
Vangelis - Compozitor, aranjamente, producator, claviaturi
The Ambrosian Singers - Voce
John McCarthy - Dirijor
Raphael Preston - Inginer de sunet
Harry Rabinowitz - Aranjamente
Raine Shine - Inginer de sunet
John Walker - Inginer de sunet
Alwyn Clayden - Director artistic, designThis is the soundtrack to Hugh Hudson's Oscar winning film with the same
title. The true story is about two contrasting British athletes who join the
Olympic games in 1924. Thanks to the catching main theme and the stylish
contrasting action cues Vangelis was awarded the Oscar (tm) for "best original
score". He didn't attend the ceremony however, so it was accepted by the Academy
on Vangelis' behalf.
Other Editions
Much of the music on the album was rerecorded. For instance the main titles
sound much richer and more gratuitous on the album. Other tracks like "Five
Circles" were totally rearranged. The film version of that track was piano
dominated and sounded and developed rather different.
Vangelis was accused of stealing the main theme from another Greek composer
named Stavros Logarides, but a judge wisely decided it was an original
composition in favor of Vangelis when the matter was taken to court.
The album contains one track (Jerusalem) that was not written nor performed by Vangelis.
Mobile Fidelity has released an ULTRADISC II version of this album. This means a
digitally remastered (warmer "LP" sound, less noise) 24KT goldplated (for
durability) version in limited quantities is available if you look around for it
or order it over the internet.
During the Olympic Games of 2000 in Sydney, another remastered version of
Chariots of Fire was released in the UK by Polydor, with an updated sleeve by
original designer Alwyn Clayden and rarely seen pictures in the booklet. The
sound improved slightly over both the original CD and the Ultradisc versions,
although those weren't bad either.