The Joshua Tree", but so radically different that they could be from different bands. But more often than not, it's frustrating when this happens. The first "burger" was "La Sagrada Família" from the "Gaudí" album (BTW, notice the acute accent at the end: it's pronounced "gow-DEE", not "gowdy"). Me, I still place it in four-golden-record territory: not bad, but not what you'd expect from the Alan Parsons Project, especially being a tribute to an absolute revolutionary genius as Antoni Gaudí was (I suspect he had some mutant gland that produced LSD instead of hormones, but then this is true of many Catalan geniuses; Joan Miró, for example, was the same). And now comes the second "burger" with "The Friends of Mr. Cairo". But yours was the second reaction to it that I saw within a short time frame, and I must admit that it's getting better at every listen. I still wanted pizza and it's a burger, but it's starting to taste like a medium-rare wagyu burger with truffles. I don't believe in astrology, but I concede that I'm a very typical Aquarian as they define it in many respects, one of them being an attraction to bold, creative, groundbreaking things (I'm definitely NOT cold and heartless, though!), and both Jon and Vangelis definitely stepped out of their comfort zone this time. And they did it very well. "The Friends of Mr. Cairo" has already reached five golden records with me, and maybe at the third listen it will be upgraded to platinum status. I both read Dashiell Hammett's "The Maltese Falcon" and saw John Huston's masterpiece with Humphrey Bogart, so I'm a bit spoiled. Starting from the same premise, I still think that Mark Knopfler fared much better - when I listen to "Private Investigations", I'm immediately transported to Sam Spade's office. But it's obvious that "The Friends..." is meant to be from the perspective of a modern spectator, rather than from the other side of the fourth wall, and as such it succeeds in its own way. And since I talked about burgers, here goes a reminder/reinforcement/strong suggestion for Focus' "Hamburger Concerto" (which is about actual hamburgers!). I promise that those flying Dutchmen's sheer creativity, boldness, and awesome musicianship will blow your mind (they still blow mine half a century later!). And I think I have a good credit score with you for good past indications, don't I?

@retroreactions....

7 ай бұрын

Interesting take. We just sometimes don't know what will resonate and what will not, even with bands/artists we love. Then there is the "growing on you" factor which you describe. If Friends stays at 5 records for you I'm happy because that's a top score already imo... Now you have me craving a nice well done burger with lettuce, mayo and extra crispy bacon, something I rarely eat!! 😌 Added another vote for HC...let's see how much of my 3,500+ song list I can get through next year!! Your credit score here is top tier....you should easily be able to buy prime property here in Retroland...😁

While this song is a complete one-off , nothing like it anywhere by anyone, it really shows the deep artistic sync that Jon and Vangelis were in. No two people in the world could come up with this, no two people in the world could pull it off, like they do. They took a gimmick song and made it mean more than that. The vulnerability of Jon's expression of honest wonder has this feeling of openness to the idea of a greater good, even a spiritual manifestation of greater good as a power that can flow from his music into the listener, bringing hope and perhaps a bit of connection to that greater goodness. The invention and reach of cinema and its bringing to life the stories old and new into a shared experience that can move people is probably as important as the written word and maybe more impactful, and the fact that we experience moments that are spiritual to us in certain movies, things that seem so important to the narrative of our personal and collective lives. A young boy or girl can see someone on the screen, 20 feet tall, being brave, being amazing, and get the feeling that they might have a chance, be worthy and find love, or adventure, be part of a shared experience. There is some magic in those flickering images, something more than just the illusion of motion. Maybe it is the spiritual coming through to touch you, maybe. It is amazing that Jon and Vangelis could capture that Peter Pan magic feeling and record it in a way that others can feel it too. That quiet passage towards the end with no lyrics was a trip farther back in time, to the silent movie era, the films had no sound but a piano player was there playing some improv to go with the story, or just something they knew how to play. The drama unfolded without words, the faces and gestures of the actors told you all you needed to know about what was happening to characters you somehow cared deeply about. It was like seeing a memory come forth from the light, but more real than ever. Because there was light in the dark -- and music.

Song with the most lyrics ever