The Friends of Mr. Cairo

Hey there, Zoo Freaks, your favorite hippie DJs at THE ZOO are spinning a classic for you tonight: The Friends of Mr. Cairo by Jon and Vangelis, straight from their 1981 album of the same name. This 12-minute epic is a love letter to classic American cinema, dripping with noir vibes and gangster flick references. Picture Jon Anderson’s soaring vocals weaving through Vangelis’s lush, progressive synths, punctuated by sound effects like gunshots and screeching car brakes. The song’s lyrics name-drop icons like Jimmy Stewart and James Cagney, and even tip a hat to The Maltese Falcon, with a nod to the “Mickey Finn” double-cross. It’s a cinematic journey, split into three movements, that captures the gritty allure of 1930s and ‘40s Hollywood. Fun fact: the single version, clocking in at just over four minutes, was a catchy pop edit, but the full album version’s serene final third, where Anderson sings about Clark Gable and Maureen O’Sullivan, is what makes it a prog masterpiece. Genius calls it an “ode to classic American cinema,” and we couldn’t agree more.

Dig this: in a 2012 interview with All Things If, Jon Anderson shared how the collaboration with Vangelis felt almost mystical. He recounted reaching out to Jon via his Facebook page, landing a quick Q&A where Jon revealed the lyrics for State of Independence, another track from the album, were like a “vortex to his soul.” The interviewer was floored, having been a lifelong fan of the album’s “sublime soundtrack” to their college years. Anderson mentioned the song’s video, which aired on MTV once, only covering half the track—leaving fans craving more. Some fans on Discogs speculate the song’s opening might’ve been inspired by Prince Buster’s Al Capone, adding a cool reggae nod to the mix. Meanwhile, a blog post from 2020 shared how university pals used “the friends of Mr. Cairo” as a cheeky code for elite folks pulling strings—a nod to the song’s sly, noir-ish charm.

Now, let’s rewind to how Jon and Vangelis got their start. Jon Anderson, born John Roy Anderson in 1944, is the iconic voice of prog rock legends Yes. Hailing from Lancashire, England, he kicked off his career in the 1960s with bands like The Warriors before joining Yes in 1968. His ethereal vocals and mystical lyrics helped shape albums like Fragile and Close to the Edge, cementing Yes as prog pioneers. By the late ‘70s, Anderson was itching to explore new sounds, which led him to Vangelis Papathanassiou, the Greek synth maestro behind iconic soundtracks like Chariots of Fire. Vangelis, born in 1943, started as a self-taught musician in Athens, experimenting with keyboards and electronic sounds. He gained fame in the ‘60s with the band Aphrodite’s Child before going solo, blending ambient, classical, and electronic vibes. Their paths crossed in 1979, and the duo clicked instantly, blending Anderson’s melodic storytelling with Vangelis’s atmospheric production. Their first album, Short Stories, dropped in 1980, paving the way for The Friends of Mr. Cairo. Prog Archives notes their “art-pop style” appealed to fans of ‘80s Yes and Vangelis’s solo work.

Wanna connect with the legacy of Jon and Vangelis? Check out Jon Anderson’s official site at jonanderson.com, where you can catch up on his latest projects. His Facebook page is a hub for fan chatter and updates, while his Instagram offers glimpses into his creative world. You can also follow him on X for real-time musings. Vangelis, who passed away in 2022, doesn’t have active socials, but his work lives on through fan sites like Vangelis Movements, which dives deep into his discography. For community vibes, join the Jon Anderson & Vangelis Fan Group on Facebook, where Zoo Freaks can geek out with fellow fans over this dreamy collab. Keep it groovy, and stay tuned for more spins at THE ZOO!