Billboard #1 Hits: #515: ‘Chariots Of Fire’- Vangelis. May 8, 1982. #1 for 1 week in Billboard Hot 100.
- Single:’Chariots Of Fire’- Vangelis
- Record Company- Polydor
- Genre: Film Score. Electronic
- Written by Vangelis
- Time: 3:32
- B-side: ‘Eric’s Theme’
- Album-Chariots Of Fire
- Grade: A
- Peaked at #1 1 week in Billboard Hot 100. #12 in UK Singles Chart.
This has to be considered a surprise #1 hit- the theme from a surprise hit movie- Chariots Of Fire. The movie ended up being nominated for seven Oscar’s winning four including Best Picture- the first British picture to win that since 1964’s My Fair Lady. Every time I hear this music I think of the runners running on the beach. I usually watch the movie every four years- in the Olympic year- so I reckon I will be watching it again soon. Vangelis is a Greek musician of electronic and ambient music. Vangelis is still active having released an album in 2020. This was hit only hit- and it went to #1.
Liked the film, but loved this song. I think it may be the last instrumental-only song to reach #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Quite popular in the 50s and 60s, instrumentals have fallen out of favor for the record-buying masses.
yes its amazing how many instrumentals were on the charts in the early 60’s for example….. the miami vice theme by jan hammer 1985 and harlem shake by baauer the only ones since Chariots of Fire to get to #1.
You are good! I’d forgotten about those.
Vangelis remains legendary among those of us who love electronic music.
Vangelis is a legend. Excellent post.