Performed by
Aphrodite's Child (1-6)
Demis Roussos (7-40)
with the English Chamber Choir (conducted by Guy Protheroe) (24)

Produced by Pierre Sberro (1), Aphrodite's Child (2-6), Demis Roussos (7-13, 15, 16, 20, 21, 32), Leo Leandros (12, 14, 17, 23), Peter Sullivan (18, 19), George Petsilas (22), Vangelis Papathanassiou (24, 28, 29), Freddie Perren (25), Alec R. Costandinos (26), David Mackay (27), Rainer Pietsch (30), Tony Violaris (31), Raphael Preston (31, 32), Chris Marshall (32), Ed Starink (33, 37, 38, 40),  Bert van Breda (33, 37), Pascal Auriat (34), Gerard Stellaard (35), Romano Musumara & Louis Baccheschi (36), John Ewbank & Michiel van de Kuy (39)
Recorded 1968 (1), 1969 (2-4, 6), 1970 (5), 1971 (7, 8), 1972 (9), 1972/3 (10-13), 1973 (14-16), 1974 (17-19), 1975 (20-22), 1976 (23, 24), 1978 (25, 26), 1980 (27), 1981 (28), 1982 (29, 30), 1986 (31, 32), 1987 (33, 34), 1988 (35), 1989 (36), 1994 (37), 1995 (38-40)
 

Tracks:
CD1
1. Rain and Tears [E. Papathanassiou/B. Bergman] (3:10)
2. I Want to Live [J. P. Martini, arr. Papathanassiou/Bergman] (3:30)
3. Marie Jolie [Papathanassiou/Bergman] (4:47)
4. It's Five O'Clock [Papathanassiou/R. Francis] (3:29)
5. Spring Summer Winter and Fall [Papathanassiou/Francis] (4:57)
6. Such a Funny Night [Papathanassiou/R. Adams] (4:33)
7. We Shall Dance [A. V. Roussos/C. Chalkitis/Bergman] (3:33)
8. No Way Out [S. Vlavianos/Chalkitis] (3:10)
9. My Reason [Vlavianos/Chalkitis/H. P. Banks] (3:58)
10. Forever and Ever [Vlavianos/Costandinos] (3:38)
11. Velvet Mornings [Vlavianos/Costandinos] (3:37)
12. Goodbye My Love Goodbye [M. Panas/K. Munro/J. Lloyd] (3:55)
13. My Friend the Wind [Vlavianos/Costandinos] (3:52)
14. Schönes Mädschen aus Arcadia [Leandros/Munro/Lloyd] (3:20)
15. Someday Somewhere [Vlavianos/Costandinos] (3:03)
16. My Only Fascination [Vlavianos/Costandinos] (3:42)
17. Auf Wiederseh'n [E. Storch] (3:33)
18. With You [Vlavianos/B. Mason] (3:22)
19. When Forever has Gone [Vlavianos/Mason] (3:01)
20. From Souvenirs to Souvenirs [Vlavianos/Costandinos] (2:35)
21. Perdoname [M. Capuano/G. Capuano/M. Zelinotti/Costandinos] (2:59)

CD2
22. Happy to be on an Island in the Sun [Lewis] (3:10)
23. Kyrila [Ekambi Brilliant/Souer] (3:36)
24. Mourir Aupres de Mon Amour [V. Papathanassiou/Costandinos/P. Loiseau] (4:17)
25. Life in the City [A. David/L. Martin] (3:33)
26. Loin des Yeux, Loin du Coeur [D. Barbelivien/Costandinos/D. Barbelivien] (3:05)
27. Lost in Love [Russell] (3:31)
28. Race to the End [Vangelis/Jon Anderson] (3:47)
29. Lament [Anderson] (3:09)
30. Follow Me [Rodrigo/Kretzmer/Shaper] (7:21)
31. Island of Love [Violaris] (3:43)
32. Summer in Her Eyes [Violaris/SP '86] (4:05)
33. Ave Maria [trad., arr. Starink/van Breda] (5:12)
34. Quand Je T'aime [D. Barbelivien/Auriat/D. Barbelivien] (3:52)
35. Time [Stellaard/C. Howse] (4:16)
36. On Écrit sur les Murs [Musumara/J. M. Moreau] (3:34)
37. Eleni [Th. Tol/C. Tol] (3:50)
38. La Mer [C. Trenet/A. Lasry] (7:11)
39. Santa Lucia [trad., arr. Starink/van Breda/Ewbank/van de Kuy] (3:26)
40. Bella Notte [S. Burke/P. Lee] (3:13)
 

Notes: (*) A compilation of mainly singles, 'The Phenomenon' in question is Demis Roussos. Originally the lead singer in one of the most successful early progressive rock bands, Aphrodite's Child (a sort of Greek Moody Blues), Roussos' solo career was characterised by slushy, romantic ballads and by the late seventies he had become the epitome of bad taste (e.g., in the play "Abigail's Party"). Someone else who launched his career in Aphrodite's Child was keyboard superstar Vangelis (a.k.a. E. Papathanassiou, a.k.a. V. Papathanassiou) and it is presumably through Vangelis that Anderson came to write a songs for Roussos as well.

"Lament" is a typical Anderson composition of the period. If you weren't really paying attention, you might just be convinced that this was an Anderson vocal if Anderson had been overdoing the cigarettes and alcohol... well, maybe for a few seconds. "Race to the End" is a vocal version of Vangelis' "Chariots of Fire" theme: Anderson's lyrics are uncharacteristically interpretable. The two songs are among the best on the collection: Roussos' operatic, yet throaty, raspy vocals are very much an acquired taste and the music often steers an unpleasant course between bombastic and sappy.

Note Rick Wakeman's friends, the English Chamber Choir, under Guy Protheroe, on one track. (HP, 14 Dec 02)