Aphrodite's Child : 666

[alucard]

There was an old 2014 favorite CD feature ( which was closed)
So 666 was a record I used to like and listen à lot to in the 70s but haven't listened to in ages. The other Day I found à great NM French copy and while listening to it I redicovered the reasons I liked it in the first place and made some new discoveries.
Like often, Vangelis compositions are quite linear and simple but with an interesting edge and his typical signature sounds which work very well. What struck me this time was the pronounced mediterrenean flavour mainly in the woodwinds and singing. The opposition of very different elements works perfectly for me and the vinyle is a real killer when cranked up.

[Sturgeon's Lawyer]

For those who might wish to try this one out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4T_z6ajrM8

[Monet]

Remaining in the vault for a year after it was recorded and only released after they had disbanded, "666" is definitely the best album of Aphrodite's Child; these Paris-based Greeks had delivered a truly masterpiece. The whole work is based on the Apocalypse of John. What makes this record so great is an amazing variety of styles that Vangelis creates with the individual songs as a composer, there are Beatles-like songs, solemn ballads, haunting rock songs, folklore alongside soundscapes, and sometimes within ten minutes! This record also has good musicians, there are some very nice guitar solos (never too long), Roussos sings in his inimitable falsetto, a first collaboration with Irene Papas, and Vangelis himself on all kinds of keyboards. On 19-minute long "All the Seats Were Occupied", the individual important songs on the album are once again integrated into a wonderful epic. In short, "666" is one of the greatest achievement of the Progressive rock genre.

[Udi Koomran]

I love AC both as a psychedelic pop group and this proto progressive gem.

One of the first concept double albums that were popular in the golden era of progressive rock
Like many that followed I feel that its too long and have trimming of at least one side would have yielded a more consistent and higher quality result

[Kcrimso]

Pretty uneven album but at its best it is also quite amazing.

[Steve F.]

Pretty uneven album but at its best it is also quite amazing.

I basically concur. The great parts are wonderful, but there are some serious lulls.

[soundsweird]

Yeah, the "skip" button on my CD player's remote gets a workout on this one. But that's the case for a lot of my albums...

[Hour Candle]

A timeless pearl for sure!

[TheH]

Love the album although it is uneven for sure.

I always have to smile a bit hearing it as Demis later became a big star of Schlager music here in Germany and I always remember him that way.
His first solo album was rather good though.

[lovecraft]

Seriously front loaded this one. There is a genius single album here.

[Scrotum Scissor]

Pretty uneven album but at its best it is also quite amazing.

Exactly. What's bad there is awful, but what's good is absolutely fantastic.

One should own this.

[battema]

Pretty much agree with the mixed bag of both amazing and blah.

I was a "new" fan of Vangelis who heard/liked Chariots of Fire (yes really), Antarctica and Direct....so, basically his synth/new age heyday. Saw this in the bin at Plan 9, knew nothing about it but bought it on a whim because "it'll probably sound like those albums too, since Vangelis has such a singular sound!" I like to imagine I looked like a puppy hearing a new command for the first time when it got that first listen.

[Scrotum Scissor]

^ Interesting to reckon how many Greek artists (musicians, poets/writers and filmmakers) who fled to France (and especially to Paris) during the hard years following the military coup in 1967 - and how some of them were very obviously informed by what was going on in the underground culture of that country. Theodorakis and Costa Gavras most famously, of course, but also pop musicians like Kostas Tournas and, somewhat controversially, Nana Mouskouri.

Although AC were principally based in London, they went to Paris to record 666. If you (not meaning you, John Batts) can't hear the influence of Magma in this, then check out more Magma. It's quite amazing, I must say.

[spacefreak]

Probably the best greek progressive rock album of all times. The overall album may not be well balanced, but the great moments are all in the "masterpiece" league.

[Kai]

I think the best thing about is the sheer breadth of imagination displayed and the moxey of cramming it all together on two pieces of plastic as if it all fit together naturally. Very uneven, but admirable. And entertaining too, it's actually quite hilarious in places.

[progmatist]

Seriously front loaded this one. There is a genius single album here.

Actually, it's a double album on vinyl.

[alucard]

Was there a 45 released from the record?

[spacefreak]

Was there a 45 released from the record?

Break / Babylon in 1972.

[TheH]

The Four Horsemen is a radio classic here, it is also used in a recent TV commercial in Germany.

[Scrotum Scissor]

^ "The Four Horsemen" became a staple of underground and AOR/classic rock radio even in the US and in the UK, where John Peel championed it. Demis Roussos would continue to perform it throughout his career in various arrangements, and some unlikely groups such as Rotting Christ would cover it.

[Halmyre]

The Four Horsemen is a radio classic here, it is also used in a recent TV commercial in Germany.

Yes, it's used in the UK on a car commercial. A real 'WTF?!?' moment when I heard it.

[GuitarGeek]

I basically concur. The great parts are wonderful, but there are some serious lulls.

Cough! Cough! Infinity!

I was astounded to find out who Irene Papas was, as Infinity was my introduction to her. I only much much later found out she was a movie star who also had a singing career. I wonder how she got talked into doing Infinity.

[GuitarGeek]

Pretty much agree with the mixed bag of both amazing and blah.

I was a "new" fan of Vangelis who heard/liked Chariots of Fire (yes really), Antarctica and Direct....so, basically his synth/new age heyday. Saw this in the bin at Plan 9, knew nothing about it but bought it on a whim because "it'll probably sound like those albums too, since Vangelis has such a singular sound!" I like to imagine I looked like a puppy hearing a new command for the first time when it got that first listen.

Chariots Of FIre was my introduction to Vangelis also. I used to have a mix cassette that had the Titles Theme (or whatever the actual correct title of the piece is) on it when I was like 10.

[Progbear]

Cough! Cough! Infinity!

I was astounded to find out who Irene Papas was, as Infinity was my introduction to her. I only much much later found out she was a movie star who also had a singing career. I wonder how she got talked into doing Infinity.

She did have an avant-garde streak. It’s a shame Erendira (a wacky, surreal art movie based on a short story by Gabriel Garcia Marquez) is so hard to see these days. She’s brilliant in it.

[alucard]

She did have an avant-garde streak. It’s a shame Erendira (a wacky, surreal art movie based on a short story by Gabriel Garcia Marquez) is so hard to see these days. She’s brilliant in it.

Being left wing she exiled during the Junta and surely met Vangelis in Paris or London. Great and beautiful actress. Apparently Mercury wasn't too Happy with this Track, which resulted in the release of the record on Vertigo.