The Alan Parsons Project

The Alan Parsons Project
Alan Parsons Live Project, June 1998
General information
Genre (s)	Progressive Rock , Artrock (early phase); Pop-Rock , Softrock (late phase)
founding	1975
resolution	1987
Website	alanparsonsmusic.com/
Founding members
Keyboard , guitar	Alan Parsons
Keyboard, piano , vocals	Eric Woolfson
former members
Acoustic and electric guitar	Ian Bairnson (1975-1987)
singing	Colin Blunstone (1982-1985)
saxophone	Mel Collins (1980-1984)
bass	Laurie Cottle (1985-1987)
Saxophone, synthesizer	Richard Cottle (1984-1987)
Drums , percussion	Stuart Elliott (1977-1987)
singing	Elmer Gantry (1982-1984)
Keyboard	Duncan Mackay (1977-1979)
singing	John Miles (1976, 1985-1987)
Bass, guitar, vocals	David Paton (1975–1985)
Orchestration , keyboard	Andrew Powell (1976-1987)
singing	Chris Rainbow (1979-1987)
Drums	Stuart Tosh (1975-1977)
singing	Lenny Zakatek (1977-1987)

The Alan Parsons Project was a British music project that can be attributed to progressive rock or art rock . The band was founded by Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson and existed from 1975 to 1987 (1990).

history

Alan Parsons was a sound engineer at Abbey Road Studios, where he worked on the Beatles' last albums . He later worked with the Wings, among others, and was involved as a sound engineer and producer on the classics Atom Heart Mother and The Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd . His production work is considered a key factor in the success of the Cockney Rebel and Al Stewart albums in the mid-1970s. On the album Once Again by Barclay James Harvest Alan Parsons played the mouth harp in Lady Loves .

Eric Woolfson was the manager of Carl Douglas , who landed a world hit with the song Kung Fu Fighting . He had made a name for himself as a songwriter for Stones producer Andrew Oldham .

Parsons and Woolfson met in 1974 and decided to bring out their own music: Woolfson was enthusiastic about Edgar Allan Poe and wanted to set him to music, Parsons wanted to make his talent "more visible". So they founded "The Alan Parsons Project" and invited to a lot of guest musicians, including Andrew Powell , a conductor and composer who should be responsible for the orchestral arrangements and the singer John Miles , who was the Alan Parsons produced Hit Music had . The entire band pilot ( David Paton , Stuart Tosh , Ian Bairnson , Bill Lyall ), for whom Parsons had also worked as the producer of three albums, was hired to accompany the band .

In 1976, the first album Tales of Mystery and Imagination - Edgar Allan Poe , a collection of songs inspired by short stories by the British-American writer, was released. The musical style crystallized on this concept album , which was well received by many critics: rocking sounds combined with great symphonic arrangements. At least one instrumental piece should be found on every album in the future, with Parsons soon increasingly using synthesizers.

Nine more albums followed, which were usually designed around a central theme. Woolfson wrote most of the tracks and often acted as a singer, while Parsons took care of the arrangements and production. Since 1981 the style has developed away from concept albums to more loosely thematically structured song collections. With the success of the title Eye in the Sky , which became a top 10 hit, a musical reorientation towards Adult Orientated Rock (AOR) began. The album Eye in the Sky is one of the first albums in the world to be recorded entirely with digital technology.

In between, the individual project members - all of them sought-after studio musicians - also repeatedly worked for other artists, such as Kate Bush (Bairnson, Elliott, Paton, Powell) or Bucks Fizz (Bairnson). In 1983, Ian Bairnson, Stuart Elliott, David Paton, Colin Blunstone and keyboardist Peter Bardens formed the short-lived band Keats , which only recorded one album of the same name and was only moderately successful.

In 1989 Woolfson wanted to record a concept album again, which should be about Freud and his theories. A friend suggested a musical to him, which was finally premiered under the title Freudiana in the Vienna Theater an der Wien with Ulrich Tukur in the leading role. The accompanying album, produced by Parsons, was released at the end of 1990, albeit not under the band name, as he did not want to "dilute" the direction of his band with a musical production.

Freudiana is almost exclusively the work of Woolfson in terms of composition, but due to the similarity of sound it is often mistaken for a project album and was ultimately recorded with the majority of the ancestral project musicians. The musical, whose rights remained with the artistic director Brian Brolly , but the losses with Parsons and Woolfson, was a failure and caused the end of the band and the collaboration of their two heads.

Parsons subsequently released further records under his own name (i.e. without the addition of Project ) - including two live albums with well-known songs from the Project (see solo discography ). Before 1990 the Alan Parsons Project was a pure studio band, now they have performed live repeatedly without Woolfson. Woolfson, meanwhile, wrote several musicals based on previous Project albums; he died on December 2, 2009.

reception

Despite (or because of) the great commercial success, only the first works of the Parsons / Woolfson team found favor with most music critics. The Alan Parsons Project is best known to German television viewers for the signature song Lucifer (from the album Eve ). This piece has been announcing the WDR program Monitor since 1990 . The characteristic rhythm at the beginning of the track corresponds to the letters EVE in Morse Code : . In the meantime, however, the original is no longer used, but a cover version. ${\displaystyle \cdot \ \ \cdot \cdot \cdot -\ \ \cdot }$

Lucifer also formed the ZDF theme at the 1982 World Cup in Spain before and after the games were broadcast. The title Sirius (from the album Eye in the Sky ) is used as introductory and introductory music at numerous sporting events. Don't Answer Me (from the album Ammonia Avenue ) was a top 10 hit in Germany in 1984, and the album itself topped the German charts for several weeks. The accompanying video was the first cartoon video in music history.

Alan Parsons acted as producer and sound engineer for the (instrumental) music for the film Der Tag des Falken ( Ladyhawke , 1985), which was composed by Andrew Powell at the request of director Richard Donner in the typical Alan Parsons Project style.

Trivia

Mr. Laser Beam , who appears in the credits of the album Vulture Culture (1984) under Oral Rendition (radio voice on the title Let's Talk About Me ), is actually called Lee Abrams. The stage name is an anagram of the real name. Abrams also wrote the liner notes for the album The Best Of The Alan Parsons Project (1983).

In the last sequence of the music video for Don't Answer Me , which was animated by Michael William Kaluta , Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson can be seen as musicians.

Discography

Albums

year	title	Top ranking, total weeks / months, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, rankings, weeks / months, awards, notes)					Remarks
		DE	AT	CH	UK	US
1976	Tales of Mystery and Imagination	DE11 platinum (133 weeks)DE	-	-	UK56 silver (1 week)UK	US38 (46 weeks) US	The lyrics are based on stories by Edgar Allan Poe. In the new edition of 1987, Orson Welles ' voice, recorded in 1975, was added in two places .
1977	I robot	DE2 gold (102 weeks)DE	AT23 (1 month) AT	-	UK26th silver (8 weeks)UK	US9 platinum (54 weeks)US	The title of the album is based on the English title of the short story collection Ich, der Robot by Isaac Asimov . Eric Woolfson called this album “A view of tomorrow through the eyes of today”.
1978	Pyramid	DE3 platinum (115 weeks)DE	AT17 (5 months) AT	-	UK49 (4 weeks) UK	US26th gold (25 weeks)US	As a counterpart to I Robot , this album deals with ancient Egypt . Eric Woolfson called this album “A view of yesterday through the eyes of today”.
1979	Eve	DE1 gold (66 weeks)DE	AT2 (8 months) AT	-	UK74 gold (1 week)UK	US13 gold (27 weeks)US	The subject is women. Only in this album there are women as lead singers in two pieces. From this album is also the title Lucifer , which became the theme song for the German television magazine Monitor .
1980	The turn of a friendly card	DE2 gold (49 weeks)DE	AT2 (8 months) AT	-	UK38 (4 weeks) UK	US13 platinum (58 weeks)US	This album is about gambling and its environment. It was influenced by Philip K. Dick's novel The Game-Players of Titan (German title Das Globus-Spiel ) and by Woolfson's residence in Monte Carlo at the time .
1982	Eye in the sky	DE1 gold (47 weeks)DE	AT1 (6½ months) AT	-	UK27 silver (11 weeks)UK	US7th platinum (41 weeks)US	Even if not consistently, the broad issue is surveillance. So Eye in the Sky , a term for surveillance cameras, especially in casinos. Likewise, the term is a novel by Philip K. Dick (German title And the earth stands still ), but is used in this as a metaphor for God from the perspective of a religious fanatic.
1983	The Best of the Alan Parsons Project	DE19 (26 weeks) DE	-	CH16 (9 weeks) CH	UK99 (1 week) UK	US53 gold (29 weeks)US	First best-of album, also released in the GDR in 1985 (VEB Deutsche Schallplatten Berlin)
1984	Ammonia Avenue	DE1 gold (28 weeks)DE	AT5 (3½ months) AT	CH1 (23 weeks) CH	UK24 (8 weeks) UK	US15th gold (26 weeks)US	The topic is "the possible misunderstandings that arise from the public's point of view on industrial-scientific developments and the lack of understanding of the needs of laypeople from the point of view of these scientists." (Quote: Eric Woolfson, Musikexpress, May 1983).
1985	Vulture Culture	DE1 gold (18 weeks)DE	AT10 (3 months) AT	CH2 (13 weeks) CH	UK40 (5 weeks) UK	US46 (19 weeks) US	The topic is a critique of consumerism and, in part, of American pop culture.
1986	Stereotomy	DE15 (14 weeks) DE	AT15 (½ month) AT	CH13 (6 weeks) CH	-	US43 (18 weeks) US	The theme is the effect of fame and luck from a Freudian perspective.
1987	Gaudi	DE6 (14 weeks) DE	AT16 (2 months) AT	CH8 (9 weeks) CH	UK66 (2 weeks) UK	US57 (14 weeks) US	The album deals with the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí . The piece La Sagrada Família is named after its most famous building .
	Tales of Mystery and Imagination '87	DE18 (16 weeks) DE	-	-	-	-	Remixed and reworked version of the 1976 album
1988	The Instrumental Works	DE60 (3 weeks) DE	-	-	-	-	compilation
	Gold Collection	DE49 (5 weeks) DE	-	-	-	-	compilation
2016	Live in Colombia	DE45 (5 weeks) DE	-	-	-	-	Live album, released on May 27, 2016 under the name The Alan Parsons Symphonic Project as double CD, triple vinyl and download
2019	The Secret	DE12 (5 weeks) DE	AT36 (1 week) AT	CH13 (5 weeks) CH	-	-

gray hatching : no chart data available for this year

Other compilations (selection)

• 1987 - Limelight - The Best of the Alan Parsons Project Vol. 2
• 1988 - The Instrumental Works
• 1989 - Pop Classics (Label: EVA)
• 1991 - Prime Time - Best (1976–1987, Label: Zounds , all tracks digitally remastered)
• 1991 - Anthology
• 1992 - The Ultimate Collection
• 1992 - The Best of the Alan Parsons Project
• 1994 - Best of Alan Parsons Live
• 1997 - The Definitive Collection
• 1998 - Gold Collection
• 1999 - Arista Heritage Series
• 1999 - Master Hits
• 1999 - The Encore Collection
• 2001 - Lucifer - Best (1976–1984, Label: Zounds 24 Karat Gold CD, all tracks digitally remastered)
• 2002 - Love Songs
• 2002 - Works
• 2003 - The Hits
• 2003 - Silence & I: Very Best Of
• 2003 - Platinum and Gold Collection
• 2006 - The Dutch Collection (3 CD)
• 2007 - The Essential (2 CD)
• 2008 - The Essential (3 CD)

Singles

year	title	Top ranking, total weeks / months, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, rankings, weeks / months, awards, notes)					Remarks
		DE	AT	CH	UK	US
1976	(The System Of) Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether Tales of Mystery and Imagination	-	-	-	-	US37 (10 weeks) US	Guest singer: John Miles
	The Raven Tales of Mystery and Imagination	-	-	-	-	US80 (4 weeks) US
1977	I Wouldn't Want to Be like You I Robot	-	-	-	-	US36 (13 weeks) US	as Alan Parsons
	Don't Let It Show I Robot	-	-	-	-	US92 (4 weeks) US
1978	What Goes Up Pyramid	-	-	-	-	US87 (3 weeks) US
1979	Damned If I Do Eve	-	-	-	-	US27 (17 weeks) US	-
	Lucifer Eve	DE8 (22 weeks) DE	AT4 (5 months) AT	-	-	-	Instrumental
1980	The Gold Bug The Turn of a Friendly Card	DE40 (14 weeks) DE	AT15 (½ month) AT	-	-	-	Instrumental
	Games People Play The Turn of a Friendly Card	-	-	-	-	US16 (23 weeks) US
1981	Time The Turn of a Friendly Card	-	-	-	-	US15 (23 weeks) US
	Snake Eyes The Turn of a Friendly Card	-	-	-	-	US67 (5 weeks) US
1982	Eye in the Sky Eye in the Sky	DE38 (14 weeks) DE	-	-	-	US3 (25 weeks) US
	Psychobabble Eye in the Sky	-	-	-	-	US57 (10 weeks) US
1983	Old and Wise Eye in the Sky	-	-	-	UK74 (2 weeks) UK	-
	You don't believe Ammonia Avenue	-	-	-	-	US54 (10 weeks) US
1984	Don't Answer Me Ammonia Avenue	DE7 (16 weeks) DE	-	CH8 (14 weeks) CH	UK58 (4 weeks) UK	US15 (15 weeks) US
	Prime Time Ammonia Avenue	DE69 (3 weeks) DE	-	-	-	US34 (11 weeks) US
1985	Let's Talk About Me Vulture Culture	DE32 (11 weeks) DE	-	CH21 (6 weeks) CH	-	US56 (10 weeks) US
	Days Are Numbers (The Traveler) Vulture Culture	-	-	-	-	US71 (5 weeks) US
1986	Stereotomy stereotomy	-	-	-	-	US82 (4 weeks) US	Guest singer: John Miles

gray hatching : no chart data available for this year

More singles

• Pyramania / In the Lap of the Gods (1978)
• The Turn of a Friendly Card / Games People Play (1981)
• Limelight / Urbania (1986)
• Standing on Higher Ground / Paseo De Gracia (1987)

Compilations, boxes, re-releases

• Collection box without a special title - after the success of The Turn of a Friendly Card , the previous covers of the 4-pack slip-in sleeves by I Robot , Pyramid and Eve were adapted to the design of The Turn of a Friendly Card (4-LP box: I. Robot , Pyramid , Eve, and The Turn of a Friendly Card ; 1980)
• The Best Project (3-LP box: The Best of the Alan Parsons Project , Vulture Culture and Ammonia Avenue ; 1984 or later)
• Eye in the Sky / Vulture Culture (double CD, 1995)
• The Dutch Collection (3 CD, 2006: remastered, contains the previously unreleased track: Only Questions No Answers (Eric Woolfson, Ian Bairnson))
• I Robot , Eye in the Sky , Vulture Culture (re-released March 2007 with bonus tracks)
• Tales of Mystery and Imagination (re-released in May 2007 as a double CD with bonus tracks)
• Pyramid , The Turn of a Friendly Card , Stereotomy (re-released March 2008 with bonus titles)
• Eve , Ammonia Avenue , Gaudi (re-released September 2008 with bonus titles)
• The Complete Albums Collection (11 CD, 2014, contains the previously unreleased CD "The Sicilian Defense" from 1979)
• 35th anniversary box set (2 × LP "Eye in the Sky", 3 × CD: original album "Eye in the Sky", Eric Wolfson's "Songwriting Diaries", unreleased bonus material, 1 × Blu-ray DVD with 5.1 surround mix of the Original albums, 7 "Flexi-Disc, hardcover book with 60 pages, poster and postcard). Published in 2017 on the occasion of the 35th anniversary (December 1st, 2017) of" Eye in the Sky "
• Ammonia Avenue (2 × LP "Ammonia Avenue" (45 / min pressing), 3 × CD: Original album "Ammonia Avenue" + bonus tracks, Eric Wolfson's "Songwriting Diaries", unreleased bonus material, 1 × Blu-ray DVD with 5.1 Surround mix of the original album and videos, accompanying book, press kit etc.). Published 2020 on Esoteric .

Video albums

• Live in Colombia , released on Blu-Ray & DVD under the name The Alan Parsons Symphonic Project on May 27, 2016

Awards for music sales

Golden record  Italy 2018: for the album Eye in the Sky 2018: for the album Greatest Hits Flashback International 2019: for the single Eye in the Sky  Canada 1982: for the single Eye in the Sky 1984: for the album The Best of the Alan Parsons Project 1984: for the album Ammonia Avenue 1985: for the album Vulture Culture  Netherlands 1982: for the album The Turn of a Friendly Card 1984: for the album Eye in the Sky 1984: for the album Ammonia Avenue  Spain 1981: for the album Eve 1982: for the album Pyramid 1983: for the single Eye in the Sky 1987: for the album Gaudi

Platinum record  France 1984: for the album Ammonia Avenue 1984: for the album Eye in the Sky  Canada 1978: for the album Tales of Mystery and Imagination 1979: for the album Eve  Spain 1982: for the album Eye in the Sky 2 × platinum record  Canada 1979: for the album I Robot 1979: for the album Pyramid 1981: for the album The Turn of a Friendly Card 1982: for the album Eye in the Sky

Note: Awards in countries from the chart tables or chart boxes can be found in these.

Country / Region	silver	gold	platinum	Sales	swell
Awards for music sales (country / region, awards, sales, sources)
Germany (BVMI)	-	6 × gold6th	2 × platinum2	2,500,000	musikindustrie.de
France (SNEP)	-	-	2 × platinum2	800,000	infodisc.fr
Italy (FIMI)	-	3 × gold3	-	75,000	fimi.it
Canada (MC)	-	4 × gold4th	10 × platinum10	1,200,000	musiccanada.com
Netherlands (NVPI)	-	3 × gold3	-	150,000	nvpi.nl
Spain (Promusicae)	-	4 × gold4th	platinum1	300,000	mediafire.com
United States (RIAA)	-	4 × gold4th	3 × platinum3	5,000,000	riaa.com
United Kingdom (BPI)	3 × silver3	gold1	-	280,000	bpi.co.uk
All in all	3 × silver3	25 × gold25th	18 × platinum18th

swell

1. ↑ ^{a b} Chart sources: DE AT CH UK US1 US2
2. ^ The Billboard Albums by Joel Whitburn , 6th Edition, Record Research 2006, ISBN 0-89820-166-7
3. ↑ Official website of the Alan Parsons Project, menu item "Albums": Explanation of the concepts of the albums on the-alan-parsons-project.com (English). Retrieved December 27, 2015.
4. ↑ ^{a b} The Alan Parsons Symphonic Project “Live in Colombia” out May 27th, 2016 ( Memento from May 28, 2016 in the Internet Archive ), ear-music.net, accessed on May 28, 2016

Web links

Commons : The Alan Parsons Project  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• Website of Alan Parsons (English)
• Alan Parsons fan site (English)
• Website of Eric Woolfson (English)
• Information about the band and reviews of the albums on the Babyblauen Seiten
• The Alan Parsons Project at Musik-Sammler.de