The Friends of Mr Cairo is the second album by Jon and Vangelis, released in July 1981.
The Friends of Mr Cairo | ||||
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![]() Cover of second release | ||||
Studio album by | ||||
Released | 3 July 1981[1] | |||
Studio | Davout Studios, Paris, and Nemo Studios, London | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 45:42 | |||
Label | Polydor | |||
Producer | Vangelis | |||
Jon and Vangelis chronology | ||||
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Alternative cover | ||||
Artwork on 1981 Polydor LP release | ||||
Singles from The Friends of Mr Cairo | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
A second edition of the album, released in January 1982,[4] includes the single "I'll Find My Way Home", which according to Anderson was added in response to poor initial sales of the album, and which was a big hit across Europe at the time, peaking at No. 1 in Switzerland, No. 2 in The Netherlands and No. 6 in the UK.[5]
"State of Independence" was later a hit single for Donna Summer, and a decade later for Moodswings with Chrissie Hynde on vocal. Anderson also re-recorded that song on his solo album Change We Must, released in 1994.
The album saw considerable success in Canada, reaching #2 for 3 weeks, and was #15 in the Best of 1981.[6]
The title track, "The Friends of Mr Cairo", was No. 1 on the Canadian singles chart for 5 weeks in late 1981 and No. 10 on the Canadian AC charts for 2 weeks,[7] although it was not a hit elsewhere[8][9] but made No. 99 in Australia for one week on 2 November 1981.[10] Its accompanying music video serves as an ode to classic Hollywood films of the 1930s and 1940s, including references to the classic film noir The Maltese Falcon. Joel Cairo (Mr Cairo) is the character played by Peter Lorre in The Maltese Falcon. The track incorporates sound effects and voice impressions of the stars of the era, most notably Lorre, Humphrey Bogart, Sydney Greenstreet, and Jimmy Stewart.
Track listing
editFirst edition
editSide A
- "The Friends of Mr Cairo" – 12:04
- "Back to School" – 5:06
- "Outside And Inside" – 5:00
Side B
- "State of Independence" – 7:53
- "Beside" – 4:08
- "The Mayflower" – 6:35
Second edition
editSide A
- "I'll Find My Way Home" – 4:29
- "State of Independence" – 7:53
- "Beside" – 4:08
- "The Mayflower" – 6:35
Side B
- "The Friends of Mr Cairo" – 12:04
- "Back to School" – 5:06
- "Outside And Inside" – 5:00
CD
edit- "I'll Find My Way Home" – 4:29
- "State of Independence" – 7:53
- "Beside" – 4:08
- "The Mayflower" – 6:35
- "The Friends of Mr. Cairo" – 12:04
- "Back to School" – 5:06
- "Outside of This (Inside of That)" – 5:00
Personnel
edit- Jon Anderson – vocals, composer
- Vangelis – composer, producer, arranger, performer
- Dick Morrissey – saxophone, flute
- David Coker – voices
- Sally Grace – voices (5)
- Dennis Clarke - saxophone
- Claire Hamill – backing vocals (6)
- Carol Kenyon – backing vocals
- Technical
- Roger Roche – engineer
- Raine Shine – engineer
- Alwyn Clayden – sleeve
- Veronique Skawinska – photography
Charts
edit
Weekly chartsedit
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Year-end chartsedit
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Certifications
editRegion | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Australia (ARIA)[20] | Platinum | 50,000^ |
Canada (Music Canada)[21] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[22] | Gold | 100,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
References
edit- ^ "Music Week" (PDF). p. 47.
- ^ "Music Week" (PDF). p. 22.
- ^ "Allmusic review". Retrieved 27 April 2018.
- ^ "BPI".
- ^ "Official charts". Official Charts. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
- ^ "RPM Top 100 Albums of 1981 - December 26, 1981" (PDF).
- ^ "RPM Top 30 AC - December 12, 1981" (PDF).
- ^ "RPM Top 100 Singles - November 14, 1981" (PDF).
- ^ "RPM Top 100 Singles - December 12, 1981" (PDF).
- ^ a b Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 160. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – Jon and Vangelis – The Friends Of Mr. Cairo" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0403". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Jon and Vangelis – The Friends Of Mr. Cairo" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Jon and Vangelis – The Friends Of Mr. Cairo" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Jon and Vangelis – The Friends Of Mr. Cairo". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ "Jon & Vangelis - Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4687". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. 1982. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
- ^ "1982 was a Big Year" (PDF). Billboard. 25 December 1982. p. 103. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
- ^ "Canadian album certifications – Jon & Vangelis – The Friends Of Mr. Cairo". Music Canada.
- ^ "British album certifications – Jon & Vangelis – The Friends Of Mr. Cairo". British Phonographic Industry.
External links
edit- Review on Vangelis Movements
- Review on allmusic.com
- The Friends of Mr Cairo at Discogs (list of releases)