Portraits (So Long Ago, So Clear)

Compilation album by

Vangelis

Released

March 11, 1996

Recorded

1973–1992

Genre

Electronica, classical, new-age

Length

74:40

Label

Polygram

Producer

Vangelis

Vangelis chronology

Oceanic
(1996)

Portraits (So Long Ago, So Clear)
(1996)

El Greco
(1998)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	^[1]

Portraits (So Long Ago, So Clear) is a 1996 compilation album of works by Greek electronic composer and artist Vangelis.

The album features some of the most-renowned Vangelis' solo work, as well as songs from Jon & Vangelis, his collaboration with Yes vocalist Jon Anderson.

Track listing

All songs were written by Vangelis, except where noted.

No.	Title	Original release	Length
1.	"To the Unknown Man"	Spiral	6:33
2.	"Italian Song" (Jon and Vangelis)	Private Collection	2:49
3.	"Pulstar"	Albedo 0.39	5:37
4.	"La Petite Fille de la Mer"	L'Apocalypse des animaux	5:48
5.	"Alpha"	Albedo 0.39	5:32
6.	"I Hear You Now" (Jon and Vangelis)	Short Stories	5:05
7.	"I'll Find My Way Home" (Jon and Vangelis)	The Friends of Mr Cairo	4:26
8.	"State of Independence" (Jon and Vangelis)	The Friends of Mr Cairo	6:07
9.	"Himalaya"	China	6:50
10.	"Conquest of Paradise"	1492: Conquest of Paradise	5:30
11.	"Hymn" (New version first performed at Night of Poetry and Eureka concert 1991)	Previously unreleased	5:05
12.	"Antarctica"	Antarctica	3:43
13.	"Sauvage et Beau" (Previously unreleased)	Previously unreleased	3:17
14.	"Chariots of Fire"	Chariots of Fire	3:22
15.	"So Long Ago, So Clear" (with Jon Anderson)	Heaven and Hell	4:56

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for *Portraits (So Long Ago, So Clear)*
Chart (1996)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[2]	58
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)^[3]	3
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)^[4]	4
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)^[5]	5
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)^[6]	4
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[7]	13
Portuguese Albums Chart^[8]	1
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)^[9]	59
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)^[10]	7
UK Albums (OCC)^[11]	14
US Billboard New Age Albums^[12]	8

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for *Portraits (So Long Ago, So Clear)*
Chart (1996)	Position
German Albums Chart^[13]	89

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Austria (IFPI Austria)^[14]	Gold	25,000^*
Belgium (BEA)^[15]	Gold	25,000^*
France (SNEP)^[16]	Gold	100,000^*
Spain (PROMUSICAE)^[17]	Gold	50,000^{^}
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)^[18]	Gold	25,000^{^}
United Kingdom (BPI)^[19]	Silver	60,000^{^}
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)^[21]	Platinum	1,000,000^[20]
^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

^ Allmusic review
^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
^ "Austriancharts.at – Vangelis – Portraits (So Long Ago, So Clear)" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
^ "Ultratop.be – Vangelis – Portraits (So Long Ago, So Clear)" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
^ "Ultratop.be – Vangelis – Portraits (So Long Ago, So Clear)" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Vangelis – Portraits (So Long Ago, So Clear)" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Vangelis – Portraits (So Long Ago, So Clear)" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. May 11, 1996. p. 24. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
^ "Swedishcharts.com – Vangelis – Portraits (So Long Ago, So Clear)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
^ "Swisscharts.com – Vangelis – Portraits (So Long Ago, So Clear)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
^ "Vangelis Chart History - New Age Albums chart". Billboard. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
^ "Austrian album certifications – Vangelis – Portraits - So Long Ago So Clear" (in German). IFPI Austria.
^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 1996". Ultratop. Hung Medien.
^ "French album certifications – Vangelis – PORTRAITS" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
^ Salaverrie, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (PDF) (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. p. 941. ISBN 84-8048-639-2. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Portraits So Long...')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
^ "British album certifications – Vangelis – VANGELIS - PORTRAIT (SO LONG AGO, SO CLEAR)". British Phonographic Industry.Select albums in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type VANGELIS - PORTRAIT (SO LONG AGO, SO CLEAR) in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
^ "Boyz And Corrs Win IFPI Certifications". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 47. November 24, 2001. p. 65. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
^ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 2001". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.

v t e Vangelis
Discography
Studio albums	Fais que ton rêve soit plus long que la nuit Earth Heaven and Hell Albedo 0.39 Spiral Beaubourg Hypothesis The Dragon China See You Later Soil Festivities Mask Invisible Connections Direct The City Foros Timis Ston Greco Voices Oceanic El Greco Mythodea Rosetta Nocturne: The Piano Album Juno to Jupiter
Soundtracks	L'Apocalypse des animaux Entends-Tu Les Chiens Aboyer ? La Fête sauvage Opéra sauvage Chariots of Fire Antarctica Conquest of Paradise Blade Runner Alexander El Greco
Compilations	Themes Portraits (So Long Ago, So Clear) Reprise 1990–1999 Odyssey: The Definitive Collection The Collection
Songs	"Rain and Tears" "It's Five O'Clock" "I Hear You Now" "Chariots of Fire" "I'll Find My Way Home" "State of Independence" "Conquest of Paradise" "Anthem"
Other collaborations	Odes Rapsodies
Related	Aphrodite's Child Jon and Vangelis
Category

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This page was last edited on 28 September 2023, at 02:23