Portraits (So Long Ago, So Clear)

Portraits (So Long Ago, So Clear)
Compilation album by
ReleasedMarch 11, 1996 (1996-03-11)
Recorded1973–1992
GenreElectronica, classical, new-age
Length74:40
LabelPolygram
ProducerVangelis
Vangelis chronology
Oceanic
(1996)
Portraits (So Long Ago, So Clear)
(1996)
El Greco
(1998)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllmusicStarStarHalf star[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.TitleOriginal releaseLength
1."To the Unknown Man"Spiral6:33
2."Italian Song" (Jon and Vangelis)Private Collection2:49
3."Pulstar"Albedo 0.395:37
4."La Petite Fille de la Mer"L'Apocalypse des animaux5:48
5."Alpha"Albedo 0.395:32
6."I Hear You Now" (Jon and Vangelis)Short Stories5:05
7."I'll Find My Way Home" (Jon and Vangelis)The Friends of Mr Cairo4:26
8."State of Independence" (Jon and Vangelis)The Friends of Mr Cairo6:07
9."Himalaya"China6:50
10."Conquest of Paradise"1492: Conquest of Paradise5:30
11."Hymn" (New version first performed at Night of Poetry and Eureka concert 1991)Previously unreleased5:05
12."Antarctica"Antarctica3:43
13."Sauvage et Beau" (Previously unreleased)Previously unreleased3:17
14."Chariots of Fire"Chariots of Fire3:22
15."So Long Ago, So Clear" (with Jon Anderson)Heaven and Hell4:56

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
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[8] 12
Portuguese Albums Chart[9] 1
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[10] 59
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[11] 7
UK Albums (OCC)[12] 14
US Billboard New Age Albums[13] 8

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for Portraits (So Long Ago, So Clear)
Chart (1996) Position
German Albums Chart[14] 89

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Austria (IFPI Austria)[15] Gold 25,000*
Belgium (BRMA)[16] Gold 25,000*
France (SNEP)[17] Gold 100,000*
Spain (Promusicae)[18] Gold 50,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[19] Gold 25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[20] Silver 60,000*
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[22] Platinum 1,000,000[21]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Allmusic review
  2. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  3. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Vangelis – Portraits (So Long Ago, So Clear)" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  4. ^ "Ultratop.be – Vangelis – Portraits (So Long Ago, So Clear)" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  5. ^ "Ultratop.be – Vangelis – Portraits (So Long Ago, So Clear)" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  6. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Vangelis – Portraits (So Long Ago, So Clear)" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  7. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Vangelis – Portraits (So Long Ago, So Clear)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  8. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 1996. 12. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  9. ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. May 11, 1996. p. 24. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  10. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Vangelis – Portraits (So Long Ago, So Clear)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  11. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Vangelis – Portraits (So Long Ago, So Clear)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  12. ^ "Official Albums Chart on 14/4/1996 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  13. ^ "Vangelis Chart History - New Age Albums chart". Billboard. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
  14. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  15. ^ "Austrian album certifications – Vangelis – Portraits - So Long Ago So Clear" (in German). IFPI Austria.
  16. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 1996". Ultratop. Hung Medien.
  17. ^ "French album certifications – Vangelis – PORTRAITS" (in French). SNEP.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Portraits So Long...')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
  20. ^ "British album certifications – Vangelis – Portrait (So Long Ago, So Clear)". British Phonographic Industry.
  21. ^ "Boyz And Corrs Win IFPI Certifications". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 47. November 24, 2001. p. 65. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
  22. ^ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 2001". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.