Chariots of Fire (album)
Encyclopedia
Chariots of Fire is a 1981 musical score by Greek electronic composer Vangelis
(credited as Vangelis Papathanassiou) for the British film Chariots of Fire
, which won four Academy Awards including Best Picture
and Original Music Score
.
The album topped Billboard Top 200 for 4 weeks. The opening theme of the film (called "Titles" on the album track listing but widely known as "Chariots of Fire") was released as a single
in 1981, and topped the Billboard Hot 100
for one week after, climbing steadily for five months (it made #1 in its 21st week on the chart). "Titles" also reached #12 in the United Kingdom, where its parent album peaked at #5 and spent 107 weeks on the album chart. The single also peaked at #21 in Australian on the Australian Singles Chart (Kent Music Report).
The album reached #1 in the sales charts of various countries, including 4 weeks at #1 in the U.S. In total, the album stayed 97 weeks in the Billboard top 200, selling 3 million copies in the first year alone.
The album reached #5 in the UK album charts and stayed in top 100 for 107 weeks.
A single featuring "Titles" was released and also reached #1 in a number of countries, including Japan, the U.K. and the U.S.
, chose Vangelis to compose the film's music, after becoming impressed with his albums Opera Sauvage
and China
and having worked with Vangelis on commercials in Paris during the 1970s. Vangelis played all the instruments, including synthesizers, acoustic piano, battery and percussion, and recorded the score in his Nemo studio in London, which he had set up in 1975. The music that he came up with, entirely electronic for a period film, initiated a new style in film scoring. The use of synthesizers in film scores beyond mere textures, and their convenience in allowing directors, producers, and studios to hear preliminary versions of full scores found its roots in Chariots of Fire.
The score album, however, is almost all re-recorded, and sounds different from the music heard on film, with often richer arrangements, particularly in the "Titles" track. The second part of the album is a one-track suite including music from and inspired by the score. On the other hand, some original themes from the film did not make it to the album.
Although Vangelis had already done a number of film scores, including those for animal documentaries by Frédéric Rossif, Chariots of Fire was his first major film score, and it immediately gave him his big breakthrough as a composer, as "Titles" was an international hit and changed the whole course of his career.
", sung by the Ambrosian Singers
, as performed at the 1978 funeral of Harold Abrahams
, the event which bookends the film and inspired its title. This famous choral work is a 1916 setting by Sir Hubert Parry
of William Blake
's poem.
Despite Vangelis public performances being rare, he has played "Chariots of Fire" live in Los Angeles, U.S. (November 7, 1986), Rome, Italy (July 17, 1989, as encore), Rotterdam, Netherlands (June 18, 1991), and Athens, Greece (Mythodea
concerts of July 13, 1993 and June 28, 2001, as encore, and August 1, 1997)
In 2000, and again in 2006, the album was relaunched on CD, on both occasions remastered by Vangelis.
Tracks from the album have been included in the following official Vangelis compilations: Themes (1989), Best Of Vangelis (1992), Portraits {So Long Ago, So Clear} (1996), and Odyssey - The Definitive Collection (2003).
Some pieces of Vangelis's music in the film did not end up on the film's soundtrack album. One of them is the background music to the race Eric Liddell runs in the Scottish highlands. The title of this piece is "Hymn," and it is from Vangelis's 1979 album, Opéra sauvage
. It is also included on Vangelis's compilation albums Themes, Portraits
, and Odyssey: The Definitive Collection
.
Director Hugh Hudson
's original choice for the famous slow-motion running sequences on the beach was the track "L'Enfant" from Opéra sauvage
. Vangelis had to persuade Hudson to let him create something original for the scene, using the same tempo as "L'Enfant." The result was the "Chariots of Fire" title track.
The case reached the London High Courts in 1987, and was referred to as a test case
numerous times in the following years in matters relating but not limited to; Music sampling
, Copyright infringement
etc.
Vangelis
Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou is a Greek composer of electronic, progressive, ambient, jazz, pop rock and orchestral music, under the artist name Vangelis...
(credited as Vangelis Papathanassiou) for the British film Chariots of Fire
Chariots of Fire
Chariots of Fire is a 1981 British film. It tells the fact-based story of two athletes in the 1924 Olympics: Eric Liddell, a devout Scottish Christian who runs for the glory of God, and Harold Abrahams, an English Jew who runs to overcome prejudice....
, which won four Academy Awards including Best Picture
Academy Award for Best Picture
The Academy Award for Best Picture is one of the Academy Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to artists working in the motion picture industry. The Best Picture category is the only category in which every member of the Academy is eligible not only...
and Original Music Score
Academy Award for Original Music Score
The Academy Award for Original Score is presented to the best substantial body of music in the form of dramatic underscoring written specifically for the film by the submitting composer.-Superlatives:...
.
The album topped Billboard Top 200 for 4 weeks. The opening theme of the film (called "Titles" on the album track listing but widely known as "Chariots of Fire") was released as a single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
in 1981, and topped the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
for one week after, climbing steadily for five months (it made #1 in its 21st week on the chart). "Titles" also reached #12 in the United Kingdom, where its parent album peaked at #5 and spent 107 weeks on the album chart. The single also peaked at #21 in Australian on the Australian Singles Chart (Kent Music Report).
Side one
- "Titles" – 3:33
- "Five Circles" – 5:20
- "Abraham's Theme" – 3:20
- "Eric's Theme" – 4:18
- "100 Metres" – 2:04
- "JerusalemAnd did those feet in ancient time"And did those feet in ancient time" is a short poem by William Blake from the preface to his epic Milton a Poem, one of a collection of writings known as the Prophetic Books. The date on the title page of 1804 for Milton is probably when the plates were begun, but the poem was printed c. 1808...
" – 2:47
Charts
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | The Billboard 200 | 1 |
The album reached #1 in the sales charts of various countries, including 4 weeks at #1 in the U.S. In total, the album stayed 97 weeks in the Billboard top 200, selling 3 million copies in the first year alone.
The album reached #5 in the UK album charts and stayed in top 100 for 107 weeks.
A single featuring "Titles" was released and also reached #1 in a number of countries, including Japan, the U.K. and the U.S.
Credits
| Vangelis | all instruments |
| Ambrosian Singers | choir (track 6) |
| John McCarthy | choir director (track 6) |
| Raphael Preston | engineer |
| Raine Shine | engineer |
| John Walker | engineer |
A new style
The film's director, Hugh HudsonHugh Hudson
Hugh Hudson is an English film director. His best-known international success is the 1981 multiple Academy Award-winning film, Chariots of Fire.- Early life :...
, chose Vangelis to compose the film's music, after becoming impressed with his albums Opera Sauvage
Opera Sauvage
Opéra sauvage is a 1979 album, by Greek composer and artist Vangelis, of the score for the nature documentary by the same title by French filmmaker Frédéric Rossif. The album sleeve design is by Vangelis himself....
and China
China (album)
China is a 1979 album by the Greek artist Vangelis. Although he had never been to China, he employed Chinese instruments and compositional styles on this concept album.- Track listing :# "Chung Kuo" – 5:31# "The Long March" – 2:01...
and having worked with Vangelis on commercials in Paris during the 1970s. Vangelis played all the instruments, including synthesizers, acoustic piano, battery and percussion, and recorded the score in his Nemo studio in London, which he had set up in 1975. The music that he came up with, entirely electronic for a period film, initiated a new style in film scoring. The use of synthesizers in film scores beyond mere textures, and their convenience in allowing directors, producers, and studios to hear preliminary versions of full scores found its roots in Chariots of Fire.
- "He [Vangelis] tells us about the way he set about producing the music for Chariots of Fire. About the low budget it really had. About the way in which he endlessly exchanged thoughts with the author about the story. Only when the movie was completely finished did he actually start working on the music for it. Saw it only three times for that purpose and then started work." — Vangelis interview to Music Maker magazine, September 1982
- "I didn't want to do period music. I tried to compose a score which was contemporary and still compatible with the time of the film. But I also didn't want to go for a completely electronic sound." — Vangelis interview in American Film magazine, September 1982
The score album, however, is almost all re-recorded, and sounds different from the music heard on film, with often richer arrangements, particularly in the "Titles" track. The second part of the album is a one-track suite including music from and inspired by the score. On the other hand, some original themes from the film did not make it to the album.
- "A record is something other than a film. There have to be changes - not least of all for artistic reasons." — Vangelis interview to Neumusik magazine, issue 5, August 1981
Although Vangelis had already done a number of film scores, including those for animal documentaries by Frédéric Rossif, Chariots of Fire was his first major film score, and it immediately gave him his big breakthrough as a composer, as "Titles" was an international hit and changed the whole course of his career.
- "It occurs very rarely that a composer thinks of his most successful work as his best. I am no exception to that rule. I think of my soundtrack for ... Mutiny on the Bounty as endlessly more interesting than Chariots of Fire." — Vangelis interview to De Telegraaf newspaper, June 15, 1991
Additional information
In addition to Vangelis' original music, the album includes an arrangement of "JerusalemAnd did those feet in ancient time
"And did those feet in ancient time" is a short poem by William Blake from the preface to his epic Milton a Poem, one of a collection of writings known as the Prophetic Books. The date on the title page of 1804 for Milton is probably when the plates were begun, but the poem was printed c. 1808...
", sung by the Ambrosian Singers
Ambrosian Singers
The Ambrosian Singers are one of the best-known London choral groups, particularly appreciated for its great variety of recorded repertory.They were founded after World War II in England...
, as performed at the 1978 funeral of Harold Abrahams
Harold Abrahams
Harold Maurice Abrahams, CBE, was a British athlete of Jewish origin. He was Olympic champion in 1924 in the 100 metres sprint, a feat depicted in the 1981 movie Chariots of Fire.-Early life:...
, the event which bookends the film and inspired its title. This famous choral work is a 1916 setting by Sir Hubert Parry
Hubert Parry
Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, 1st Baronet was an English composer, teacher and historian of music.Parry's first major works appeared in 1880. As a composer he is best known for the choral song "Jerusalem", the coronation anthem "I was glad" and the hymn tune "Repton", which sets the words...
of William Blake
William Blake
William Blake was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognised during his lifetime, Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of both the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age...
's poem.
Despite Vangelis public performances being rare, he has played "Chariots of Fire" live in Los Angeles, U.S. (November 7, 1986), Rome, Italy (July 17, 1989, as encore), Rotterdam, Netherlands (June 18, 1991), and Athens, Greece (Mythodea
Mythodea
Mythodea: Music for the NASA Mission: 2001 Mars Odyssey is a choral symphony by Greek electronic composer and artist Vangelis. Originally premiered in concert in 1993, it was published in 2001 by Vangelis' new record label Sony Classical, which also set up the NASA connection and promoted a new...
concerts of July 13, 1993 and June 28, 2001, as encore, and August 1, 1997)
In 2000, and again in 2006, the album was relaunched on CD, on both occasions remastered by Vangelis.
Tracks from the album have been included in the following official Vangelis compilations: Themes (1989), Best Of Vangelis (1992), Portraits {So Long Ago, So Clear} (1996), and Odyssey - The Definitive Collection (2003).
Some pieces of Vangelis's music in the film did not end up on the film's soundtrack album. One of them is the background music to the race Eric Liddell runs in the Scottish highlands. The title of this piece is "Hymn," and it is from Vangelis's 1979 album, Opéra sauvage
Opera Sauvage
Opéra sauvage is a 1979 album, by Greek composer and artist Vangelis, of the score for the nature documentary by the same title by French filmmaker Frédéric Rossif. The album sleeve design is by Vangelis himself....
. It is also included on Vangelis's compilation albums Themes, Portraits
Portraits (So Long Ago, So Clear)
Portraits is a 1996 compilation album of works by Greek electronic composer and artist Vangelis.The album features some of the most-renowned Vangelis' solo work, as well as songs from Jon & Vangelis, his collaboration with Yes vocalist Jon Anderson.-Chart performance:The album won gold sales...
, and Odyssey: The Definitive Collection
Odyssey: The Definitive Collection
Odyssey: The Definitive Collection is a 2003 compilation album of works by Greek electronic composer and artist Vangelis. It includes two unreleased tracks, being the opening theme from Cavafy, and a new composition called "Celtic Dawn"...
.
Director Hugh Hudson
Hugh Hudson
Hugh Hudson is an English film director. His best-known international success is the 1981 multiple Academy Award-winning film, Chariots of Fire.- Early life :...
's original choice for the famous slow-motion running sequences on the beach was the track "L'Enfant" from Opéra sauvage
Opera Sauvage
Opéra sauvage is a 1979 album, by Greek composer and artist Vangelis, of the score for the nature documentary by the same title by French filmmaker Frédéric Rossif. The album sleeve design is by Vangelis himself....
. Vangelis had to persuade Hudson to let him create something original for the scene, using the same tempo as "L'Enfant." The result was the "Chariots of Fire" title track.
Court case
In 1985 Greek composer Stavros Logaridis sued Vangelis for plagiarism (EMI vs Warner Brothers), alleging the title track had plagiarised Logaridis' song "City of Violets" (1977) — which does feature similar instrumentation and chord progressions. Vangelis demonstrated his first-take improvisational composition style live on his synthesizers in court and was acquitted of the complaint.The case reached the London High Courts in 1987, and was referred to as a test case
Test case (law)
In case law, a test case is a legal action whose purpose is to set a precedent. An example of a test case might be a legal entity who files a lawsuit in order to see if the court considers a certain law or a certain legal precedent applicable in specific circumstances...
numerous times in the following years in matters relating but not limited to; Music sampling
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
, Copyright infringement
Copyright infringement
Copyright infringement is the unauthorized or prohibited use of works under copyright, infringing the copyright holder's exclusive rights, such as the right to reproduce or perform the copyrighted work, or to make derivative works.- "Piracy" :...
etc.
Uses in other media
The "Titles" track of Chariots of Fire has been used in innumerable parodies in films, television shows, and elsewhere; and also as inspirational music for athletes. A few of these include:- In a scene of the Griswold family running to the entrance of the theme park Wally World, in the 1983 film National Lampoon's VacationNational Lampoon's VacationVacation, sometimes referred as National Lampoon's Vacation, is a 1983 comedy film directed by Harold Ramis and starring Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Randy Quaid, Dana Barron and Anthony Michael Hall...
.
- The teaser for the film Marley & MeMarley & Me (film)Marley & Me is a 2008 American comedy-drama film directed by David Frankel. The screenplay by Scott Frank and Don Roos is based on the memoir of the same name by John Grogan...
(2008).
- In the 2005 movie Madagascar, when Marty the zebra and Alex the lion are running in slow motion.
- In the 2000 film, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, as Jim Carrey playing The Grinch crosses the finish line during a potato sack race during a brief scene.
- During the yearly Lilac Bloomsday RunLilac Bloomsday RunThe Lilac Bloomsday Run, also known as Bloomsday, is an annual timed road race in Spokane, Washington, held on the first Sunday of every May since 1977. The course is 12 km long. The course starts in Downtown Spokane and heads northwest along the far west end of town, passes by Mukogowa Ft...
in Spokane, WashingtonSpokane, WashingtonSpokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
, the world's largest timed road race, and it can be heard as runners round the corner a block before the finish line.
- In Good BurgerGood BurgerGood Burger is a 1997 American comedy film by Tollin/Robbins Productions and Nickelodeon Movies, released by Paramount Pictures, directed by Brian Robbins, and starring Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell...
when Dexter and Ed run to Shaquille O'NealShaquille O'NealShaquille Rashaun O'Neal , nicknamed "Shaq" , is a former American professional basketball player. Standing tall and weighing , he was one of the heaviest players ever to play in the NBA...