Artist of the Week: The Alan Parsons Project!

Koga · 04-10-2006, 01:52 AM

The Alan Parsons Project

Genre: Progressive Rock
Formed: 1976 (disbanded 1990)

Members:
Alan Parsons - producer, songwriter, occasional keyboards
Eric Woolfson - executive producer, songwriter, vocals and keyboards

Regular contributors:
Ian Bairnson - guitars (1976-1990)
David Paton - bass guitar (1976-1985)
Stuart Elliott - drums (1978-1990)
Richard Cottle - synths and saxophone (1984-1990)
Andrew Powell (1976-1990) - arrangement of orchestras and choirs

Lenny Zakatek - vocals
John Miles - vocals
Colin Blunstone - vocals
Chris Rainbow - vocals

Discography:
Tales Of Mystery and Imagination (1976)
I Robot (1977)
Pyramid (1978)
Eve (1979)
The Turn Of A Friendly Card (1980)
Eye In The Sky (1982)
Ammonia Avenue (1984)
Vulture Culture (1984)
Stereotomy (1985)
Gaudi (1987)

Koga · 04-10-2006, 01:55 AM

Most of you who post in the ‘what are you listening to’ topics will have noticed that I often listen to The Alan Parsons Project. It’s my second favourite band, although the word band is not entirely appropriate here. Since this group will probably not be as familiar as the other artists I have picked as artist of the week, I will give a brief history of the project, as well as some songs you might recognize.

Alan Parsons was an engineer at Abbey Road, who worked on the Beatles album of the same name, and eventually went on to become a producer. He gained international acclaim for his production of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side Of The Moon. Around that time he met Eric Woolfson, a Scottish songwriter and manager of several artists (e.g. Carl Douglas of Kung Fu Fighting Fame). Woolfson had some songs based on the tales and poems of Edgar Allan Poe that he wanted to record and he felt that Parsons was a perfect partner to produce what would become one of the first producer’s albums: Tales of Mystery and Imagination. The songs are credited to being written by both, although the lyrics were all written by Woolfson. The duo just wanted to release it without mentioning an artist on the album cover, as it was supposed to be a one off, but the record company insisted that they put a name on it, and they went with The Alan Parsons Project.

That was the name they used for a further nine studio albums, which all had a certain concept (though some more clear than others). The project only officially consisted of two people and Parsons rarely made musical contributions, but several session musicians made frequent contributions, some of them like guitarist Ian Bairnson on all albums. Coupled with the orchestral arrangements by Andre Powell (the composer of the Ladyhawke soundtrack), who contributed on all albums except Vulture Culture, this gave the Project a recognizable sound. From the fourth album Woolfson frequently sang lead vocals, but over the years they have used a wide range of guest singers. Some of whom only contributed once, and some of them on several albums.

After Gaudi Woolfson and Parsons set out to write an 11th studio album inspired by Sigmund Freud, but it evolved into the stage musical Freudiana. After this experiment, Woolfson decided musical theatre was the direction he wanted to go on, while Parsons wanted to remain in the studio. The duo split and Woolfson went on to write some more musicals, while Parsons recorded 3 studio albums to date, dropping the word ‘Project’ (since he felt that without Woolfson it would not be appropriate). During the 90s Parsons also did what they never did when they were recording: he performed songs Live. The Alan Parsons Live Project is still touring and there have been a number of personnel changes so that none the members of the current line-up have appeared on a studio album by the project. On stage Parsons plays acoustic guitar, keyboards and even sings lead vocals. I own a DVD of a gig by the current line-up and I was really impressed. They are coming to the Netherlands in July and I’m going to their concert 

The Alan Parsons Project had a few hits in the US, most notably Eye in the Sky which got to number 3. Other songs you might know: Don’t Answer Me, Old And Wise, Games People Play, or Time. Basketball fans may not know that the song which the Chicago Bulls use before each game is a song by APP called Sirius: the instrumental that segues into Eye in the Sky.

I got into the Alan Parsons Project through a best of CD my father owned. I love the song Old and Wise and to my surprise I found that my dad had a CD with that song. I listened to that CD a lot during the summer of 2004. It was around the same time I got more interested in Queen and in music in general. When I had finished my Queen collection I went on to collect all the APP studio albums, and I love them all. There are of course some weaker songs, but every album has a few gems on it. I would recommend it to anyone who is the least bit interested in progressive rock.

***CaptHayfever*** · 04-10-2006, 08:19 AM

While I'm nowhere the expert on the Project that you are, I have heard a couple songs and liked them. Aside from that, though, my only other exposure was the Austin Powers gag.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

Koga · 04-10-2006, 04:02 PM

Do you remember which songs you heard?

***CaptHayfever*** · 04-10-2006, 11:12 PM

Alas, I do not.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

***Heroine of the Dragon*** · 04-17-2006, 03:20 AM

Can't say I have a favourite of TAPP and neither do I hear them much. Mum used to play them some when I was younger.

04-10-2006, 01:52 AM	#1
Koga Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: The Netherlands Gender: Posts: 17,093 Thanks: 104 Thanked 173 Times in 116 Posts Points: 105,705.41 Bank: 19,215.78 Total Points: 124,921.19 Donate	Artist of the Week: The Alan Parsons Project! The Alan Parsons Project Genre: Progressive Rock Formed: 1976 (disbanded 1990) Members: Alan Parsons - producer, songwriter, occasional keyboards Eric Woolfson - executive producer, songwriter, vocals and keyboards Regular contributors: Ian Bairnson - guitars (1976-1990) David Paton - bass guitar (1976-1985) Stuart Elliott - drums (1978-1990) Richard Cottle - synths and saxophone (1984-1990) Andrew Powell (1976-1990) - arrangement of orchestras and choirs Lenny Zakatek - vocals John Miles - vocals Colin Blunstone - vocals Chris Rainbow - vocals Discography: Tales Of Mystery and Imagination (1976) I Robot (1977) Pyramid (1978) Eve (1979) The Turn Of A Friendly Card (1980) Eye In The Sky (1982) Ammonia Avenue (1984) Vulture Culture (1984) Stereotomy (1985) Gaudi (1987)

04-10-2006, 01:55 AM	#2
Koga Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: The Netherlands Gender: Posts: 17,093 Thanks: 104 Thanked 173 Times in 116 Posts Points: 105,705.41 Bank: 19,215.78 Total Points: 124,921.19 Donate	Most of you who post in the ‘what are you listening to’ topics will have noticed that I often listen to The Alan Parsons Project. It’s my second favourite band, although the word band is not entirely appropriate here. Since this group will probably not be as familiar as the other artists I have picked as artist of the week, I will give a brief history of the project, as well as some songs you might recognize. Alan Parsons was an engineer at Abbey Road, who worked on the Beatles album of the same name, and eventually went on to become a producer. He gained international acclaim for his production of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side Of The Moon. Around that time he met Eric Woolfson, a Scottish songwriter and manager of several artists (e.g. Carl Douglas of Kung Fu Fighting Fame). Woolfson had some songs based on the tales and poems of Edgar Allan Poe that he wanted to record and he felt that Parsons was a perfect partner to produce what would become one of the first producer’s albums: Tales of Mystery and Imagination. The songs are credited to being written by both, although the lyrics were all written by Woolfson. The duo just wanted to release it without mentioning an artist on the album cover, as it was supposed to be a one off, but the record company insisted that they put a name on it, and they went with The Alan Parsons Project. That was the name they used for a further nine studio albums, which all had a certain concept (though some more clear than others). The project only officially consisted of two people and Parsons rarely made musical contributions, but several session musicians made frequent contributions, some of them like guitarist Ian Bairnson on all albums. Coupled with the orchestral arrangements by Andre Powell (the composer of the Ladyhawke soundtrack), who contributed on all albums except Vulture Culture, this gave the Project a recognizable sound. From the fourth album Woolfson frequently sang lead vocals, but over the years they have used a wide range of guest singers. Some of whom only contributed once, and some of them on several albums. After Gaudi Woolfson and Parsons set out to write an 11th studio album inspired by Sigmund Freud, but it evolved into the stage musical Freudiana. After this experiment, Woolfson decided musical theatre was the direction he wanted to go on, while Parsons wanted to remain in the studio. The duo split and Woolfson went on to write some more musicals, while Parsons recorded 3 studio albums to date, dropping the word ‘Project’ (since he felt that without Woolfson it would not be appropriate). During the 90s Parsons also did what they never did when they were recording: he performed songs Live. The Alan Parsons Live Project is still touring and there have been a number of personnel changes so that none the members of the current line-up have appeared on a studio album by the project. On stage Parsons plays acoustic guitar, keyboards and even sings lead vocals. I own a DVD of a gig by the current line-up and I was really impressed. They are coming to the Netherlands in July and I’m going to their concert  The Alan Parsons Project had a few hits in the US, most notably Eye in the Sky which got to number 3. Other songs you might know: Don’t Answer Me, Old And Wise, Games People Play, or Time. Basketball fans may not know that the song which the Chicago Bulls use before each game is a song by APP called Sirius: the instrumental that segues into Eye in the Sky. I got into the Alan Parsons Project through a best of CD my father owned. I love the song Old and Wise and to my surprise I found that my dad had a CD with that song. I listened to that CD a lot during the summer of 2004. It was around the same time I got more interested in Queen and in music in general. When I had finished my Queen collection I went on to collect all the APP studio albums, and I love them all. There are of course some weaker songs, but every album has a few gems on it. I would recommend it to anyone who is the least bit interested in progressive rock.

04-10-2006, 08:19 AM	#3
*CaptHayfever* Smash Supermod Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: (n) - the place where I am Gender: Posts: 19,495 Thanks: 175 Thanked 813 Times in 515 Posts Points: 110,679.48 Bank: 1,171.59 Total Points: 111,851.07 Donate	While I'm nowhere the expert on the Project that you are, I have heard a couple songs and liked them. Aside from that, though, my only other exposure was the Austin Powers gag. And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

04-10-2006, 04:02 PM	#4
Koga Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: The Netherlands Gender: Posts: 17,093 Thanks: 104 Thanked 173 Times in 116 Posts Points: 105,705.41 Bank: 19,215.78 Total Points: 124,921.19 Donate	Do you remember which songs you heard?

04-10-2006, 11:12 PM	#5
*CaptHayfever* Smash Supermod Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: (n) - the place where I am Gender: Posts: 19,495 Thanks: 175 Thanked 813 Times in 515 Posts Points: 110,679.48 Bank: 1,171.59 Total Points: 111,851.07 Donate	Alas, I do not. And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

04-17-2006, 03:20 AM	#6
*Heroine of the Dragon* The Grinnie Fool! ♥ VGFCodes Staff Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: In a pretty place surrounded by sparkly faerie dust!! Gender: Posts: 27,762 Thanks: 277 Thanked 354 Times in 274 Posts Blog Entries: 1 Points: 20,664.18 Bank: 2,417,977.64 Total Points: 2,438,641.81 Donate	Can't say I have a favourite of TAPP and neither do I hear them much. Mum used to play them some when I was younger.