Excerpt Friends of Mr Cairo

The Friends of Mr. Cairo is the second collaboration of Jon Anderson and Vangelis as Jon & Vangelis.
There are two editions of this album, with different sleeves. Both versions were released in 1981 within a few weeks of each other. The second edition includes the single "I'll Find My Way Home", which stayed for 14 weeks in the Swiss charts and peaked at #1 on March 7, 1982. "State of Independence" was later a hit single for Donna Summer, and a decade later for Moodswings with Chrissie Hynde on vocal. Anderson also later re-recorded that song on his solo album Change We Must, released in 1994.
The title track and its accompanying music video serve as an ode to classic Hollywood films of the 30s and 40s. Most notable references are to the classic film noir The Maltese Falcon. The track incorporates sound effects and voice impressions of the stars of the era most notably Humphrey Bogart and Peter Lorre. During the track, a screeching of tyres and a car horn are heard, presumably as a car makes its getaway. This screeching sound/car horn is identical to that heard in the 1970 feature film 'Get Carter' (at 1.1.52-1.1.56), and was probably sampled for use on the track.