Jon & Vangelis - Beside 7"

Jon Anderson (of prog rockers Yes) and Vangelis (formerly of Aphrodite’s Child) began releasing music together under the Jon and Vangelis name in 1979, mostly through Polydor Records. Their second LP, The Friends of Mr Cairo, broke into the top 10 in Australia — one of only four countries where it did so — which might explain this curious local pressing.

Unusually, this 7” features Beside on the A-side — a reversal of its usual role as the B-side of either State of Independence or Outside of This (Inside of That). This seems to be the only format where that’s the case. 

Minimal and ambient, Beside is built around Vangelis’s signature synthesiser textures, with Anderson delivering one of his most restrained and intimate vocal performances. It’s not a hit in the traditional sense, but there’s a stillness and emotional clarity here that quietly lingers — perhaps why someone at Polydor’s Australian office felt it deserved top billing. 

Special thanks to Simone for recovering this copy from a collection in rural QLD, allowing us to add it to Discogs and document its existence!

A$20.00 + postage

Media Condition: Very Good Plus (VG+)

Sleeve Condition: Generic company sleeve - as pictured