![]() | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations .(February 2011) |
The Dragon | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1978 | |||
Recorded | June 1971 | |||
Studio | Marquee Studios, London | |||
Genre | Progressive rock | |||
Length | 36:07 | |||
Label | Affinity | |||
Producer | Giorgio Gomelsky | |||
Vangelis chronology | ||||
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The Dragon is a studio album by the Greek electronic composer Vangelis, unofficially released in 1978.
After the break-up of Aphrodite's Child, Vangelis wanted to relocate to London. Producer Giorgio Gomelsky introduced him to some other musicians and put together a collaborative project which was funded by French free jazz record label BYG records with the intention of releasing an album. [1] Two albums' worth of material had resulted from these sessions, but were unfinished and never intended for release. [2]
Some years later, Charly Records took over the catalogue of the bankrupt BYG records and released the recordings as album The Dragon and Hypothesis in 1978 without the approval of the performers. [2] The sleeve was made by Terry Oakes. In Germany Hypothesis and The Dragon were issued together as a double album titled Portrait. Vangelis subsequently took the label to court to have both albums taken off the market and won the case. [2]
Apart from Vangelis (who played the keyboards), the line-up consisted of long-term musical collaborator Arghiris (Anargyros Koulouris) (guitar), and session musicians Michel Ripoche (violin), Brian Odgers (bass), Micky Waller (drums). The sessions were recorded in London's Marquee Studios by Giorgio Gomelsky. According to Gomelsky, 'The idea was to find "grooves" that could lead into long, (Sufi)trance-like but evolving rhythmic patterns with a lot of improvisation on top'. [3]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Steven McDonald at Allmusic notes that although the album was mainly released to cash in on Vangelis' popularity, it contains elements of both Aphrodite's Child and Vangelis' upcoming solo work. [4] Vangelis himself noted that the sessions were bad and he doesn't agree with such music. [2]
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "The Dragon" | 15:18 |
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "Stuffed Aubergine" | 11:17 |
2. | "Stuffed Tomato" | 9:32 |
Aphrodite's Child was a Greek rock and pop band formed in 1967, by Evangelos Papathanassiou, Demis Roussos, Loukas Sideras, and Silver Koulouris (guitar). They initially found success in Europe with hit singles like "Rain and Tears", "End of the World", "I Want to Live", and "It's Five O'Clock", before pivoting to progressive rock with their third and final album, 666 (1972). An ambitious concept album inspired by the Book of Revelation, it later gained critical acclaim and has appeared on a number of lists of the top progressive and psychedelic albums of all time.
China is a studio album by the Greek electronic composer Vangelis, released in April 1979. Although he had never been to China, he employed Chinese instruments and compositional styles on this concept album. It was thematically ahead of its time as the eastern cultural concepts were mostly unknown to the western audiences. The album received some critical praise. It was certified silver (1985) for sales of over 60,000 copies by BPI.
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Hypothesis is a studio album by the Greek electronic composer Vangelis, unofficially released in 1978.
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Anargyros "Silver" Koulouris is a Greek musician best known for his membership in the band Aphrodite's Child, in which he played lead guitar. He has also performed session work on a plethora of albums by other artists, including those of his former Aphrodite's Child bandmates, throughout the 1970s and 1980s, and in recent decades he has released solo recordings under his own name.
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