Vangelis Collector - The Researcher Issue #2

I do not know if people have noticed, but the value of the UK first pressing, white Vertigo swirl label of Aphrodite's Child 666 is through the roof! The collecting magazine, Record Collector, has valued this LP very high and has recognized this as one of the most important of the Vertigo albums ever released! That is quite a complement, considering that Vertigo pressings are highly sought after worldwide. The album has earned its place in collecting history. But I have a story to tell, and the record I am speaking should be of more value than even the UK 1st pressing of 666. How can that be?

Late in 2006, I received an e-mail from John McLain, a fellow fan of Vangelis and Aphrodite's Child. He began to tell me a story that, to be quite honest, I thought was simply not true. He wondered if any of the new remasters of 666, especially the Japanese CD, contained longer versions of certain songs that he remembers hearing on an old LP he has. "Bah," I thought. Longer versions? Come on, wouldn't we all know about this if that were true? To make this more interesting, he tells me that the record he has is made in Greece. Okay, now I got you! I have two Greek pressings sitting on my shelf, maybe for 10 years or more!!!! We will settle this right away...

In Greece, as far as I can tell, the record has been released twice. The first time was in 1974 and the second in the 90s. It has never been released there on the famous white Vertigo swirl inner label, only on the Roger Dean Vertigo spaceship label. So, I grab my original '74 issue and head for the turntable. In his letter, he told me to listen to "The Battle of the Locust because Angel Koulouris really lets it rip on his guitar! Now, I know that he plays an amazing solo on that 0:56 second track. So I listen, and after 1:41, I am in total shock. What did I just hear? Oh boy, a new discovery!!! Well, new to me but not new to my friend and not new to other Greeks! But nobody ever talked about this!!! How can it be?

So I have now done an exhaustive comparison of the two albums, track by track, and there are some very interesting differences between the Greek version and the versions everywhere else (yes, I listened to all the copies I had from everywhere else...). Here's the breakdown based on my own timings and not simply following what was printed on the labels:

GREECE

REST OF THE WORLD

The System

(0:25)

(0:23)

The Greek issue has clearer timpani percussion at the end of the track.

Babylon

(2:57)

(2:47)

The crowd goes mad for an extra 10 seconds at the end of the track on the Greek issue!

Loud, Loud, Loud

(2:43)

(2:42)

There is no fade-out or overlapping effects into the next track, "The Four Horsemen", on the Greek issue.

The Four Horsemen

(6:10)

(5:54)

As there was no fade-in from the previous track, the introduction is clearer and longer on the Greek version. Again, there is no fade-out or overlapping effects into the next track, "The Lamb".

The Lamb

(4:36)

(4:34)

A clear introduction to the track, extending by a few seconds, on the Greek version.

The Seventh Seal

(1:30)

(1:30)

No difference.

Aegian Sea

(5:22)

(5:22)

No difference.

Seven Bowls

(1:29)

(1:29)

No difference.

The Wakening Beast

(1:11)

(1:11)

No difference.

Lament

(2:45)

(2:45)

No difference.

The Marching Beast

(2:00)

(2:00)

No difference.

The Battle of the Locust

(1:41)

(0:56)

Unbelievable, two additional stanzas of Angel Koulouris riffing on his guitar like Hendrix on the Greek issue! Plus, there is more awesome percussion by Lucas Sideras. This version totally rocks and it is a shame that Koulouris' solo is cut back everywhere else in the world! This track has always been a stand-out for many fans.

Do It

(1:44)

(1:44)

No difference.

Tribulation

(0:32)

(0:32)

No difference.

The Beast

(2:26)

(2:26)

No difference.

Ofis

(0:14)

(0:14)

No difference.

Seven Trumpets

(0:36)

(0:35)

There is no fade-out or overlapping of this track into the next track, "Altamont", on the Greek issue.

Altamont

(5:29)

(4:33)

On the Greek issue, "Altamont" starts with the spoken phrase, "This is the sight we had one day up on the high mountain", then the music starts. There is no fade out or overlapping into the next track, "The Wedding of the Lamb". Indeed, the ending of "Altamont" is extended and more defined, with continued singing and instrumentation, with a very distinct ending.

The Wedding of the Lamb

(4:15)

(3:38)

The Greek issue has an extended fade-in to begin the track.

The Capture of the Beast

(2:17)

(2:17)

No difference.

¥ (Infinity)

(5:15)

(5:15)

No difference.

Hic et Nunc

(4:37)

(2:55)

For me, the HIGHLIGHT of the Greek issue! The version is extended. When Vangelis begins his playful piano solo after the minute mark, there is no overlapping of "The System", and the solo is heard clearly, plus it is extended! Better yet, the ending of the track is also extended: more Vangelis piano, more Koulouris guitar, more repeating of the horn section, and finally, the piano playing goes crazy, the crowd cheers like mad, and then "The System" is reprised, much more sinister sounding at the end!!!!

All the Seats Were Occupied

(19:19)

(19:19)

No difference.

Break

(2:56)

(2:58)

The exclamation of "Do It" is missing from the Greek issue.

And I found out that last year, a white label test pressing of a German 666 LP ended up in the hands of a fellow collector (a single disc version with some of the tracks), and it also contained these same track variations on the tracks that did appear on it ("The System", "Altamont", "Loud, Loud, Loud", "The Four Horsemen", "The Battle of the Locust").

So there you have it! It took a while to compare, but it was well worth it! Now, the only thing I have left to say on this matter is to the folks at Universal. How difficult could it be to issue this on CD in Greece so the rest of the world can hear it?