CHARIOTS OF FIRE (OST)

The big hit. This soundtrack established Vangelis more than anything else in his career. Up to this time he was largely a cult figure, highly regarded amongst a limited number of people. All that has now changed. The film won Best Picture at the Academy, and conversely, Vangelis won best soundtrack. The opening number, Titles, even became a hit single. Despite this fanfare, I consider Chariots of Fire only an average Vangelis album. The piano melody of Titles is instantly recognizable and so well known now that it has become a cliché. That's too bad since it is such a good tune. In this piece there is a melancholy grandeur that is not achieved so much by massive orchestration as it is on the beauty and strength of the main melody. The rest of the album follows suit in a way, ranging from grand to atmospheric. The choir for Jerusalem provides a very English touch, which is quite appropriate because this is a very English story about English runners. The true highlight is the sidelong title piece, Chariots of Fire, which in part is a medley and re-orchestration of the rest of the album, but all that is put into an extensive suite of mood, melody, and grandeur. A must-have for any Vangelis fan, just on strength of its popularity. This album also culminates a period of incredible creativity for Vangelis; after this he slows down on output, but there much more to come that compares to the best of what he has done so far, and even exceed it. So, get beyond the hit single (isn't that such an ironic statement in this day and age?) and explore the rest of the album. I guarantee it will not hurt as much as a four-minute mile.