Earth (album) - Definition and Overview

Earth is the first solo album of the Greek artist Vangelis, released in 1973. It is a prime example of the progressive rock of the day. In contrast to Heaven and Hell (1975) and some soundtracks by Vangelis from this period, Earth was not released on compact disk in the 1980s, and old vinyl pressings have become a collector's item. Richelle Dassin wrote the lyrics.

Tracks

1. Come on (2:09)
2. We were all uprooted (6:51)
3. Sunny Earth (6:41)
4. He-O (4:12)
5. Ritual (2:45)
6. Let it Happen (4:19)
7. The City (1:14)
8. My Face in the Rain (4:23)
9. Watch Out (3:02)
10. A Song (3:28)

Instruments

Vangelis plays synthesizers, Mellotron, a drum machine and various ethnic instruments. Collaborating artists are Anargyros Koulouris (guitars), Robert Fitoussi (vocals, known in the 1980s as F.R. David) and Warren Shapovitch (narration). It is uncertain whether other collaborators during these years, drummer Tony Oxley and Brian Ogden (bass), also contributed to Earth.

Style

The album is a prime example of early-1970s progressive rock but offers some flash-forwards into New Age music, such as "We were all uprooted", with extensive use of the Mellotron. Ethnic influences also abound, such as the plucked string accompaniment to "He-O" and the distinctly Indian-sounding "Ritual".

Lyrics are abstract ("Let it happen"), absurdical ("He-O") or lyrical ("My face in the rain", "A song"). Various vocalists appear; the main vocal parts on "He-O" and "Let it happen" are sung by a small all-male choir, while "My face in the rain" and "A song" are both with a tenor male vocal (Fitoussi).

External link

• Lyrics (http://www.seeklyrics.com/album/Vangelis/Earth.html)