Zijn Grootste Successen
	Produced by Vangelis
	Released on 1981
	no chart information
	Find it at GEMM
NL-25401 cover

A canvassing of the constellation Vangelis during the great space years, from Heaven And Hell through Beaubourg. If you’re looking to strap on your space suit and amble in the aether of his classic works, one album or disc idin gona do it. Not to knock The Best of Vangelis, since it forms the foundation of this selection, but adding a second story brings the experience to a whole new level. As a listener, space is exactly what you need between works as different as “Beaubourg” and “So Long Ago, So Clear” and “Albedo 0.39.” Zijn Grootste Successen (or Greatest Hits) goes beyond the hits to capture the more interesting moments from his greatest albums. Yes, China and Opera Sauvage would have transformed the landscape considerably, eclipsing the inclusion of a “Sword of Orion” or “Ballad,” but they’re not space albums in the sense of an Albedo or Beaubourg. La Fete Sauvage is also left out of the discussion, presumably for the same reasons. In a different setting, I tend to hear songs differently. What surprised me is how the works from Spiral rose to the fore and grabbed my attention; the title track and “Dervish D.” from that album in particular stood out. In the stillness of space music like “Beaubourg” and “Albedo 0.39,” Spiral’s tight compositions explode with energy. This may be the compilation’s primary value to those who own some (if not all) of the original works: meeting these familiar friends in an alien setting. Those looking to sample the composer’s early masterpieces might mitigate the risk by dipping their toe into The Best of Vangelis. It’s worth mentioning, however, that the Dutch RCA International vinyl pressing I have sounds terrific, so if you still listen to vinyl and can find it for a reasonable price (as I did), these Greatest Hits will give you greater joy.

NL-25401 inner gatefold	NL-25401 back cover

TRACK LISTING

record one

1. TO THE UNKNOWN MAN    9:01
2. 12 O'CLOCK    5:20
3. BACCHANALE    4:35
4. PULSTAR    5:40
5. BEAUBOURG (EXCERPT)    10:44
6. DERVISH D.    5:21
   
   record two
   
1. SPIRAL    6:55
2. ALPHA    4:55
3. ALBEDO 0.39    4:20
4. A WAY    3:30
5. THEME FROM THE TV SERIES "COSMOS" ("HEAVEN AND HELL, 3RD MOVEMENT")    3:36
6. SO LONG AGO, SO CLEAR    (Vangelis/Jon Anderson)    4:55
7. BALLAD    8:27
8. SWORD OF ORION    1:55
   
   All songs composed by Vangelis unless noted

CREDITS

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