Aphrodite’s Child – “End of the World” / “You Always Stand in My Way” Italian single cover
Before Vangelis became the famous composer and producer of award-winning scores to films such as Chariots of Fire (1981), Blade Runner (1982) and 1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992), he was in the Greek prog rock band Aphrodite’s Child. This group is probably best known for their 1968 hit single “Rain and Tears”. Shown here is the Italian sleeve of another single from their debut album End of the World, featuring its title track together with “You Always Stand in My Way” as B-side.
The illustration signed by “Fabio” looks like it is quoting from one or more historical paintings. It depicts three of the four band members sitting in a Mediterranean landscape, with a sphinx and a church in the background. Drummer Lucas Sideras (or guitarist Silver Koulouris?) is shown playing the guitar, singer Demis Roussos is reading from a folio, while Vangelis – half-dressed in a toga – gazes into the distance.
The typography uses two of the most ornate display typefaces that were available at the time. The song titles are set in Circus, a design that probably originated in France around 1820. It mixes solid Egyptian top halves that emerge from open Tuscan bottom halves – a typographic equivalent of Aphrodite , the Greek goddess “born from the foam”? The specific font in use might be Calliope, a version of Circus issued for dry transfer lettering by Mecanorma around 1967, coincidentally named after one of Aphrodite’s sisters. “Aphrodite’s Child” is shown in Romaine Genre Arabesque. The decorated capital alphabet was devised by Jean Midolle in the 1830s. Mecanorma had an adaptation as (82C) Lettres Ornees.
Vangelis died on 17 May 2022 at the age of 79. RIP.
